Taken from Viva Carlos who is the master of all the horse surveys and questions.   Also, I’m filling this with old pictures of Simon that I haven’t ever posted before so if you wonder why he’s skinny… that’s why 😉

1. If your horse could talk what would they say? What would they be like?

Simon would be super friendly.  He just wants everyone to like him and everyone to be his friend… whether it’s horse, human or dog.  He’d probably be that kid who drinks too much at the high school party in an attempt to socialize and ends up being like WOOO I AM A GOLDEN GOD… or something like that.

2: If you were a horse, what would you look like (color, markings, etc), what discipline would you do, and what would you be like to ride?

I’d be a palomino, probably a chunky halter-type AQHA or Haflinger (because I’m obsessed with Haflingers).  I would do the hunters, and I’d be really amazing at it if you stayed out of my way but occasionally would not pay attention and mess up the entire round.  Sorry!

3. How many barns have you ridden at?

I started at a back yard barn and fox hunted, stayed there from age 10 – 18.  Then I moved Elvis to where my college equestrian team rode at, and stayed there from age 18-21?   After Elvis recovered from his eye injury, I found him a half leaser at an A hunter/jumper barn and stayed there until I moved to Massachusetts in 2008.

In Texas, I’ve boarded at three barns and lessoned at one other.  It’s more “barn hopping” than I’ve ever done, but I guess that isn’t too bad considering I’ve lived here almost 4 years now.

5. Can you braid a horses mane? Tail?

I can do hunter braids (although I’ve gotten rusty), and I’m okay at hunter tails.  Not good enough at tails for rated shows yet, but I’m working on it.

6. Do you believe that you have to fall off in order to be a good rider?

No.  However, I think you need to not constantly be afraid of falling off in order to be a good rider.

7. What do you think is more important: eq or effective riding?

In many ways, equitation is effective riding.  The rules of equitation aren’t arbitrary.

8. Are there any “horse couples” at your barn?

Kind of.  My trainer is married to our farrier and he also rides.  My husband briefly took lessons but quit when he deemed it too hard 😉

9. Favorite treat to feed your horse?

I love to give him anything that he will eat and do “the treat face” for.

10. Silly quirks your horse has.

He has a nervous habit of chewing on his tongue.  When he does it, he tilts his face to the side and crinkles his nose up.  It’s very attractive.

11. Strangest thing you’ve fed your horse.

Simon is very picky, but Elvis would eat anything.  His favorite were Doritos and at horse shows I would buy a bag just for him.  They left orange dust on his nose.

12. Have you ever made any horse friends through the internet?

Yup!  My friend who also photographed my wedding I met through sim horse games. I met Jen through blogging and see her fairly regularly. There are plenty of “ichat” friends I talk to all the time that I met through blogging!

13. Would you buy horse furniture?

Some, but not much.  If I was stupid rich I’d get one of those beds that look like show jumps for a guest bedroom… but I’m not even a little rich.

14. Funniest horsey moment

One time I got thrown into a jump and ripped my breeches and had to safety pin them together… only it was so not funny at the time.

15. Post a picture of your horse (or any horse) making a silly face that you got on camera!

16. What’s a moment with horses that you wished you caught on camera?

I wish I had videos of me and Elvis showing at Johnston County.  We usually went alone, so there are few photos and no videos.  Still, those were some of my happiest show memories.

17. How old was the youngest horse you’ve met?

Minutes.  The barn I boarded at during college bred several a year, so I’ve been around a lot of babies.

18. How old was the oldest horse you’ve met?

I knew of a 42 year old Arabian but I never met him.  Oldest was a Tenn Walker at my previous barn in Austin, and he was young 30’s.

19. Opinion on colorful tack? (like red or blue)

Unless you’re running cross country or in a rodeo, do not like.

20. Have you ever tried horse treats? Hay?

Those are for horses.  As of yet, I am not a horse.

21. Have you ever felt like giving up on a horse?

I gave up on Beckett, because he had soundness issues and we never really clicked…. even though he was so fancy.  I gave up on Teaspoon because I didn’t think I would get to the root of his problems without spending thousands of dollars for him to basically be a test subject at A&M.

22. Tell the story about the horse that you first felt “click” immediately with you (and if you can’t remember, most recent)

Elvis.  I went to try him and on paper he wasn’t what I wanted, but at the time I was scared of my hotter OTTB mare that I had just sold.  I cantered Elvis for the first time in a round pen, and he got going a little click so I said ‘whoa’ and he immediately stopped.  At that point, I pretty much said “sold.”

23. Ever ridden side-saddle? How was it?

I haven’t!

24. Most interesting place you’ve ridden at

Fox hunting through cotton fields.  Even once the cotton has been harvested, your legs will clip up against it as you canter through the lanes and little tufts of cotton spring around like snow 🙂

25. What kind of horse do you like? (sport, stock, endurance, etc)

Sport, but I have a big soft spot for a well bred stock horse regardless of its discipline.

26. Do you feel like you have more patience with horses than people?

No, I have an above amount of patience overall.  But once it’s up… oh man, it’s up.

27. Is the horse you ride very vocal?

No, but Elvis was.

28. Ever ridden in the sunset?

Almost every week night ride from February – October.

29. How do you like a horse’s mane? roached, pulled, long, etc.

Pulled.

30. What is your dream name for a horse?

Ash Wednesday (show name) for a bay, chromey hunter and Silverstein (barn name Shel) for a gray horse.

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