1. How old were you when you first started riding?
I started riding when I was 4, prompted by my desire to keep up with everything my best friend Christine did.
2. First horse ridden:
Candyman, a shaggy paint pony. I cried when he trotted.
3. First horse trotted on:
Ha, see above...I begged to go back though, despite being allergic to hay, and dust, and horses, and grass, and...you get it.
4. First horse cantered on:
Cleo, a chestnut mare (who knew my life would come full circle)...she packed me around for several year in the Bahamas.
5. First Horse fallen off of:
Sterling, a tiny grey pony (oh weird, a GREY PONY got me off after 11 years of riding). We were doing a jump course and she was incredibly barn sour, during a turn away from the barn she blasted through my outside leg and slipped in the footing near the gate, we both went down, I didn't really have a choice. Yes, I got right back on and finished the course.
6. Most recent horse fallen off of:
Eeek, I am trying to find some wood to touch...I haven't fallen off since I started back riding, and before that, I can hardly remember...riding so many ponies growing up built in a strong knack for STAYING ON. NO. MATTER. WHAT. I did complete an emergency dismount a few weeks ago mid-rear/spook...that counts I guess.
7. Most terrifying fall:
I was once kicked while riding bareback by another horse and subsequently, so was the horse I was riding, she bolted and I fell off/abandoned ship. I remember thinking my leg was broken (my ankle certainly looked that way) and I was scared to death. To this day, one of my biggest fear is horse behavior in close quarters...luckily riding an alpha mare keeps everyone at bay.
8. First horse jumped with:
This is really tough to remember, I know I jumped a lot in England, but substantial jumping...probably Turbo Pony.
9. First horse who ran away with you:
Shamber. The same horse I was on when I got kicked. We were doing a dressage test and she (another barn sour horse) decided she was finished and bolted over the little fence and back to the gate. She had an iron mouth so it was useless trying to stop her. I was mortified.
10. First horse that scared the crap out of you:
It took a really long time for this to happen. When I was young I was completely fearless...but one summer riding in Southern Pines, NC I met a horse that I was completely scared of. He was an OTTB named Tix, nuts after a sinus infection where he had a drain put in his skull, and no one would ride him. After the horse I was riding that summer sold, they put me on him. We bonded in a way I have yet to experience with another horse. There was one day that we were jumping for the first time together and it started to POUR. I could feel his whole body tense up and my instructor told me to expect him to refuse...he didn't. It was a lesson in humility. He was terrifying and beautiful...it's a combination I really enjoy now.
11. First horse shown :
Cleo.
12. First horse to win a class with:
Growing up I had to work to ride and almost always had to catch ride at shows usually on bad ponies that my instructor was offering up for sale. I think the best class I one as a youngster was an equitation class on Tix. Of course he spooked at the ribbon.
13. Do you/have you taken lessons:
I took lessons consistently from 4-19, and for the last 2 years.
14. First horse you ever rode bareback:
Cleo dressed as Maid Marion. But when I lived in England we would ride all the horses bareback in a halter and lead rope to their turnout fields a half a mile down the road (totally reckless looking back), so I rode lots and lots of horses bareback!
15. First horse trail ridden with:
We rode trails quite a bit in Florida, but nothing is like trail riding the therapy horses at Pegasus...there is something magical about galloping a Belgian Draft horse through the woods.
16. Current Barn name:
Should keep this anonymous for now.
17. Do you ride English or western?
English, though I do enjoy riding in a western saddle when I don't want to think about anything else, it's been ages though!
18. First Horse to place at a show with:
Cleo!
19. Ever been to horse camp?
Not as a kid because I never had my own pony, or parents that were really that supportive of my expensive hobby...but this year at the ripe old age of 31, I went on a Ladies Riding Camp in VA...it was NOT expensive, but it was amazing and would recommend the experience to anyone who reads my blog!
20. Ever been to a riding clinic?
I rode in lots of clinics in Florida, but I would love to do some with the mare!
21. Ridden sidesaddle?
Yes! At the recent camp I attended...it's humbling to say the least!
22. First horse leased:
Kiki! I am fairly sure we leased Cleo when I was younger, but I don't remember the financial details!
23. Last Horse Leased:
Kiki! We are a work in progress, plus everyone else is scared of her.
24. Highest ribbon in a show:
Overall highpoint during that summer in North Carolina!
25. Ever been to an ‘A’ rated show?
No, sadly.
26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?
Yes. Super fun.
27. Ever fallen off at a show:
Never, but then again, I will (try to) stay on no matter what.
28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers?
Yes, and I hope Kiki and I can get to some shows doing so before we try eventing!
29. Have you ever barrel raced?
Yes. I used to exercise ride a quarter horse named Rebel who barrel raced...when I would get bored of trying to teach him English we race around for fun.
30. Ever done pole bending?
Nope!
31. Favorite gait:
Definitely canter...just not Kiki's (it makes me feel like a beginner)
32. Ever cantered bareback?
Yes! I love riding bareback and try to take bareback jumping lessons when I can. Nothing makes you more appreciative of your saddle (and stirrups).
33. Have you ever done dressage?
Yes, and I would like to get much, much better!
34. Have you ever evented?
Just cross country jumping, not the full 3-day.
35. Have you ever mucked a stall?
It's the only way I was able to ride horses...40 stall barn? No problem, as long as I get to ride. I have the same barn work ethic now and it still confuses my instructor.
36. Ever been bucked off?
Yes. A thoroughbred named Mr. Wonderful. He snatched the reins and was able to completely bronc across the arena and send me into orbit.
37. Ever been on a horse that reared:
yes...and it's my number one fear. Cleo once reared when I was 6-7 at a horse that was bolting around the ring. Kiki has offered a couple but nothing too big.
38. Horses or ponies:
Well, ponies made me the rider that I am today. I will always have a soft spot for them. Until I was 16 and went to North Carolina for the summer I rode ponies almost exclusively for my instructor getting the them into shape, but I do love horses, the bigger the better! Kiki rides like a pony so maybe that's why I love her!
39. Do you wear a helmet?
Always.
40. What’s the highest you’ve jumped:
A little over 4 foot. Again, the summer in NC that made me brave riding giant horses (they weren't giant, but huge for me coming off ponies). That instructor really pushed me as a rider and took advantage of my fearlessness. Now a 2'6" vertical makes me a little queasy...but I love, love, love jumping.
41. Have you ever ridden at night?
Yes, lots of places I have ridden at have lighting, but last spring our trail ride got really late and we got caught in the darkness...it was both lovely and terrifying riding through the woods like that.
42. Do you watch horsey television shows?
I taped Rolex, and used to watch Jockeys...now I just troll youtube and read horse blogs.
43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall?
Just the fall where I got kicked.
44. Most falls in one lesson:
I got dumped a couple of times schooling a horse over a ditch...I got a good view of the inside of it too.
45. Do you ride in an arena/ring?
My current farm has a nice indoor with lights and an outdoor riding "space" It's a big field flanked on either long side with paddocks...I like it out there.
46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse?
No, but it worries me sometimes when I am handling youngsters.
47. Have you ever been bitten?
A lot. Some of the horses at the Equine Therapy center release their frustration by biting the handlers, and apparently my forearm is pretty damn tasty. Kiki gets pretty mouthy, but I am trying to stop that habit!
48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?
Again, lots. The worst was last year by Sergio (my favorite mount at the therapy center)who's belgian/haflinger...he broke my pinky toe stepping on my foot and then twisting into a stall to grab hay. Nerd.
49: Favorite riding moment:
Wow, it would be hard to commit to just one. Most recently it would be riding the big event mare in Virginia. She was just amazing and we jumped everything we could find together.
50. Most fun horse you’ve ridden:
I think I will have to give this to Turbo Pony...that little guy and I rode together for so long my instructor stopped letting me ride him in lessons (because I wasn't learning anything)...he would jump anything...even the largest cross country jumps we had on the property...it makes me really love the spirit of a small horse (like Teddy O'Connor or Snooze Alarm)
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