Day 08- A little about the barn/stable you ride at
Hmmm well I don’t have a barn or stable that I ride at anymore since I’ve moved Piney up north. But my last barn was my favorite barn I’d ever been at. It was a smaller barn with only a handful of boarders. It was a dressage/hunter/jumper barn. The first time I walked into the tack room and saw only English saddles I had to smile. It was a big change from every other barn in the area I’d been in, with a majority of the saddles being western. There was a smaller heated arena with attached tack room and barn. The barn had 15 stalls and the quanset had another two stalls, as well as large stalls connected to paddocks that the horses were free to enter and exit as they pleased. I loved the atmosphere out there. I was always learning and felt like we were family. We each helped eachother out. It was by far the best barn in the area!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Well I have a lot so here goes nothing.
English
My saddle is a 17.5inch black Wintec Pro Dressage with slimline stirrup leathers and foot free stirrups. I use a Professional’s choice girth with a black sheepskin cover that keeps Mr. Grumpy Grump less grumpy when girthing up. I use an Equigel cushion gel pad under my saddle to help keep Piney’s back from getting sore. I have a little collection of saddle pads. My main pad is my Circuit sheepskin square saddle pad its white and I love it. But my fun pads are my Equine Couture pads. I have one dressage pad that is white with pink trim and pink and green argyle printed on it. and I have a tan and brown a/p pad that reminds me of my coach bags. Then I have just some plain pads in green, maroon, and blue. My show pad is my favorite it’s a white swallow tail pad that I picked up at greenhawk tack in Winnipeg. I bought my bridle from my old riding instructor. I’m not sure of the brand but it came from the Dressage Extensions website and is the padded crown Swedish bridle. (I LOVE it!) I replaced the plain brow band with fancy browband I bought used on ebay. It has large clear rhinestones and doesn’t look too girly. My bit is a Myler comfort snaffle dee ring bit. It is awesome for those low pallet mouthed TB's!
I also have a 16.5 inch no name English saddle that I can’t seem to get rid of. It was the first saddle that was ever bought for me. It’s ugly and cheap and apparently stuck with me for life as no one will even make an offer on it.
For ridding attire I have numerous pairs of breeches. My very first pair I bought in Sweden at a second hand horse store. They are a cream color and apparently magic because they still fit, 11 years later. I have a pair of light tan tights from devon-aire that are sweet for hot days. My favorite pair are my black full seated breeches. They glue me into the saddle when I ride in my dressage saddle. I have a pair of pukey green pull-ons that the girls at the tack store in Winnipeg sold me because they were all the rage on their show circuit that year. I also have a few pairs of tan breeches that I think are from devon-aire and I have my white dressage breeches for show. My show “britches” are full seat and blindingly white. I have a show coat as well as a white dressage shirt and stock tie, as well as a few other show shirts. When I ride I usually just have on a tee shirt or polo in the summer. In the fall/winter in the arena I’ll wear my Northface fleeces or a long sleeved shirt with a vest. My boots are tall dress boots from Ovation. I also have a pair of paddock boots that I’ll wear with short chaps. I have a lighter synthetic pair as well as a suede pair that are pretty worn out.
Western
My western saddle is a 15.5 inch Circle Y park and trail saddle. It’s a dark mahogany color. I use a professional’s choice girth on this one as well. My head stall and reins match my saddle color and are from Weaver. They are covered in sparkly rhinestones, of course. My western bit is a gorgeous curb bit with stars and fancy engravings but useless since I’ll never be able to use it on Piney. I have a breast collar that matches my bridle. I also have the matching spur straps, but I’ve never used spurs, nor do I know how to use them. My old boss got them for me because they matched my tack! My saddle blanket is from weaver and is pink. I bought it when I was headed out to get my new horse…Piney was supposed to be a girl…that’s why I bought pink.
When I ride western I basically wear jeans and whatever top fits the weather we are having. I always wear a boot with a heel, either my double h’s or my Ariats.
I also have various misc pieces of tack. I have a box full of bits, mostly torture snaffle bits from before I knew that they were as harsh as they were. I have an Australian saddle that I picked up at an auction for $40. I haven't tried it out yet but it looks comfortable, like a mix between western and english! I have bridles and girths, and tie downs, and breastcollars...a little of everything.
English
My saddle is a 17.5inch black Wintec Pro Dressage with slimline stirrup leathers and foot free stirrups. I use a Professional’s choice girth with a black sheepskin cover that keeps Mr. Grumpy Grump less grumpy when girthing up. I use an Equigel cushion gel pad under my saddle to help keep Piney’s back from getting sore. I have a little collection of saddle pads. My main pad is my Circuit sheepskin square saddle pad its white and I love it. But my fun pads are my Equine Couture pads. I have one dressage pad that is white with pink trim and pink and green argyle printed on it. and I have a tan and brown a/p pad that reminds me of my coach bags. Then I have just some plain pads in green, maroon, and blue. My show pad is my favorite it’s a white swallow tail pad that I picked up at greenhawk tack in Winnipeg. I bought my bridle from my old riding instructor. I’m not sure of the brand but it came from the Dressage Extensions website and is the padded crown Swedish bridle. (I LOVE it!) I replaced the plain brow band with fancy browband I bought used on ebay. It has large clear rhinestones and doesn’t look too girly. My bit is a Myler comfort snaffle dee ring bit. It is awesome for those low pallet mouthed TB's!
I also have a 16.5 inch no name English saddle that I can’t seem to get rid of. It was the first saddle that was ever bought for me. It’s ugly and cheap and apparently stuck with me for life as no one will even make an offer on it.
For ridding attire I have numerous pairs of breeches. My very first pair I bought in Sweden at a second hand horse store. They are a cream color and apparently magic because they still fit, 11 years later. I have a pair of light tan tights from devon-aire that are sweet for hot days. My favorite pair are my black full seated breeches. They glue me into the saddle when I ride in my dressage saddle. I have a pair of pukey green pull-ons that the girls at the tack store in Winnipeg sold me because they were all the rage on their show circuit that year. I also have a few pairs of tan breeches that I think are from devon-aire and I have my white dressage breeches for show. My show “britches” are full seat and blindingly white. I have a show coat as well as a white dressage shirt and stock tie, as well as a few other show shirts. When I ride I usually just have on a tee shirt or polo in the summer. In the fall/winter in the arena I’ll wear my Northface fleeces or a long sleeved shirt with a vest. My boots are tall dress boots from Ovation. I also have a pair of paddock boots that I’ll wear with short chaps. I have a lighter synthetic pair as well as a suede pair that are pretty worn out.
Western
My western saddle is a 15.5 inch Circle Y park and trail saddle. It’s a dark mahogany color. I use a professional’s choice girth on this one as well. My head stall and reins match my saddle color and are from Weaver. They are covered in sparkly rhinestones, of course. My western bit is a gorgeous curb bit with stars and fancy engravings but useless since I’ll never be able to use it on Piney. I have a breast collar that matches my bridle. I also have the matching spur straps, but I’ve never used spurs, nor do I know how to use them. My old boss got them for me because they matched my tack! My saddle blanket is from weaver and is pink. I bought it when I was headed out to get my new horse…Piney was supposed to be a girl…that’s why I bought pink.
When I ride western I basically wear jeans and whatever top fits the weather we are having. I always wear a boot with a heel, either my double h’s or my Ariats.
I also have various misc pieces of tack. I have a box full of bits, mostly torture snaffle bits from before I knew that they were as harsh as they were. I have an Australian saddle that I picked up at an auction for $40. I haven't tried it out yet but it looks comfortable, like a mix between western and english! I have bridles and girths, and tie downs, and breastcollars...a little of everything.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Day 05- Your first fall
Day 05- Your first fall
My first fall…YUCK. I was taking my very first lesson at my riding school in Sweden. They put me in a class with people obviously way more advanced that I was. For some reason we went out riding on the trails. They did an AWFUL job telling me the commands to control the Devil horse I was riding. I knew how to stop a western horse, and how to neck rein. But the horse I was riding had never been to America lol, he was no dude ranch horse. Something happened that I’m not entirely clear of when we were out in an open field with some jumps. My hose took off, and I lost my balance, slipped off the side and was dragged a few feet after I came in contact with the frozen ground. I looked up and started laughing. It was the only way to keep my already tear filled eyes from gushing more tears. I remember as I looked up I saw all kinds of horses faces and riders faces. Looking at me asking me a million questions. Someone brought back my horse and asked me if I wanted to get back on. I didn’t want to, so my instructor gave me her horse and then explained to me that saying “HO!” will do nothing to get these horses to stop. Great thanks for telling me that before Devil horse took off. She also told me that the horse I’d been riding was once a big time million dollar show horse that was retired because he had some brain damage or something crazy. I really wish those things had been told to me before I hit the dirt.
When we were riding back to the riding school, we passed some riders in western saddles and they were riding QUARTER HORSES! My riding instructor talked to them breiefly and then introduced me. They told me to swing by their barn after we got home and we could talk about me riding their hroses.
So sure enough I got back to the barn and limped to the other barn…a good 30 minute walk. They told me they were looking for someone to ride their quarter horses for them so I said YES! And agreed to meet them there later that week. Then I limped the 45 minute walk home. When I got there my host mom was excited to talk about my lesson. I sat at the kitchen table and then started bawling. My leg and elbow hurt so much. So the next day was my first and only trip to the Swedish Hospital for x rays! Nothing broken but I had badly bruised my elbow. It still hurts to this day if I carry things for two long.
They say the hardest thing about riding horses is the ground…I agree!
My first fall…YUCK. I was taking my very first lesson at my riding school in Sweden. They put me in a class with people obviously way more advanced that I was. For some reason we went out riding on the trails. They did an AWFUL job telling me the commands to control the Devil horse I was riding. I knew how to stop a western horse, and how to neck rein. But the horse I was riding had never been to America lol, he was no dude ranch horse. Something happened that I’m not entirely clear of when we were out in an open field with some jumps. My hose took off, and I lost my balance, slipped off the side and was dragged a few feet after I came in contact with the frozen ground. I looked up and started laughing. It was the only way to keep my already tear filled eyes from gushing more tears. I remember as I looked up I saw all kinds of horses faces and riders faces. Looking at me asking me a million questions. Someone brought back my horse and asked me if I wanted to get back on. I didn’t want to, so my instructor gave me her horse and then explained to me that saying “HO!” will do nothing to get these horses to stop. Great thanks for telling me that before Devil horse took off. She also told me that the horse I’d been riding was once a big time million dollar show horse that was retired because he had some brain damage or something crazy. I really wish those things had been told to me before I hit the dirt.
When we were riding back to the riding school, we passed some riders in western saddles and they were riding QUARTER HORSES! My riding instructor talked to them breiefly and then introduced me. They told me to swing by their barn after we got home and we could talk about me riding their hroses.
So sure enough I got back to the barn and limped to the other barn…a good 30 minute walk. They told me they were looking for someone to ride their quarter horses for them so I said YES! And agreed to meet them there later that week. Then I limped the 45 minute walk home. When I got there my host mom was excited to talk about my lesson. I sat at the kitchen table and then started bawling. My leg and elbow hurt so much. So the next day was my first and only trip to the Swedish Hospital for x rays! Nothing broken but I had badly bruised my elbow. It still hurts to this day if I carry things for two long.
They say the hardest thing about riding horses is the ground…I agree!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Day 04- A ride that impacted your life
Day 04- A ride that impacted your life
I guess you could say that every ride impacts my life in some way or another. But the ride that most impacted my life the most was the first time I rode Yellow. I had been away from horses for a while. I had had a lease that went extremely sour. I’d taken a horsemanship university class with a professor who went out of his way to make me look and feel like an idiot because I wasn’t born in the saddle like the rest of the girls in class. Rather than helping me out, he made me the example of what not to do with horses. I was at a point in my life where I’d pretty much wanted nothing to do with horses.
I’d ran into an old friend of mine who was now working at a private barn and I ended up going out there a few times to help her with horse chores. One day she asked me if I wanted to go riding with her and a big group of girls she knew from college up in the sandhills. I actually didn’t really want to go as I felt I was pretty rusty in the saddle. But I went along because I never could say no to my friend…mostly because I was too scared to say no to her. Hahaha
The horse she had me riding was the meanest, ugliest palomino I’d ever seen. Every time I went by his stall in the barn he’d bare his teeth at me, or reach out and try to nip me. His ears were always pinned back and he just looked pissed off at the world. My friend assured me that once he was saddled up he was a good boy. I took her word on it.
Once we go there and got the horses unloaded, she tied them up to a hitching post while we got our saddles. Just as we were coming back to the horses Yellow had gotten his halter stuck on a piece of the hitching post and was flipping out. He was stuggling and then reared up once he was free. “awesome” I thought. “I have to ride this monster? This may be my last ride EVER!” But we calmed him down and tacked him up. Then I hopped on.
The group started along and I was now riding a prancing, dancing horse. He was flipping his head, and piaffing in place when I tried to hold him back to wait for my friend. Me and yellow had some difficulty communicating at first. I had no idea what he was saying to me. The bitchy girls on the ride with us were of no help to me either when I asked what I should do. One girls actually said to me “if you can’t handle your horse you shouldn’t even be on this ride!” My friend was having her own issues with her horse whose only speed was fast. So I didn’t want to bother her. I then just tried to figure out what he was saying to me. I gave him his head, and had nice long reins and he calmed down. A light bulb went off in my head; my friend told me once that he was a Western Pleasure show horse when the barn bought him. So it made sense that he wanted a nice long neck and low head. From then on out I was in heaven.
Once I figured him out I had the time of my life. He was the best trained horse I’d ever been on. When I asked for the canter he did it. No fighting, not asking two or three times. I even got some flying lead changes out of him, when I asked.
About halfway through the day we arrived at a little river with a wooden bridge over it. I sat and watched as the girls who were complete bitches to me struggled to get their horse over it. Not one of their horses would cross. I figured it wouldn’t hurt for me to try, so I pointed him at the bridge, and he crossed right over. No hesitation, no asking numerous times. He just walked right over it. The girls behind me couldn’t believe it.
I fell in love with that horse that day. And I regained my love of horses and riding. After that day I started spending more time with him around the barn. I managed to sweeten him up and he no longer pinned his ears, or try to bite you when you went near his stall. I spent hours brushing him and talking to him. And he was always my first choice to ride. The owner of the barn was impressed at the change in Yellow. He had been ready to sell him because of his bad attitude but yellow had become one of his favorites now because he was so sweet. Two years later Yellow was my horse, as he was given to me for my birthday from the barn owners. He was my dream come true, and I miss him every single day. His life was taken from him too soon. But I know he’s up there waiting for me and in the mean time he nudged me towards Piney. Who he knew would take care of me.
I guess you could say that every ride impacts my life in some way or another. But the ride that most impacted my life the most was the first time I rode Yellow. I had been away from horses for a while. I had had a lease that went extremely sour. I’d taken a horsemanship university class with a professor who went out of his way to make me look and feel like an idiot because I wasn’t born in the saddle like the rest of the girls in class. Rather than helping me out, he made me the example of what not to do with horses. I was at a point in my life where I’d pretty much wanted nothing to do with horses.
I’d ran into an old friend of mine who was now working at a private barn and I ended up going out there a few times to help her with horse chores. One day she asked me if I wanted to go riding with her and a big group of girls she knew from college up in the sandhills. I actually didn’t really want to go as I felt I was pretty rusty in the saddle. But I went along because I never could say no to my friend…mostly because I was too scared to say no to her. Hahaha
The horse she had me riding was the meanest, ugliest palomino I’d ever seen. Every time I went by his stall in the barn he’d bare his teeth at me, or reach out and try to nip me. His ears were always pinned back and he just looked pissed off at the world. My friend assured me that once he was saddled up he was a good boy. I took her word on it.
Once we go there and got the horses unloaded, she tied them up to a hitching post while we got our saddles. Just as we were coming back to the horses Yellow had gotten his halter stuck on a piece of the hitching post and was flipping out. He was stuggling and then reared up once he was free. “awesome” I thought. “I have to ride this monster? This may be my last ride EVER!” But we calmed him down and tacked him up. Then I hopped on.
The group started along and I was now riding a prancing, dancing horse. He was flipping his head, and piaffing in place when I tried to hold him back to wait for my friend. Me and yellow had some difficulty communicating at first. I had no idea what he was saying to me. The bitchy girls on the ride with us were of no help to me either when I asked what I should do. One girls actually said to me “if you can’t handle your horse you shouldn’t even be on this ride!” My friend was having her own issues with her horse whose only speed was fast. So I didn’t want to bother her. I then just tried to figure out what he was saying to me. I gave him his head, and had nice long reins and he calmed down. A light bulb went off in my head; my friend told me once that he was a Western Pleasure show horse when the barn bought him. So it made sense that he wanted a nice long neck and low head. From then on out I was in heaven.
Once I figured him out I had the time of my life. He was the best trained horse I’d ever been on. When I asked for the canter he did it. No fighting, not asking two or three times. I even got some flying lead changes out of him, when I asked.
About halfway through the day we arrived at a little river with a wooden bridge over it. I sat and watched as the girls who were complete bitches to me struggled to get their horse over it. Not one of their horses would cross. I figured it wouldn’t hurt for me to try, so I pointed him at the bridge, and he crossed right over. No hesitation, no asking numerous times. He just walked right over it. The girls behind me couldn’t believe it.
I fell in love with that horse that day. And I regained my love of horses and riding. After that day I started spending more time with him around the barn. I managed to sweeten him up and he no longer pinned his ears, or try to bite you when you went near his stall. I spent hours brushing him and talking to him. And he was always my first choice to ride. The owner of the barn was impressed at the change in Yellow. He had been ready to sell him because of his bad attitude but yellow had become one of his favorites now because he was so sweet. Two years later Yellow was my horse, as he was given to me for my birthday from the barn owners. He was my dream come true, and I miss him every single day. His life was taken from him too soon. But I know he’s up there waiting for me and in the mean time he nudged me towards Piney. Who he knew would take care of me.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Day 03 - Your best riding
Day 03- A video of your best riding Your best riding
My best riding ever sadly wasn’t on Piney, it was on Wizard, that little white arabian I took lessons on. It was my last training level dressage test at my first show at my barn. The test was going awesome and everything felt like it was going right. I was doing my last 20 meter circle at the canter when I lost my stirrup, in my head told me to panic, slow him down and get my stirrup, but my heart and Wizard said “don’t worry about it!’ We are almost there!” So I finished the test up, halted and saluted caught my breath and heard my instructor call out from behind me “HOLY CRAP GIRL! That was your best ride ever! I’ve never EVER seen Wizard move like that for anyone! WOW!”
We ended up getting Reserve high point that day and it still tops my list of my best most memorable rides ever. Especially since I didn’t panic, and grab my stirrup. He took care of me and we finished perfectly. In lessons when that happened I’d freak out. I looked at stirrups as my safety net for some reason. I know now that I can manage without them sometimes too. I just wish I had video of that ride!
My best riding ever sadly wasn’t on Piney, it was on Wizard, that little white arabian I took lessons on. It was my last training level dressage test at my first show at my barn. The test was going awesome and everything felt like it was going right. I was doing my last 20 meter circle at the canter when I lost my stirrup, in my head told me to panic, slow him down and get my stirrup, but my heart and Wizard said “don’t worry about it!’ We are almost there!” So I finished the test up, halted and saluted caught my breath and heard my instructor call out from behind me “HOLY CRAP GIRL! That was your best ride ever! I’ve never EVER seen Wizard move like that for anyone! WOW!”
We ended up getting Reserve high point that day and it still tops my list of my best most memorable rides ever. Especially since I didn’t panic, and grab my stirrup. He took care of me and we finished perfectly. In lessons when that happened I’d freak out. I looked at stirrups as my safety net for some reason. I know now that I can manage without them sometimes too. I just wish I had video of that ride!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Day 02- The last time you rode a horse and what you did
Day 02- The last time you rode a horse and what you did
The last time I rode a horse, was a few months ago. I rode Piney bareback because I had been too lazy to adjust the gullets in my saddle. It was a pretty un eventful ride to most I’m sure, but to me it was amazing. Every time I get on that horse bareback I can’t get over the fact that I am riding a thoroughbred…bareback…MY THOROUGHBRED…I’d always dreamed as a child that I’d own a thoroughbred I just never thought it would come true. I’m thankful for ever ride I get on my horse knowing that he is my dream come true.
I love our little bareback rides because usually it’s just me and him. So I talk to him and tell him all kinds of things. Obviously he doesn’t understand a word I’m saying but I like to pretend he does. Especially when I say something positive about him and he lets out a great big sigh. Makes me laugh every single time.
The last time I rode a horse, was a few months ago. I rode Piney bareback because I had been too lazy to adjust the gullets in my saddle. It was a pretty un eventful ride to most I’m sure, but to me it was amazing. Every time I get on that horse bareback I can’t get over the fact that I am riding a thoroughbred…bareback…MY THOROUGHBRED…I’d always dreamed as a child that I’d own a thoroughbred I just never thought it would come true. I’m thankful for ever ride I get on my horse knowing that he is my dream come true.
I love our little bareback rides because usually it’s just me and him. So I talk to him and tell him all kinds of things. Obviously he doesn’t understand a word I’m saying but I like to pretend he does. Especially when I say something positive about him and he lets out a great big sigh. Makes me laugh every single time.
Friday, May 6, 2011
30 Day Challenge Equestrian Edition
I've seen a lot of people doing these and I always thought they looked fun. so I thought I'd give it a shot!
I had to change a few as I don't have any videos of me riding!
30 Day Challenge Equestrian Edition
Day 01- When and why you started riding
Day 02- The last time you rode a horse and what you did
Day 03-A video of your best riding Your best riding ever
Day 04- A ride that impacted your life
Day 05- Your first fall
Day 06- All the tack and riding clothes you have (brand/color/other details)
Day 07- Your favorite ribbon won at a show and why
Day 08- A little about the barn/stable you ride at
Day 09- Any injuries that occurred from riding
Day 10- How your family/friends feel about your riding
Day 11- Find a horse for sale online that you would want to buy
Day 12- Favorite horse color
Day 13-A video of your worst riding Your worst riding ever
Day 14- Your dream barn/farm
Day 15- If you could speak to any horse, dead or alive, what would you say?
Day 16- Your most recent fall
Day 17- Your equestrian idol
Day 18- Your grooming routine
Day 19- A discipline you would like to do that you’ve never done before
Day 20- Your favorite horse show
Day 21- Your perfect schooling outfit
Day 22- The importance of riding in your life
Day 23- Critique a famous/well known equestrian’s jumping round of your choosing
Day 24- Your best riding friend
Day 25- Your dream trailer
Day 26- Biggest riding pet peeve
Day 27- You know your an equestrian when….. (Give 5 original ones)
Day 28- Helmet or no helmet?
Day 29- A style/trend in tack/riding appearal that you don’t like
Day 30- Your Future With Horses
Day 01- When and why you started riding
I’d like to say that I was born in the saddle and grew up around horses, but sadly that isn’t true. I grew up in a small northern, Manitoba town. When I say northern Manitoba most people don’t quite get how far north I’m from. I’m from 600Km NORTH of Winnipeg. That’s 6 hours in the car, on a single lane highway seeing nothing but trees and an occasional wild animal. The town I’m from is the furthest northern farming community in Manitoba. But people just don’t have a lot of horses up there. I think I knew of one girl who had a horse. But I never actually saw her horse.
Summers we spent at our lake home in Minnesota. There were a few dude ranches nearby and I’d beg every single summer to go. And I got my wish at least once, twice if I was lucky, each summer. I’ll never forget the first time I rode a horse. Her name was Misty, and she was a little solid bay mare. I thought she was the most beautiful horse I’d ever seen, and one day I was going to have a horse just like her! They put me up in the saddle and I was on cloud nine! Finally on a real horse! They told me how to steer and how to make her move. But nothing really worked, She wouldn’t budge, so they hooked me up to a lead rope and ponied me alongside the leader. I thought I was super cool because I was up front. The ride was an hour long but it seemed to go so quickly. I spent the rest of the summer playing with and riding my invisible horse “misty”.
When we were kids all the girls I knew loved horses. But they all grew out of it. I never did. Some days I wish I would have. I’d have a heck of a lot more money that’s for sure!! I often joked when cleaning stalls or doing horse chores that maybe if I’d had to do those things when I was younger I probably wouldn’t still be a horse addict! Being a horse obsessed person it just something that I am! I've said it a few times that I want out of horses. But I keep coming back it them. It's just something that I need to keep me alive. My childhood obsession turned into a hobby that I hope to continue many more years of my life.
I had to change a few as I don't have any videos of me riding!
30 Day Challenge Equestrian Edition
Day 01- When and why you started riding
Day 02- The last time you rode a horse and what you did
Day 03-
Day 04- A ride that impacted your life
Day 05- Your first fall
Day 06- All the tack and riding clothes you have (brand/color/other details)
Day 07- Your favorite ribbon won at a show and why
Day 08- A little about the barn/stable you ride at
Day 09- Any injuries that occurred from riding
Day 10- How your family/friends feel about your riding
Day 11- Find a horse for sale online that you would want to buy
Day 12- Favorite horse color
Day 13-
Day 14- Your dream barn/farm
Day 15- If you could speak to any horse, dead or alive, what would you say?
Day 16- Your most recent fall
Day 17- Your equestrian idol
Day 18- Your grooming routine
Day 19- A discipline you would like to do that you’ve never done before
Day 20- Your favorite horse show
Day 21- Your perfect schooling outfit
Day 22- The importance of riding in your life
Day 23- Critique a famous/well known equestrian’s jumping round of your choosing
Day 24- Your best riding friend
Day 25- Your dream trailer
Day 26- Biggest riding pet peeve
Day 27- You know your an equestrian when….. (Give 5 original ones)
Day 28- Helmet or no helmet?
Day 29- A style/trend in tack/riding appearal that you don’t like
Day 30- Your Future With Horses
Day 01- When and why you started riding
I’d like to say that I was born in the saddle and grew up around horses, but sadly that isn’t true. I grew up in a small northern, Manitoba town. When I say northern Manitoba most people don’t quite get how far north I’m from. I’m from 600Km NORTH of Winnipeg. That’s 6 hours in the car, on a single lane highway seeing nothing but trees and an occasional wild animal. The town I’m from is the furthest northern farming community in Manitoba. But people just don’t have a lot of horses up there. I think I knew of one girl who had a horse. But I never actually saw her horse.
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| My first horse |
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| "Cowboy" The second real horse I've ever ridden |
The photo of me on the bay hrose was taken the same autumn as my first ride. The stable wasn’t giving trail rides that day but I had my mom ask if they could saddle me up a horse to sit on. They agreed and again I was in heaven up there! I knew I had to have a horse of my own one day!
Every summer I went on one or two rides a year. Until I moved to Sweden for my year as an Exchange student. I FINALLY found a city with real actual horse riding lessons! I was 18 when I started taking lessons and since then I’ve been taking them on and off for about 11 (ugh where has the time gone!!) years.
When we were kids all the girls I knew loved horses. But they all grew out of it. I never did. Some days I wish I would have. I’d have a heck of a lot more money that’s for sure!! I often joked when cleaning stalls or doing horse chores that maybe if I’d had to do those things when I was younger I probably wouldn’t still be a horse addict! Being a horse obsessed person it just something that I am! I've said it a few times that I want out of horses. But I keep coming back it them. It's just something that I need to keep me alive. My childhood obsession turned into a hobby that I hope to continue many more years of my life.
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