Published: November 06, 2009 07:33 pm      

Riding is lifelong passion for teacher

EDMOND — Jane Huffaker is a perfect example of it’s never too late to learn a new trick, hobby or sport.

“About a year ago, Mom decided that she wanted to learn how to ride,” said her daughter, Kristin Huffaker. “She began taking weekly riding lessons at Valentine Ranch, a stable in Edmond.”

A lifelong love of horses led her to take lessons, and recently she won her first ribbons.

Jane Huffaker recently completed her first horse show, the NEOSHA show in Norman, and won two first-place ribbons in a Walk Trot Beginner Class and Novice Adult Walk Trot Class. She also won two second-place ribbons.

“My mom is a wonderful teacher and mother, and we are so proud of her,” Kristin Huffaker said.

Jane Huffaker is the media specialist at Chisholm Elementary.

“Her favorite childhood memory is the birthday my grandmother rented a pony for her party,” Kristin Huffaker said. “She asked for a pony for Christmas every year.”

Jane Huffaker said not only was it her favorite childhood memory, but her first memory of riding a horse.

When Kristin’s younger sister, Lauren, exhibited a similar love of horses, their mother was thrilled.

“She supported Lauren’s passion for riding, attending thousands of lessons and horse shows,” Kristin Huffaker said.

Lauren eventually became a member of the Oklahoma State University Equestrian team.

“My daughter had ridden for many years, and she is currently in dental school and too busy to ride her horse so I started taking lessons,” Jane Huffaker said.

She said riding is a fun way to get exercise, more fun in fact than going to a gym.

“It is something different that I enjoy,” Jane Huffaker said.