Sunshine Award

So I'm a little late to the party, as usual, but THANK YOU to a couple of other bloggers who nominated me for the Sunshine Award. :) Sometimes I am still shocked at the fact that people actually read this blog.

Questions:

Mares or Geldings? A good horse is a good horse. It doesn't really matter to me.

English or Western? I've been an English girl my whole life. I really do not like Western saddles, they are uncomfortable to me. BUT, I do appreciate the western disciplines and especially enjoy reining and cutting horses. A part of me wants to get a reining horse someday. Probably because it is similar to dressage, except the people are not so self-deprecating.

Do you prefer younger or older horses? I love young horses and how rewarding they are in the day to day process. I have no doubt I will get another young horse someday. But I must say, it is REALLY FUN to have Hampton at this stage now. Not that he is "older" but he is certainly well broke. Riding the babies makes you appreciate the trained horses. Also, riding a trained horse makes you ride the babies better.

Sometimes the young horses are assholes. Not gonna identify the culprit in this photo,
but his initials are H.a.m.p.t.o.n. at 3 years old.

Have you trained a horse from ground zero? Yes. I have started quite a few horses. Two of my own I have started from scratch (T-Bone and then Hampton). I have a very specific system when I start a horse and so far it has worked for me and kept me and the horse safe. I don't think it is something you should do if you are not calm and confident in what you are doing. And if I ever ran into a horse that I did not feel safe starting, I would ask for help.

Riding or groundwork? I keep a pretty good balance of both. With young horses, I do groundwork until we are blue in the face. And even now, I will long line, lunge or work Hampton in hand every once in a while.

Do you board your horse or keep him at home? I have always been a boarder. I'm not sure I would want to have horses at home and still have a full time job. Seems like that may be biting off more than I can chew. Also, I don't have any property to keep a horse on. So there's that.

Do you use all natural products or commercial? Commercial, for the most part.

All tacked up or bareback? Every once in a while I do get a wild hair up my ass and go for a bareback ride. I did so on my birthday this year and LOVED it. I even jumped a vertical. Hampton used to be incredibly uncomfortable to ride bareback, but now that he actually has a topline it is much better. I should do it more often.

Equestrian role model? Charlotte Dujardin, JJ Tate, Catherine Haddad, Steffen Peters

What is your one main goal while being in the horse world? To keep learning and getting better. :) I'd like to buy another young horse in a year or two. While Hampton is showing FEI, New Horse can work up the levels. I hope to do a better job with New Horse and hopefully not make as many mistakes as I have with poor Hampton. Maybe sell New Horse and repeat the process? Oh, and I want to ride a Grand Prix before I am 40.


5 blogs nominated:
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Princess Diva Diaries
Calm Forward Straight
The Reeling
Dressage Pony