Getting to know our MQHA Leadership: Linda Murphy
WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Linda Murphy
WHAT OFFICER POSITION ARE YOU HOLDING THIS YEAR? Executive Director
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Cape Girardeau, Missouri
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY- I have been married to Mike Murphy for 33 years. We met showing horses at the Texas Classic. We have three children, Nick (30), Brock (23) and Maddox (19). All three of our kids showed growing up and loved every minute of it! We are grateful to MQHA for helping us raise our family! Both boys were lucky enough to compete on AQHA World Cup teams which was such an incredible experience!
WHAT GOT YOU INVOLVED IN HORSES AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED? My Dad got me started when I was about 10 years old. He and I would take off every weekend and head to a show. I am so grateful for the times we shared together. Our passion for horses helped to give us the best relationship! This was the reason we wanted to do the same thing with our kids!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS TO SHOW IN OR WATCH? I have always been a western pleasure girl…so watching a tough pleasure class will always be my favorite!
DESCRIBE YOUR BEST HORSE SHOW MEMORY- I was showing at the Tulsa Holiday Circuit and found my dream horse…it took 8 months of leaving my dad notes on the refrigerator with the trainer’s phone number before he finally purchased her for me! My first show with her was the Congress! My dreams came true when we won the 15-18 Western Pleasure that year…and she was just a 3-year-old! We went on to be Reserve World Champions at the AJQHA World Show the next summer!
WHAT ENERGIZES YOU AND DRAINS YOU AT HORSE SHOWS? For me, watching the small fry kids and beginner youth kids in general and seeing how showing horses changes their lives in so many positive ways completely energizes me! And on the opposite end of the spectrum…the long days and lots of waiting is sometimes very draining at the shows.
WHO IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE HORSE? My all-time favorite horse I owned would be the horse I mentioned earlier, her name was Barely Bonanza. My favorite horse in general would have to be Vital Signs Are Good…such an incredible individual and then became such an incredible producer.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT MQHA? Definitely the fact that MQHA becomes your extended family. You look forward to seeing each other, you care about each other, and you celebrate the good times and support each other in the tough times.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT A HORSE SHOW? I love to cook and entertain!
WHAT IS YOUR REAL JOB, OUTSIDE OF MQHA? Just being a wife and mom!
ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? Definitely a morning person…early mornings are my favorite time of the day!
DO YOU USUALLY ARRIVE EARLY OR LATE? Also definitely early…may be my biggest pet peeve for someone to be late!
ON FRIDAY NIGHT…WOULD YOU RATHER GO OUT OR STAY IN? I would say out for an early dinner and then back home for a movie night!
IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I am very independent…and so I think having Super Strength would come in very handy in a lot of situations!
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR TURNING A BAD DAY INTO A GOOD ONE? I am a huge believer in the power of positive thinking! I think you must be able to rise to the top in every situation and make the best of anything that comes your way!
SHARE THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE ANYONE HAS EVER GIVEN YOU- Be kind to everyone; treat others as you would like to be treated.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? A travel agent…so I could see the world!
DO YOU HAVE ANY HIDDEN TALENTS? I love to experiment making cocktails!
NAME ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? I have never been to Hawaii and a trip there with my family would be at the top of my list!
LAST MOVIE YOU SAW? Maverick…and it was amazing! But King Richard…was such a great movie! Loved it! However, I did not like Will Smith’s Academy Awards behavior! Very sad.
LAST BOOK YOU READ? Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens…very good book…highly recommend! Movie is amazing too!
FAVORITE SERIES YOU BINGE WATCHED? Grey’s Anatomy and The Vikings
WOULD YOU EVER GO ON A REALITY SHOW? IF SO, WHICH ONE? I love Survivor! I would love to be on that show! But I am not a great swimmer…so that would be my downfall.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Basketball
FAVORITE TEAM? We are huge MIZZOU tiger fans!
FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Annie Gunn’s is a big favorite! But any restaurant with a great steak is fine by me!
FAVORITE FOOD? Although I love steak…my favorite food has to be Pizza…ask Tom Downing!
FAVORITE QUOTE? Do ordinary things with extraordinary love. Mother Teresa
ANYTHING ADDITIONAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I am grateful to be a part of the MQHA family and love serving as your Executive Director!
