Blog Hop: 10 Questions (July)

I don't know if it's officially a blog hop, but I'm going to pretend it is. L. Williams at Viva Carlos and posted these 10 questions for July, and several other blogs I follow have all answered them, so here goes my attempt! 

Topaz. Because she's cute.

1. Do you actually always pick the horse’s feet? Always? Really? 

Nope. My main riding horses are barefoot with really good feet, so if its dry out I am often lazy about picking their feet. At various times I have had shod horses, so I do always pick their feet. And when its muddy or I’ve been walking over rocks/gravel, I pick their feet. But every single time? No. 

 

2. What is the biggest obstacle/reason preventing you from becoming a professional or competing full time with ease? 

Aside from a complete and utter lack of talent? Haha. Probably the same as everyone else -- time and money. And in all honesty, I absolutely do not have the appropriate temperament to be a professional in the horse industry. I lack patience, among other things. I am perfectly content to be an Adult Amateur toodling around on the horses I keep in my backyard. Do I want to improve? Yes, very much so. Do I have Olympic aspirations? Nope. 

Gratuitous photo of Jasper jumping, because he's adorbs. Not me riding.

3. Do you think it will ever not be about the money? 

I guess it really depends on what “it” is -- at the higher levels, yes, I think it will always be about the money. But at the lower levels, for those of us with day jobs that just do this for fun, obviously money can make things tremendously easier, but the average person on an average horse can still succeed. My husband and I both work state jobs for the lowest paying state in the nation -- we’re not exactly rolling in money. But I am still able to not only own horses, but take lessons and show. Could I take more lessons and have my horses in full-time training and attend bigger shows (and hypothetically advance faster) if I had more money? Well duh. But for now I just do the best I can with what I have. I wouldn't turn down the winning lotto numbers if you happen to have them though. This just went on the market near my mom's house ;)

 

4. Was there ever a horse that you loved and really wanted to have a connection with, but it just never panned out? Details. 

I guess that depends on what you mean by “never panned out” -- never panned out as in the horse wasn’t in your life, or never panned out in that you tried to connect and the spark was just never there? I might be reading too much into this question, lol. I’ve had both. Horses that didn’t stay in my life long (because they didn’t belong to me), and horses that have belonged to me that I never really “clicked” with. I try not to sweat it too much, because I do have some great horses in my life that I DO connect with. Focus on the positive, right?

Pregnant mare glare. Because Tres was so unamused by my photographing her incessantly when she was pregnant.

5. What is one weakness in your riding that even your trainer doesn’t pick up on, only you? 

My weaknesses are pretty obvious. And there are plenty to choose from!

 

6. What is the biggest doubt/insecurity you ask or tell yourself in your head? 

That I’m never going to be any better at this and I should just sell my horses and take up knitting or underwater basket-weaving or something. 

Happy ponies in 2010! Topaz, Tres, Jasper, Trigger, and Jack.

7. There is a barn fire. You are the first person to discover it and see that the roof is collapsing in slowly, and you can tell that it’s going to come down any time. Do you call people first, or head in straight to save the horses? 

Why can I not call people from my cell phone as I run in to try to save horses? I feel like that would be my first instinct. Are they my horses? If they’re my horses, I’m going in there, collapsing roof be damned. If they’re horses I don’t know, I would still try to get them out/get help, but I’m not going to get myself killed if I can help it. 

 

8. What is one event in your riding career/horse/anything that you’re still not over, even thought you might tell others you are? 

Nothing really comes to mind.

 

Ally. She probably needs a blog post.

9. If you could tell off one person you just don’t like, what would you say? 

Does it matter? I can have exquisitely crafted dialogues in my head, where I say all the things I want and things flow perfectly, but that’s not how real life works. Usually in real life I find it easier to just walk away and not waste the time or energy.

 

10. Have you ever seen questionable riding or training practices, but let it go/ignored it? How do you feel about it in hindsight? 

Yes, I’m very a much a “mind my own business” unless you specifically ask for my opinion. And even then, I’m probably not going to get pushy about it. People very rarely appreciate unsolicited opinions (especially if they're negative), and the odds are I'm not going to change anyone's mind.