Joan Palelek adores her equine athletes. After “retiring” from her job as a dental hygienist, Joan pursued her passion for horses by becoming a horse steward and judge with the United States Equestrian Federation and the Arabian Horse Association. Joan lives in Vancouver, Washington, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just north of Portland, Oregon.
Joan judges horse shows and acts as a steward, making sure that everyone competes under the same standards. In any given year, Joan may be working at 30 horse shows, making it her full-time gig. She doesn’t have any horses herself but connects with plenty on a daily basis.
Here’s our conversation with Joan about how her passion for horses led to her enthusiasm for and loyalty to ORORO.
ORORO:
What would you say is the most challenging part of your job?
Joan:
Weather. Weather up here. We have one indoor (arena) that we utilize, and then a covered outdoor (arena), but it can rain sideways. We're at the base of the Cascade Mountains, so you can get hail, all that kind of stuff. Trying to keep my exhibitors comfortable and warm while providing a safe showing environment for the horses. They're athletes (the horses) and we're asking them to do a lot.
ORORO:
When did you buy your first ORORO piece?
Joan:
Oh, my golly. It's been a while… I saw it at the Scottsdale Show. There was a gal from British Columbia that had one (ORORO vest) on.
I thought, “I'm getting one of those” because I was coming back up here to the Northwest and I was going to be at this facility in April and it hails. It's so cold and I would be outside. So, I got the ORORO Heated Vest and wore it through that horse show.
And that's when I wrote you guys. I thought back then, “Oh my golly, this is the best thing since sliced bread”. So, I have a lot of (ORORO) heated apparel, but this jacket… I love the lightweight one. It's great for the wind and such. The vest is amazing because the collar's heated…I love the heated collar. In fact, my better half is here working this horse show and he has his ORORO vest on under his jacket.
ORORO:
How many ORORO pieces do you own now?
Joan:
I have the muffler… the muffler that goes around your neck. I have two vests. I have this jacket. I have two other jackets. Five or six pieces in total.
ORORO:
The heated scarf, right?
Joan:
Oh, yeah, the heated scarf. I have that. That's lovely. And it's nice for the jackets that don't have the heated collar. I haven't tried the heated gloves yet. My entire family, which is quite large, have all received ORORO gifts at Christmas time.
They are the best jackets because we're all kind of outdoorsy people. And it's truly great whoever invented this! I commend you. We love it.
ORORO:
Wonderful. Thank you for being such a huge ORORO fan! How does ORORO help you be a better horse enthusiast and manager of shows?
Joan:
(ORORO) keeps me comfortable, keeps me warm, and it helps me stay in a really good mood. I love my job, but when you're cold, it's just a distraction. The warmth of the apparel is very comforting.
ORORO:
If you could give one gift to horse caretakers around the world, either tangible or intangible, what would it be?
Joan:
I'd get them an ORORO Heated Vest!
ORORO:
Is there anything else you want to tell me about ORORO?
Joan:
They're a very good company to deal with. The order comes packaged beautifully.
Oh, I love the little batteries now. Those are great because I use those and I like that they're interchangeable with the old jackets that I have. They (the batteries) are not as bulky. So I appreciate that they're making a smaller battery that lasts just as long. It's great!
ORORO:
Anything else you want to say before we close for the day, Joan?
Joan:
Heated apparel is paramount for us. We love it and it is the most cherished award… I give them as awards in the largest classes at the Midsummer Classic.
I want to thank ORORO. We're thankful because it introduces our horse industry here to a wonderful product that fits our industry perfectly. I mean, they have something for every type of weather. It's lovely. I'm appreciative.
Joan continues her life as a horse enthusiast living in the beautiful Northwest and one of ORORO’s biggest fans. We are so grateful for her enthusiastic support. Thank you, Joan!
