Horsey Questionnaire, 50 facts

I was catching up on my blog reading when I saw this post at the Gray Horse Matters blog. And she got it from one of my other favorite blogs, Glenshee Equestrian Center. I think it looks like fun so I'm going to play, too!

I won’t officially tag anyone, but it might be fun if readers passed it on by filling it out and posting it to your blogs with your own experiences, and encourage your readers to do the same. Hope you decide to play along! And if you do, leave a comment here letting me know :-)

1. How old were you when you first started riding? 6 years old

2. First horse ridden: Numerous pony rides at fairs and such when I was smaller. As for a lesson horse? I got my first leadline lessons at 6 years old from a lady with horses and a pony in her backyard. I don't remember the pony's name but I know he was a show pony from the "Farnley" bloodline.

3. First horse trotted on: The Farnley pony.

4. First horse cantered on: The Farnley pony.

5. First Horse fallen off of: A big leopard appy named "Dalmatian" when I was 7 years old.

6. Most recent horse fallen off of: Monty, bless his heart.

7. Most terrifying fall: Hmm, tough one. Luckily have not had one so bad I couldn't laugh about it later. But It would have to be the time I was catch riding a horse named "Riley" in the hunters at a show. He was a dirty stopper, where you got no warning before he'd just quit at take off and throw his head down so you plowed into the ground. I was riding him and I knew this but he got me in the middle of a 2-stride line. He dumped me hard into a panel gate jump. When my body hit the gate it cracked so loud everything just kind of stopped in the other rings. I untangled myself from the mess of the jump and was surprised to find I was just bruised a bit. Then I remounted and finished the round. He never got that lucky with me again.

8. First horse jumped with: Wow, I can't believe I don't recall. Might have been an ancient lesson horse named "Cadett".

9. First horse who ran away with you: Tally Ho, who was also the first horse I owned.

10. First horse that scared the crap out of you: Hmm, again, tough one. Luckily have not had one so bad I couldn't laugh about it later. I think it would have been Alta, my mare. She pulled some stuff in our 20 years together that was pretty scary at the time.

11. First horse shown: Tally Ho

12. First horse to win a class with: Sanka, my second horse

13. Do you/have you taken lessons: Oh yes. Many, MANY years of lessons

14. First horse you ever rode bareback: Tally Ho

15. First horse trail ridden with: Cadett

16. Current Barn name: Don't own a barn myself but I board at the West Hills Polo Club.

17. Do you ride English or western?: English

18. First Horse to place at a show with: Tally Ho

19. Ever been to horse camp?: Nope

20. Ever been to a riding clinic? Sure, George Morris, Tellington Jones, Anne Gribbons, ah, and I just asked my trainer, there also was a Conrad Homfeld jumping clinic years back, too.

21. Ridden sidesaddle? My dream!!

22. First horse leased: Never leased. Always owned but I half boarded one, once.

23. Last Horse Leased: The horse I half boarded was called "Sargeant York". He helped me win the Adult PHA Hunt Seat Equitation year end award back in 1991.

24. Highest ribbon in a show: Grand Champion of the day

25. Ever been to an 'A' rated show?: sure, lots of times

26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?: Lol, at boarder barn summer picnics

27. Ever fallen off at a show: Heh, see number 7 above...

28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers?: Hunters and hunter seat equitation. I only did the jumpers as a warm-up.

29. Have you ever barrel raced? No, probably would have when I was a kid but not now.

30. Ever done pole bending?: nope

31. Favorite gait: controlled canter across an open field, heading to a natural jump!

32. Ever cantered bareback?: sure!

33. Have you ever done dressage?: Yes. Successful in training and first levels and trained to second level.

34. Have you ever evented?: no, but it looks like a blast at the lower levels!

35. Have you ever mucked a stall?: more than I care to remember...

36. Ever been bucked off?: Yes, and the best one is where I got launched, rolled in midair and landed in front of the horse, who then hit the brakes, jerked his head up and since I still had a death grip on the reins, he pulled me onto my feet! I ended up standing next to him holding the reins!! But ohhhh, man was my shoulder sore from that yank it got!!!

37. Ever been on a horse that reared: Yes, Alta. Many rearing stories there. That's why rearing is a total deal breaker on any horse for me.

38. Horses or ponies. Horses. Always too big for the ponies.

39. Do you wear a helmet?: Always now. Years ago I was stupid and didn't care but you grow up and "get it".

40. What's the highest you've jumped: about 4'6". never was lucky enough to ride something that could easily jump higher.

41. Have you ever ridden at night?: of course!!

42. Do you watch horsey television shows?: sometimes but then I get caught up in critiquing them and it ruins the moment.

43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall?: No, thank God. May the angels continue to protect me.

44. Most falls in one lesson: one is enough, don't you think?

45. Do you ride in an arena/ring?: sometimes, but trails and fields are much more fun!

46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse?: see 43 above.

47. Have you ever been bitten?: oh yes. Mostly by Alta.

48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?: if you are around them long enough, it's odd if you haven't had a foot stomped on.

49: Favorite riding moment: foxhunting!!!!!!! riding a perfect hunter round! and getting a 10 on my square halt in dressage!

50. Most fun horse you've ridden: Monty, without question. But there were others who I really enjoyed having ridden at different times and for different reasons -

Cadett - the safest most reliable lesson horse a kid could learn independance on.

Tally Ho - the best first horse a 10 year old girl could have ever owned.

Sanka - who started out as my dad's western trail horse and turned out to be a nice maiden/novice/limit hunt seat equitation horse.

Sargeant York - a 100k dollar horse in a 5k body. He was aged, swaybacked, partially blind and had a slight heart murmur and was a lesson horse picked up at auction. Yet, he was totally sound and when you entered the showring with him and picked up the canter, his ears pricked at the sight of the first fence and he just clocked around, gave you every distance, never stopped (EVER) and automatically changed his leads where needed. I am honored to have had the chance to ride a horse like him.

Audacious - a swedish warmblood 3-day event horse owned by the lady whose backyard barn I boarded at for 15 years. He was her son's event horse. Trained by big name professionals, he was one of my silent teachers. Every time I was given the opportunity to ride him I learned things from feeling the ride on a horse with that much knowledge.

Gray Lady - a home bred Secretariat granddaughter. Owned by the same lady with Audacious. She was the best mare I've ever worked with. Whether on a hunter pace or at the Hampton Classic she always gave 150% with no attitude.

Gator - a cool lesson/sale horse catchride that I pinned well at the Hampton Classic with and had a great attitude.

Alta Speranza - my OTTB mare. She wasn't the most fun, or the easiest, but she made me a horseman and taught me sensitivity (even when she had to beat me into submission) I am seriously considering a second blog recounting our 20 years of tales together.