October Ten Questions

Thank you, L, for asking the fun questions, as always!

What do you consider “jumping high” for yourself? 1.15m & up. I honestly don’t jump higher than 1.15m anymore and compete much lower right now.

What are your short term goals for riding? Do you think you’ll reach them? I primarily ride for fun now, so I don’t actively make goals very much, other than have fun at a show, try not to die, don’t look like an idiot too much, etc.

Long term goals for riding? Do you think you’ll reach them? More dressage. Maybe even compete at dressage again? Eli is not likely the right horse for that, so it’s not on the immediate horizon.

How many barns have you been at in your riding career? 4 or 5.

How many different trainers have you been with in your riding career? Same as above, I guess?

Ever worked at a barn? What did you do? Yes. Teach. & odds & ends. Also fed on the weekends as a teenager and was a working student around the same time.

Scariest thing that has happened at your barn? The threat of fire in dry conditions terrifies me. I am also always scared/afraid/worried/stressed when a horse either colicks or gets cast. And one time a random stranger jogged onto the barn property and tried to ride a boarder’s horse while she was grazing the mare … just hearing that freaked me out. The boarder stayed super calm and the barn owner intervened; nothing terrible came of it or anything, it was just one of those weird, random things.  The guy was maybe a little not right in the head, apparently had no clue what he was doing was wrong/threatening/unsafe.

Have you ever given a lesson? What level was the rider? Yes. Mostly beginners, some intermediate … then, I don’t know, what’s the line of demarcation for going from intermediate to advanced?

What is your opinion on the accuracy of critiquing riders online? There are people who offer constructive criticism and then there are assholes. And everyone is one of those things to someone.

What is the ideal height of a horse for you? 16hh-16.3hh.