Fünfundzwanzig Fragen
Why horses? Why not a sane sport, like soccer or softball or curling?
I did soccer from Kindergarten until Jr. High, actually and I spent my time cantering around the fields. Wasn't keen on softball and Arizona isn't good for winter sport. I guess I could say horses were in my blood. My paternal grandfather farmed with horses until the 1960s. My maternal grandfather rode until he was 91.
What was your riding “career” like as a kid?
I rode once a year as a kid at my maternal grandparents' ranch in Utah. In Jr. High I had a month or two of jumping lessons and then my trainer moved and it was back to once a year until I was 17 and managed to get a job working with horses after not riding for a year.
If you could go back to your past and buy ONE horse, which would it be?
Royal Raven, whom my grandfather owned until they decided to go to Missouri Fox Trotters instead of Arabs. I have pictures of me galloping across the fields on him with my butt 6" above the saddle. I loved him. I was 12 or 13 when they sold him.
What disciplines have you participated in?
I chased cows once at a roping practice with Kash. I've ridden 25 miles in a day, but not done an official endurance ride. I've jumped some, gone up to 3' (not always on purpose). Lots of dressage, really gotten into driving and hope to actually compete in both. Did a working equitation clinic. I drove a Hackney roadster once.
What disciplines do you want to participate in some day?
I'd love to sit on a nice reiner, play with some cattle sports (cutting, sorting, etc. no interest in roping), I've done some elements of Combined Driving Events and hope to put it all together soon. I plan to make my logskid debut in January and plans are in the works to really learn how to drive multiples
I'd love to do a three day event someday, even just at the most basic level and endurance or competitive trail rides are up there too. Basically All The Things!
Have you ever bought a horse at auction or from a rescue?
Yes to both. The rescue didn't represent the mare well (Kachina). Panda was our auction acquisition, but it was an annual draft horse sale (not the highest quality sale, but not the worst either).
What was your FIRST favorite horse breed - the one you loved most as a kid?
I had a thing for Arabians and Morabs because it was what my Opa had.
If you could live and ride in any country in the world, where would it be?
The USA is pretty cool as-is and had a huge variety. Germany might be towards the top of the list.
Do you have any horse-related regrets?
Yes and no. I've learned from my mistakes, though if there was anything I could have done to save Zetahra I would have done it.
If you could ride with any trainer in the world, ASIDE from your current trainer, who would it be?
Ah! So you said RIDE, which rules out driving trainers, right? So that helps ... a little. There is a huge list, for sure, but I think Alfons Dietz would be pretty cool and then, Charles De Kunffy migbt be a little more fantastic and.... and ... and...
What is one item on your horse-related bucket list?
Everyone says riding on the beach, right? So I'll go out on a limb and say driving a six-up hitch. That would be pretty terrifying and awesome.
If you were never able to ride again, would you still have horses?
Probably. I'd keep teaching and, you know, drive.
What is your “biggest fantasy” riding goal?
Taking Tru-D Grand Prix in Dressage and earning all of my medals on her.
What horse do you feel like has taught you the most?
A mix between Kash and Panda.
If you could change one thing about your current horse/riding situation, what would it be?
More time to ride, all the acres on one parcel.
If you could compete at any horse show/venue in your home country, where would it be?
Kentucky Horse Park would be pretty cool.
If you could attend any competition in the world as a spectator, what would be your top choice?
Toss-up between the World Equestrian Games and the annual inspection/show in Denmark for the Jutland breed.
Have you ever thought about quitting horses?
Not really? I've daydreamed about not having to *work* with horses, but I love them, riding, driving, training from the ground up. I just wish I could put the time into my own horses instead of clients' horses!
If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the horse industry, what would it be?
Right now? You all will think I'm terrible, but I'd love to see the USA reopen the slaughter plants (with fantastic regulations and safeguards to ensure horses were handled humanely at all staged). Because banning slaughter in the USA is one thing that really destroyed the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of horses the last 10 years. It was a stupid decision that made a bad thing even worse.
What’s the dumbest horse-related thing you’ve done that actually turned out pretty well?
I bought a barely broke Arabian gelding when I was 18. I still have Kash and we went on our first trail ride in a couple of years today. Sometimes he was a 21 year-old, sometimes he was an Arab.
As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of?
Getting broken.
What horse-related book impacted you the most?
"Tug of War: Classical Vs. Modern Dressage" Gerd Heuschmann Really opened my eyes to equine biomechanics.
What personality trait do you value most in a horse and which do you dislike the most?
Try is up there, certainly as the #1 trait I love.
I don't like it when a horse's first response is to tense up against the ask, but usually that can be worked through.
What do you love most about your discipline?
Driving people are a pretty fantastic bunch. It's a fringe sport so we're always eager to bring new people in.
What are you focused on improving the most, at the moment?
Is "everything" a good answer? Probably my own fitness so I can do the things that I need to do to work with the horses well.
I did soccer from Kindergarten until Jr. High, actually and I spent my time cantering around the fields. Wasn't keen on softball and Arizona isn't good for winter sport. I guess I could say horses were in my blood. My paternal grandfather farmed with horses until the 1960s. My maternal grandfather rode until he was 91.
What was your riding “career” like as a kid?
I rode once a year as a kid at my maternal grandparents' ranch in Utah. In Jr. High I had a month or two of jumping lessons and then my trainer moved and it was back to once a year until I was 17 and managed to get a job working with horses after not riding for a year.
If you could go back to your past and buy ONE horse, which would it be?
Royal Raven, whom my grandfather owned until they decided to go to Missouri Fox Trotters instead of Arabs. I have pictures of me galloping across the fields on him with my butt 6" above the saddle. I loved him. I was 12 or 13 when they sold him.
What disciplines have you participated in?
I chased cows once at a roping practice with Kash. I've ridden 25 miles in a day, but not done an official endurance ride. I've jumped some, gone up to 3' (not always on purpose). Lots of dressage, really gotten into driving and hope to actually compete in both. Did a working equitation clinic. I drove a Hackney roadster once.
What disciplines do you want to participate in some day?
I'd love to sit on a nice reiner, play with some cattle sports (cutting, sorting, etc. no interest in roping), I've done some elements of Combined Driving Events and hope to put it all together soon. I plan to make my logskid debut in January and plans are in the works to really learn how to drive multiples
I'd love to do a three day event someday, even just at the most basic level and endurance or competitive trail rides are up there too. Basically All The Things!
Have you ever bought a horse at auction or from a rescue?
Yes to both. The rescue didn't represent the mare well (Kachina). Panda was our auction acquisition, but it was an annual draft horse sale (not the highest quality sale, but not the worst either).
What was your FIRST favorite horse breed - the one you loved most as a kid?
I had a thing for Arabians and Morabs because it was what my Opa had.
If you could live and ride in any country in the world, where would it be?
The USA is pretty cool as-is and had a huge variety. Germany might be towards the top of the list.
Do you have any horse-related regrets?
Yes and no. I've learned from my mistakes, though if there was anything I could have done to save Zetahra I would have done it.
If you could ride with any trainer in the world, ASIDE from your current trainer, who would it be?
Ah! So you said RIDE, which rules out driving trainers, right? So that helps ... a little. There is a huge list, for sure, but I think Alfons Dietz would be pretty cool and then, Charles De Kunffy migbt be a little more fantastic and.... and ... and...
What is one item on your horse-related bucket list?
Everyone says riding on the beach, right? So I'll go out on a limb and say driving a six-up hitch. That would be pretty terrifying and awesome.
If you were never able to ride again, would you still have horses?
Probably. I'd keep teaching and, you know, drive.
What is your “biggest fantasy” riding goal?
Taking Tru-D Grand Prix in Dressage and earning all of my medals on her.
What horse do you feel like has taught you the most?
A mix between Kash and Panda.
If you could change one thing about your current horse/riding situation, what would it be?
More time to ride, all the acres on one parcel.
If you could compete at any horse show/venue in your home country, where would it be?
Kentucky Horse Park would be pretty cool.
If you could attend any competition in the world as a spectator, what would be your top choice?
Toss-up between the World Equestrian Games and the annual inspection/show in Denmark for the Jutland breed.
Have you ever thought about quitting horses?
Not really? I've daydreamed about not having to *work* with horses, but I love them, riding, driving, training from the ground up. I just wish I could put the time into my own horses instead of clients' horses!
If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the horse industry, what would it be?
Right now? You all will think I'm terrible, but I'd love to see the USA reopen the slaughter plants (with fantastic regulations and safeguards to ensure horses were handled humanely at all staged). Because banning slaughter in the USA is one thing that really destroyed the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of horses the last 10 years. It was a stupid decision that made a bad thing even worse.
What’s the dumbest horse-related thing you’ve done that actually turned out pretty well?
I bought a barely broke Arabian gelding when I was 18. I still have Kash and we went on our first trail ride in a couple of years today. Sometimes he was a 21 year-old, sometimes he was an Arab.
As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of?
Getting broken.
What horse-related book impacted you the most?
"Tug of War: Classical Vs. Modern Dressage" Gerd Heuschmann Really opened my eyes to equine biomechanics.
What personality trait do you value most in a horse and which do you dislike the most?
Try is up there, certainly as the #1 trait I love.
I don't like it when a horse's first response is to tense up against the ask, but usually that can be worked through.
What do you love most about your discipline?
Driving people are a pretty fantastic bunch. It's a fringe sport so we're always eager to bring new people in.
What are you focused on improving the most, at the moment?
Is "everything" a good answer? Probably my own fitness so I can do the things that I need to do to work with the horses well.