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U.S. Nationals
Meet the Volunteers
October 25, 2009
Bill Pennington
Pivotal return
It is amazing how things come full circle in life. Twenty-one years ago, Bill Pennington of Liberty Township, Ohio, worked in the paddock as a volunteer at Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. This year, he returns for the first time since serving on the U.S. Show Commission in the 1990s to work as a volunteer. And where else would he go? The paddock.
"There's just something about the Arabian horse and the people," Pennington says. "I meet so many happy people. There is always a camaraderie that happens (with Arabian horse people) when you meet for the first time or the thousandth time."
Pennington first attended U.S. Nationals in 1978 and has also served on each of the show commissions. "I've enjoyed every minute, every step of the way," Pennington reflects. "I value most of all the friendships I have made along the way."
Pennington was the first chair of the Youth Nationals show. Because of his experience and knowledge from that, he was elected to the U.S. Show commission and served three years in the late 90s, just before his election as IAHA President, where he served as the last full-term IAHA President in 2000-2001.
A horseman most of his life, Pennington did not actually get involved with Arabian horses until after college, marriage and kids. That first Arabian was one that his wife fell in love with. It was an 18-month-old colt, who lived to be 33. Ever since, he and his family have owned Arabians or Half-Arabians. Currently, they own three purebreds and three Half-Arabians.
Pennington feels lucky that his family is near him in Ohio. He has a son, two daughters and five grandchildren and a great grandchild on the way.
Someone asked him this week at U.S. Nationals why he still volunteers and why he keeps returning. His reply, "Because of the horse and the love of it. It's priceless."
Pennington described his tenure with AHA so far as rewarding. He put the resolution forward to create Youth Nationals, created Sport Horse Nationals and planted the seed to move U.S. Nationals to its current location in Tulsa. "They really wanted us to come here and went out of their way to do improvements."
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