Walking On Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2016 | Page 7

Member Spotlight

Jodi DeDecker Bubar
& Gary Bubar

Introduced
while in the Air
Force, Jodi DeDecker Bubar and
Gary Bubar have
been married for
10 years. Jodi is a
native of Illinois
while Gary is originally from Maine.
Today, the couple
reside in Southern
Illinois with their
three Tennessee
Walking Horses.
Jodi began her
journey with Tennessee Walking Horses in 2004
with Goliath, an unregistered walking horse
from a dude ranch in Mt. Home, Arkansas.
However, she credits her full introduction to
the breed to her neighbors, Melanie and David
Lehman, and their stallion, Generator’s Mac
Attack. It was Mac’s rocking chair canter and
outstanding disposition that initially made Jodi
a Tennessee Walking Horse devotee. As her love
for the breed grew, she began grooming at horse
shows for the Lehman family and, after being

thoroughly bitten by the horse show bug, she
purchased her first registered Tennessee Walking Horse, Miss Minni Mac, from them. A year
later, in 2007, she made her show ring debut.
In discussing why she loves her chosen breed,
Jodi relates, “For regular folks who cannot have
a separate horse everything they want to do, a
Tennessee Walking Horse solves that problem.
Show one day and ride the trail the next. What’s
not to love?” When
asked about her
favorite horse-related memory, she
states that it would
have to be anytime
she’s gotten to
present the flag at
shows or events.
Developing his
enthusiasm for the
breed at Jodi’s side,
Gary has become an avid trail rider, camper,
and occasional show ring exhibitor. He is also a
devoted groom and horse show crew member.
Over the years Jodi and Gary have become
very active promoting the Tennessee Walking
Horse through breed demonstrations. They
have also gone above and beyond in their
support of the Walking Horse Owners’ Association. Members since 2006, they are both active
volunteers. Jodi currently manages the WHOA
Facebook page and Gary is a mainstay at the
International and other WHOA shows. They
are both enthusiastic about the association’s
programs, its message, and its desire to promote
the Tennessee Walking Horse to the largest
audience possible.
–Sarah Gee

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