December 10

Thank you again to the ever wonderful LWilliams for another month of 10 questions!

Virtual coffee made specially for LWilliams 

Does your horse need shoes? Fingers crossed, no, she's never needed them.

What do you think of the barefoot vs shoes debate? I think it's sort of silly, like the people who argue over disciplines, training systems, tack, feed, etc. Horses are all individuals, and what works for one might not work for another.  If B needed shoes to be comfortable, then I'd put shoes on her. I can also see possibly using them during show season so we can have the option of better traction on grass. For now, though, she's happy without.

Favorite season for riding? Fall, or a sunny winter day. Usually the barn is a bit quieter than spring/summer, the air is cooler, and there's the feeling you've got a few months to work quietly, while still looking forward to a new show season.

How many shows do you think you’ve gone to? I don't know...in the last year, maybe 10? Not many at all for a few years before that, and maybe a couple a year as a teen.

Do you consider yourself a good rider? No. I'm not confident enough and it shows. I think in lessons with constant feedback I probably look good, but when I ride alone I am not as assertive, so while it might look correct, I'm not always as effective as I should be. Also, I picture a good rider being a lot fitter than I am.

How experienced do you think someone needs to be to own a horse? It depends. If they are part of a program including full board, farrier, vet, saddle fitting apps etc and regular lessons with a good coach, and want to learn then it could work. If they just read about horses on the Internet and want to train a baby racehorse in the backyard, then maybe it might not :) 

Have you ever gotten into a fight with your trainer? No. I've politely disagreed, but I like to keep it professional and respectful. I wouldn't pay someone if I didn't trust their opinion. If something happens to break that trust, I tend to just move elsewhere. 

Describe your dream horse. 15hh or so. Bad ass jumper, with movement for dressage. Probably a pony cross of some sort. Forward, but sensible. Honest, but intelligent. Brave. Friendly and easy to have around. Never needs shoes or a vet. If it could be any color, maybe a dark bay.

Does anyone in your family ride? No, I don't think anyone I'm related to has even met my horses or seen me ride. G counts as family though, right? I chose him for qualities including excellent horse husband abilities. He's definitely the best family a girl could ask for.

If you could ride any horse in the world, which one would it be? why? Portersize Just A Jiff. Because everyone wants to take their pony club mount around Badminton.

Link to original photo and story about Jiff