"10 Random Things about Me" (horsey spinoff of Facebook thing)

[deltawave]

Currently there is a fun game going around on Facebook called "25 Random Things About Me", where you just write down 25 facts about yourself and send them to your friends. Thought it might be fun to put a horsey focus on it and share--I know I learned a LOT of very interesting things even about my own family doing this! :)

To keep it short, I'll suggest "10 Random Things". Feel free to add or subtract, but make it about horses. Stuff that nobody would know already is a bonus! :)

Me:

1. I have been to the Chincoteague "Pony Penning" three times (when I was a kid) and fully expected my dad to buy me a pony that we'd bring home in the back of his VW station wagon. He didn't. :lol:

2. I read so many horse books before I actually started riding that I knew my diagonals already before I even trotted for the first time.

3. My girlfriend Alexandra and I used to ride her horse bareback (double) to the local pizza place and get french fries every Saturday when we were idiot kids. :D

4. I was the New Jersey State Reserve Champion in Horse Bowl (4H) in 1979--it is a team competition, but none of my team members showed up because their driver had a mare foaling--I did the whole competition solo and placed 2nd. :)

5. I have not gotten on a horse without a helmet since I can remember. Even in Aruba--I bring a helmet to do beach rides.

6. I met my first boyfriend at the racetrack--he was a groom, I was a lowly hot-walker. :lol:

7. Even though I haven't done "the hunters" for over 15 years, my secret dream (one of them) is to run away to Florida for the winter circuit and show hunters.

8. If I had Lottery-Type riches I would get into horse racing as a breeder. None of my horses would race before the age of 3. I'd go from place to place buying the best mares I could find and immerse myself in pedigrees from dawn until dusk.

9. I used to have a job driving a horse and carriage.

10. My next "dream horse" is a buckskin pinto driving pony. :)

[rainechyldes]

Ill play:

1. My first horse was a shetland pony that I taught myself to ride on unsupervised at the age of 8. It was our neighbors pony whom I'd go 'steal' when my parents and he weren't home to know about it. It was a bad bad day in my little world when I finally got caught.:)

2. I started showing at the age of 12. Yet never took an actual riding lesson until I was 16. Completely self taught from books. My first horse was an unbroke Anglo/Arab 5 yr old "crazy"mare- who my dad brought home for his crazy daughter. I trained her myself, with no help, knowledge or supervision. I hit the dirt many many times:) Said mare went on to become the foundation mare for my breeding program. She passed away quietly at the age of 34.

3. I could quote you the British Pony Club manual verbatim- but have never actually belonged to Pony Club - it was my bible when I was young.

4. At age 12 - I bought my first saddle (hence the showing) from money I'd made babysitting. Before then I rode only bareback.

5. I have a habit of insisting on hunting for hidden treasures tucked away in back pastures. and quite often am known to demand that my husband stop the truck so I can go knock on random doors and ask about a horse I see when we are driving by. 90% of horses that I have purchased have been for $1000 CAN or less.

6. I was a working student in barns in the Canada, US, France and Belgium.

7. I am an avid collector of historical equine books, which I usually strip down and recover in leather and gold embossing to match all the other books I have on the shelf. (OCD much?)

8. I have owned everything from Hanoverians, TBS through to Saddlebreds.

9. I like hot horses.

10. If I could own any horse in the world it would probably be a friesian, not for any particular performance, just so I could look at him:)

[equineartworks]

FUN!!!! I just tagged a whole bunch of people for this on facebook

1. I just got my very first horse - Dumplin'. He is a mini from Sunkissed Acres!

2. I am severely allergic to hay. You can imagine the get up I have to wear to feed horses. Mask, gloves...the works.

3. I am a re-rider who secretly wishes for greatness in Dressage :lol:

4. I have a secret addiction to breeches. If I weren't so fat I would wear them as my work attire.

5. I collect C.W. Anderson Thoroughbred lithos. I received my first portfolio "Turf and Bluegrass" when I was 12. I still have it. In fact two of the prints are at the framers right now so I can hang them in my office

6. I have been studying and practicing Aromatherapy for Canine and Equine for nearly 10 years and have several long term clients.

7. I am using a Troxel helmet bag as a purse right now (don't ask...but it does look cute ;) )

8. I a volunteer for an awesome Hippotherapy program! I LOVE IT!

9. I am a terrible rider (hence the need for #3 and why the latter part of it is so laughable) and have my very own style of "Winglish" Reining

10. I have trained a service dog and therapy dogs and am working with Dumplin' to be a visiting horse :cool:

[caradino]

1. i love ponies. a lot. the cuter the better!

2. the smallest horse i've ridden was 10hh. the biggest, probably about 17.2.

3. i used to keep track of the number of times i fell off, but lost count at 35. that was SEVERAL years ago!

4. while i am a hunter princess, i've ridden dressage, sidesaddle, and polo ponies, and i know how to drive.

5. two of the three horses i've leased were palominos, and i still have a soft spot for them.

6. quirky mares and bratty ponies seem to find me everywhere i go. i actually prefer them to other types, and think they have loads more personality than most people.

7. when i was younger i would cry if my lessons were cancelled due to bad weather.

8. after 12 years of huntseat and dressage lessons, i am going to my first western riding lesson tomorrow! i am excited to put some new tools in my toolbox.

9. i take pride and satisfaction in 'dressing up' for my lessons, (clean britches, polo, hair up, belt, etc.) and love knowing i look the part.

10. in my closet reside a saddle, bridle, multiple girths, halter, lead, FULL grooming box, various saddle pads, polo wraps, whips, spurs, and coolers, and yet i don't have a pony to use it all on!

[tpup]

1. I had no idea that my first horse looked like a rescue when I bought him. But I've turned him around and he's turned into the "swan"! I look at his 1st pics and think, "God what was I thinking?!?" yet it was love at first sight. Thank God I have a great instructor who got on my a** to feed him tons and get him in shape.

2. I have always wanted a horse with a flaxen mane.

3. I desperately want a donkey for a pet.

4. I am terrified my horse will bolt but have no reason or basis for it.

5. I love the smell of "horse" and would wear it as perfume if I could.

6. I have had young children (my kids' friends - they are 6 and 3 and say what is truly on their minds!) get into my minivan and say, "Eww....what smells??" yep - it's horse or perhaps some manure scrapings on the bottom of my boots in the back of my van!!

7. I love looking at horse magazines. Even ones like Smartpak and Valley Vet - I look at them before bed.

8. I sometimes dread going on wonderful vacations because I have to leave my horse behind!

9. I once rode a camel up a mountain in India (seriously) - not really horse related, but it's fact.

10. I notice every horse and horse farm when we drive on long trips.

[billiebob]

I'll play!

1. I rode on and off when I was little but didn't have my first fall until I was 20.

2. I LOVE mares. Seriously! Sometimes I wish my gelding were a mare (sometimes :))

3. I too learned about diagonals and posting from books. Specifically the Saddle Club ones.

4. I owned a full set of tack years before I ever got a horse. And he got new tack when I got him.

5. I taught my dog to jump crossrails.

6. I love braiding manes, even though I only do schooling shows.

7. I used to give my Barbies haircuts and dye jobs, but I cried when my sister did the same to one of my Barbie horses.

8. I give my horse a hug every day.

9. My dogs have miniature horse blankets purchased from a tack store.

10. I hate it when people are on the wrong diagonal, especially when they're better riders than me and they should know better!!!

[asb_own_me]

I thought the one on Facebook was hard...and it could be about anything! Now I have to come up with 10 specifically horse related things?!?!?!

1) I started riding at age 7 and stopped when I was grounded at age 15. Didn't start again until I was 20.

2) I bought my first horse (Classy, who I still have) with a cash advance from my credit card. I was 20 and not real bright about money ;)

3) I was in a bad horseback riding accident at age 10 that put me in the ICU for a week. Broken ribs, bruised heart, bruised lung, multiple extremity contusions, etc. I started riding again three months later - as soon as the ribs were cleared for regular activity.

4) I grew up riding hunters in SE PA (Chester Co) and now show Saddlebred hunters. My mare, Classy, was the reserve world champion in 2006 and my gelding, Puppy (see "MEGA jingles needed now!" thread) was 4th in the world this past fall.

5) When I was a kid I watched all the show jumping on TV and thought I would ride the GP when I grew up. Now? You couldn't pay me to jump over stuff that's 5 feet tall!!!

6) The only equine vice I consider a complete deal breaker is rearing. Classy is a rearer....and I will NEVER own another rearer.

7) Abdullah and Gem Twist were my favorite show jumpers.

8) I went to the FEI World Cup competitions, both dressage and show jumping, in 2007 and am going again this spring.

9) I love, love, love a "snip" on a horse's nose, better than any other marking. I go gaga for a little nose snip!

10) I love hot, go forward horses. I'd rather be checking back than pushing on.

[Doodlebug1]

1. I only rode Western for the first time in 2008 - and I loved it.
2. The oldest horse I have at the moment is 25 - and I got him on Valentines day 1989.
3. My other two horses are mother and son.
4. I've looked after some 'famous' horses - but love working with babies (err, baby horses) more.
5. The son's name is doodle, because he takes everything in his stride - a cool dude, doodle. :cool: His mom is 17.1hh; his dad 14.2hh - and he's 17hh!
6. I started riding when I was 4 years old, my mom was expecting twins and I went to live with my grandparents while she was in hospital. My grandmother didn't know what to do with me so she took me to a friend of hers who had a pony.
7. I was told when I was little that you had to fall off 100 times to be a 'real' rider. I was next found in the stable with a milk crate climbing on 'my' pony and falling off again.
8. I won my first rosette aged six in a Thelwell class at a local show.
9. I only clean my tack if I'm going to a show...:o
10. I always cry when I watch Black Beauty :cry:

[Creaghgal]

I’m a little careful posting stuff under my real name on Facebook but here? Sure!

I was deported from Sweden…. (Employer didn’t have paperwork in order) I was allowed stay overnight and rode a fancy showjumper the next morning before hopping back on the hovercraft.

I pick poop by hand (& glove)

One of the horses I rode (for a year) went on to win team bronze at the Barcelona games.

I’ve always been perfectly happy “just being a groom” even though I’m qualified to teach.

I wouldn’t mind one of those magikal horses that poop ze golden butterflies.

I pet a body brush while watching TV

I’m a tackoholic.

I get a natural high from smelling horse sweat.

I want Tpup to get a donkey.

[cllane1]

1. After taking English riding lessons for a few years, I begged my parents for an English saddle for Christmas. They got me one of those $150 set with saddle, girth, stirrups, and leathers. I put it on my fat QH mare and set up landscape poles on paint cans and we "jumped."

2. I love that way horses' noses smell, on that soft part behind their nostrils.

3. My QH mare bit me on my chest when I was in 4th grade, and put a hose in my New Kids on the Block T shirt!

4. My dad taught me to ride on our cow horses and I used to be scared to canter.

5. While I was helping my dad work cows on my sister's daft Appy, the dang horse freaked out and reared, and fell on his side (and me) but I was fine! (He was too).

6. Sometimes when my mouthy yearling nips at me, I bite back!

7. When driving down the road, when I see a nice four board fence or a cool ditch, I think, "I could jump that."

8. It makes me jealous when swanky subdivisions and shopping areas use nice fencing to look pretty, when I think of how great that would be on my own farm!

9. I've never paid more than $4000 for a horse.

10. My secret dream is to compete in a Miss Rodeo tournament and get to wear flashy colors, fringe, and bling!

[00Jumper]

I'll play . . .

1) I would drop out of college today if a good, long-term barn manager job opened up to me.

2) I desperately want to adopt a certain CANTER filly only because she looks like my horse.

3) I would rather have a horse than a boyfriend.

4) I love grooming, mucking, and caring for horses.

5) I could stop jumping today and never miss it, I do it because my horse is a jumper and she likes it.

6) I could stop showing today and never miss it, I do it because it makes my mom happy.

7) I have a weakness for bay mares.

8) I really, really want to own a donkey some day.

9) My dream is to have an 8-acre farm with 4 horses - my mare, her baby, a donkey and an OTTB project.

10) I am going to nursing school only so I can afford to have #9 some day. :lol:

[fordtraktor]

10. For my first show, I had a saddle seat saddle, a dressage bridle, a western bit -- and wore black sweatpants, rubber boots, a white turtleneck, and a piece of purple bias tape tied around my neck. I won the novice W/T out of 22. The proudest day of my life!

9. I have had 5 personal horses, and have never sold one.

8. I have had maybe a dozen "investment" horses, and have never made money selling one. Yes, I do plan on doing it again too. Crazy!

7. I used to show quarter horses and was on my state's Congress team for reining when I was a kid. I placed next to last. I went back many years later and won in jumpers.

6. I used to barrel race my pony in an English saddle. He was FAST and could turn on a dime.

5. It took forever for me to develop an eye for distance on horses after making the switch from ponies.

4. I once jumped over my friend at the State Fair. Good thing my pony was careful!

3. I learned to ride from George Morris' Hunter Seat Equitation and studying pictures in Practical Horseman.

2. I made my first jumps out of cinderblocks and PVC pipe. And fallen trees in the woods, of course.

1. When my pony would buck me off, I would hold onto the reins so he wouldn't run home and inform my parents about the "issue." To this day I instinctively won't let go of a horse. This is NOT a good thing.

[AppendixQHLover]

1. My first horse used to run away on me all the time near feeding time. He knew that it was dinner, and there was no way some punk kid would stop him.

2. Once I learned WHOA, I rode horse #1 everywhere. To my friend's house, ice cream, boyfriend's house...and so on.

3. For a communications class I took my show horse to school.

4. I rode saddle seat on above show horse because he was to much of a fruit cake for hunter classes on the morgan circuit.

5. I fell of another horse at my brithday party because I was showing off. HA..horses are good for that!!

6. I look online at the nice farms and centers up for sale and drool over them.

7. When I hit the lottery (:lol:) I would like to open up a lay-up farm for OTTB's and former show horses.

8. I don't notice horse smell, but co-workers can tell which boots are my barn boots.

9. I could care less about fashion but give me my matching zocks.

10. I will wear makeup at a show but you won't catch me wearing it at work.

[Dakotawyatt]

I actually like these little things!

1. I learned to ride english from a guy that rode western. I knew what my diagonals were from reading books, and he had NO idea what they were!

2. My current boss had the unenviable job of ACTUALLY teaching me to ride all those years ago once I left the western guy; I THOUGHT I was WAY better than I actually was!:lol:

3. I have my current fabulous job because of COTH.:D

4. I was obsessed with learning to sit the canter because I had trouble with the rhythm of it. I STILL to this day prefer to trot down to a jump.;)

5. I'm certified to teach western lessons, but have never actually had a western lesson in my life.

6. I'm a hunter princess, but I want my horse to eventually be a jumper.

7. I just got my first horse at the age of 29.

8. I've ridden an 18.2 hand Percheron and LOVED it!

9. I can't wait to go on my first Hunter Pace.

10. I love going to Caribbean Islands and doing the horseback rides!:D

[PinkPonies]

1. After my first riding lesson I turned the arm of my parents couch into a pony and practiced on that for the next 6 months.

2. My first fall was off a horse named Rufus - he tripped at the canter and I flew over his head. I got back on, but after that I refused to ride him. At my last riding lesson before we moved away, I rode him and I loved him so much and wish I never quit riding him!

3. For my first try at braiding I was 11 years old and my trainer said his only tip was to make them tight. So I did a total of 10 braids and rolled them up and tied like 40 knots in each. Those things didn't move and I took out half the mane trying to get them out. I actually became a professional braider about 10 years later and always made them tight!

4. I have never paid over $1800 for a horse. First was $1800, second was free and third was traded for!

5. I have always wanted a pure black arabian just because I loved the black stallion. I will have one someday and ride him/her on the beach!

6. I've also always wanted an Andalusion just cause they are pretty.

7. My most proud accomplishment is turning my traded for OTTB - a scrawny 15 hand 3 year old when I got him - into my Jr/AO jumper.

8. I ride for fun now due to financial and time constraints, but I miss it so much. I still judge my year by what shows are going on!

9. My horse has gigantic ears.

10. I used to design courses and set them up using paint cans and ski poles. Then I'd jump the dog over them.

[Sparky Boy]

This was fun to do on facebook :D

1. I started riding when I was 8 yrs old.

2. I dressed up my horse in white sheets for halloween when I was a little kid and my parents actually let me ride around in the DARK to my neighbor's houses. Very stupid...

3. I was once pulled over by the police while on horseback. I politely asked "Was I speeding Officer"?

4. I've always ridden english but I think cutting horses are amazing to watch.

5. I'd like to ride on a cattle drive someday.

6. I give each of my horses a kiss on the nose every morning.

7. I got my first horse at age 10. A 14.3 h Ango-Arab named JR. He taught me so much and was my best friend.

8. The horse I like the most now, spent her first month at my farm rearing, bucking and generally trying to kill me. She got over it and I love her.

9. I love buying horse "stuff" on ebay.

10. If I won the lottery, I'd open up a rescue in a minute.

[Flying Hill]

1. My mother taught me to ride when I was about 4. I'd be trotting along on her friend's pony and my mom would say turn right, I would drop my reins to look at my thumbs because I knew right was the thumb I sucked!

2. I first jumped riding double bareback with my cousin who is now a BNR. (Also got my first concussion that way!)

3. I first learned to canter riding bareback in a bathing suit.

4. I was a city kid who only got to ride in the summer, so when I couldn't ride I would make courses out of benches and buckets in my backyard for my German Shepherd to jump.

5. My favorite thing to do when I was a kid leasing a horse, was, with my friend and her pony, ride bareback with just a halter and leadrope with my friend and her pony to the end of the dirt road at dusk, then let the horses gallop back to the barn in the pitch dark. :)

6. The summer I leased my first event horse I fell off 25 times.

7. I didn't own my own horse until I was 25.

8. I've now owned 11 horses and have spent a grand total of $4,000 in purchase prices/stud fees.

9. My very best horse cost me $1, which included a halter, bridle, wraps, shipping and a bottle of bute!

10. I still want a pony!

[SimplyRed]

7) Abdullah and Gem Twist were my favorite show jumpers.


Ahh! Lol I love Abdullah, but that might have something to do with the fact that his son lives in this area and used to live at the barn I first started.

Get this, the lady that owns him now was given him because the lady who used to own him couldn't afford the upkeep anymore, so she just gave away an olympic medalist horses' son! Lol his name's Nebulous and he's around 30 now! When I first met him she still rode him and jumped but now he only gets ridden once a year... walked around at the Rolex. :yes: I love him, he is such a sweetheart!

[equest]

1. I rode very sporadically as a kid - my parents weren't really able to afford it. I had Breyers and horse books galore, I drew pictures of horses frequently.

2. I started riding lessons seriously just over four years ago after finishing law school. I went riding on the beach in France, and I was hooked again :)

3. Since then, I have lessoned, half leased, owned a horse for a year, and returned to half leasing.

4. I currently half lease a TB stallion.

5. I've jumped up to 3'3 in a grid, and I am amazed at people who regularly jump that height out of stride...Someday I will get there. :)

6. I live in South Florida, just south of WEF, but want to move some place more economically feasible for owning my own horse.

7. I was thrilled when my boyfriend enjoyed the trail ride on vacation, in which he actually cantered and stayed on!

8. My ideal horse is a big 17 hh gray TB - they're a pain to clean, but so stunning.

9. I routinely decline happy hours after work on friday to go ride. :)

10. I love riding outside the ring and would be thrilled to fox hunt or hunter pace someday.

[pattnic]

1 - I learned to ride by going to summer camp for one week every year starting when I was 9.
2 - I fell off my second time riding; this was at summer camp, and in our second lesson, we learned how to trot. I was riding an Arab, and more or less bounced out of the saddle. They VERY quickly thereafter taught us how to post. I have since lost count of how many times I have fallen off... I'm sure it's around 100, if not more.
3 - In December 1996 (when I was 13), I started riding with the guy who I rode with until I moved down to Atlanta (in 2006).
4 - I have never ridden a warmblood (just Morgans, TBs, QHs, Appys, TWHs, ASBs, Arabs, Welsh Ponies, and probably some others)
5 - I have competed and placed at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show.
6 - I got both my horses from the guy I rode with back home.
7 - One of my horses was free (well, there was no purchase price); the other I paid roughly 1/10th of her actual value for.
8 - I trained my horses myself. Neither one has ever been ridden or trained by a professional, and it is only recently that I received any professional input (by taking dressage lessons).
9 - I want to "grow up" and have four horses and a pony: Star, Sparky, Star's two babies (a Morgan baby and a TB cross baby), and a Welsh pony (bucksin would be nice).
10 - I do/have done hunters, jumpers, some western pleasure, hunter pleasure, pleasure driving (wire wheeled cart), carriage pleasure driving (reinsmanship, obstacles, gambler's choice, double jeopardy, CDE...), sidesaddle, a little cross-country, and trail riding... all on the same horse (we have our strengths, of course, but we can do all these things well).

[JoZ]

This is fun! And 10 (even on one topic) is easier than 25!

1) I think my first word was "horse". My parents couldn't figure out from whence I came, since there's no horse love in either of them.

2) I studied Margaret Cabell Self's "The Complete Book of Horses and Ponies" and read and re-read it until it was falling off its binding. It was my Bible for all things horse.

3) One summer we rented a cottage on Prince Edward Island and the living room table had 2-3 copies of Hoof Beats magazine, about harness racing. When my mom told the proprietor how much I was enjoying them, she brought out a whole box full that I took home. So at age 9 or 10 I could tell you just about everything about current harness racers, equipment, stats, etc.

4) My dad had a vendor who had an Appaloosa farm in western Massachusetts. We took a day trip out there one day when I was a kid, and I was sure (sure, sure, SURE!!!!) it was for me to pick out a horse. It wasn't.

5) I got my first horse when I was 28. He flunked out of the multi-function farm he was living on -- two dull for lessons, too frisky for trail rides. I got him for nothing, just the price of hauling. I had him for 20 years.

6) I had a mid-life crisis after my dad passed away and acquired a LOT of horses. I was going to train, breed, sell, etc. (still as a hobby, didn't quit my day job by any means, but still, bad economic timing). I still have a lot of horses but I'm exercising greater restraint now!

7) My dream horse color is buckskin tobiano.

8) I haven't been on a horse since probably July of last year. Pain, workload and weather issues all on top of one another. It's getting really old.

9) I remember the first horse I ever sat on (not counting pony rides): his name was Gay Blade and the owner/rider was Karen P..... who was the daughter of one of my dad's co-workers.

10) I use mostly rope halters and put them on by reaching my right hand over the horse's neck, taking the off side rope in that hand, getting the horse to put his/her nose in the halter, then passing the tie rope over to my left hand over the neck. The odd part is that I somehow manage to kiss the horse on the neck nearly every time I do this. It's a habit now. I'm not usually such a dork.

[Blugal]

1. Whenever I wish on a star or an eyelash, I've always wished for the same thing - a certain type of horse. Unbelievably, I'm still doing it. I won't go into details just in case!

2. My first mount was a 14.3hh saint that my Mum had bred when she was a teenager. When I was a teenager, my parents bought a broodmare and bred two foals. I thought I would get one - wrong!

3. I learned to read early - the first book was All About Horses and the second was Black Beauty.

4. Although I've evented extensively, I've always been scared to gallop racehorses. I thought I might get a start with Arab racehorses once at one of my jobs... but instead (mostly to my relief) I was transferred to the show & field hunter barn.

5. I always peruse the classified ads in Horse and Hound, even though I have no desire to be a working student any more. I think I'd like to be a rich student.

6. When I can afford it, I'd like a Belgian - mostly to hang around, but also to pull a sleigh in the winter. Maybe even skijoring?!?

7. My favourite horse artist is Sam Savitt.

8. I am looking forward to a future vacation doing a safari on horseback.

9. Much to everyone's amusement, I've never been able to vault on a horse bareback. I always have to take a running leap!

10. I've jumped my own height - good thing I'm short! At the time it was the highest I'd ever jumped, on the greenest horse I'd ever jumped. She was game.

[BlueEyedSorrel]

1. My first ride was on a bay gelding named Cricket at a local petting zoo. I was 3-4 years old.

2. Actual lessons didn't start until I was around 8. My father had an old friend that did competitive trail riding with a motley crew (a few OTTBS, a Morgan, a half-Arab, a TWH, a QH). She was willing to give lessons, was great for stable management and basic horsemanship, not so great for refinement. Consequently, I never really learned to sit the canter until I started showing 4H at 13....and not being a horse person, my parents saw nothing wrong with this.

3. At around age 11, I was IN LOFF with the Iron Spring Farm stallions, who were advertised in Horse Illustrated every month. That year my family took a vacation in Connecticut, visiting family. I convinced my parents to call ISF and ask if we could see the stallions when were passing through PA on the way back to Ohio. To this day, I am amazed that they agreed and gave my very touristy, non-horsey family a tour. I have pictures of me HUGGING Roemer (I'm sporting my dorky perm'd early 90s hair, big glasses and a Norwalk CT Aquarium tshirt:eek:).

4. I got Missy, the original blue eyed sorrel, when I was 14:D. My dad decided it would be easier to own a horse, kept on our own land, than to drive me to the barn multiple times a way.

5. Like deltawave, I'm a horse bowl alum. In 1997, my county's team won the Ohio state contest and the Eastern National championship. We were also second at the QH Congress. I got the individual award at Eastern Nationals. When it was announced, the extension specialist in charge said he'd never seen anyone with such a command of useful AND useless information:D

6. I also did hippology, horse judging, and junior fair board while in 4H. I was lucky that my county had a well run program and it makes me sad to read on COTH about the apparently dismal state in other areas.

6. I never learned to jump, due to lack of good huntseat instruction in the area when I was a kid (and a mother who was rightly frightened watching the over fences classes at the local shows). Sometimes I wish I had, but I'm too chicken to start now.

7. In medical school, I had to retrain myself to think of HUMAN normal values for pulse, respiration, temp etc, not horse. You mean a HR of 50 bpm isn't normal?:lol:

8. I'm a mare person....especially red mares.

9. I'm a competive rider on hiatus......haven't shown in 10 years. Someday I will be done with school, have a real job and a real salary, and then I will return to show ring. Only problem is I have no idea what ring that would be! I've gotten sour on the QH style WP classes. I don't jump, and that eliminates a lot of things. I considered dressage, reining, trail, among other things

10. I waste way too much time on COTH, but then you all already know that;)

[yellowbritches]

1. I got all my big firsts (first canter, first fall, first jump, first show) on the same pony, but did not ride him all that often.

2. I've been kicked in the face and didn't even get a black eye.

3. I have a pretty darn good eye for reading x-rays and ultrasounds...which is sad because the only reason I can do it is because I've seen so many.

4. My first horse was an appy, and despite my "finer" tastes in horse flesh now, I still want to run up and hug every appy I see.

5. I spent more money on my first saddle ($300) than I did on my first horse (free).

6. I really, really, really want to ride cutting horses.

7. I used to say I'd NEVER event because those cross country jumps don't fall down.

8. I event. And now don't know how I could survive without going cross country.

9. I am extremely partial to bay TBs, especially small ones.

10. I think there is nothing more fun than bringing a baby along from the ground up.

[Woodland]

#1 I was a sickly child that learned to read at 4. By 8th grade I had read and re read Black Beauty and Beautiful Joe 17 times. I read them first time at age 7. By 8th grade i had exhausted the horse books in the entire Chicagoland library system.

#2 Our first horse came in 1967. He was a bald faced bay named Hobo. He cost $1 from an Ad in the Chicago Tribune.

#3 I use to day dream about horses so much in Jr High that I nearly ended up in remedial classes in HS - :lol: MY HS had no windows to look out of so I was focused for my Honors classes(which is where I really fit in).

#4 My first horse just for myself was an Arabian mare named Czara who I thought the sun rose and set on. I bought her for $150 on installments in 1975 - I never told my Mom until years later.

#5 Czara and I had our hair braided to match Bo Dereks in the movie "10" - we were STYLIN!

#6 I rode saddle seat in the late 60's early 70's and have trained horses for it as recently as 5 years ago.

#7 I met my Hubby at a boarding stable we both boarded our horses at in 1980 - I was engaged to someone else at the time.

#8 I think the smells in a stable - horses and leather is what heaven smells like.

#9 If I won the lottery I would just put up prettier fencing and a nice little English cottage in my woods and stay here the rest of my life.

#10 If I have any fantasy about doing anything else it's fishing on a quiet lake in the Wisconsin Northwoods!

[dogchushu]

1. I'd never set foot in a stirrup until I was in my 30's. Nope. No pony rides at the fair, nothing. Mom was afraid of horses. But I always wanted to...

2. I won a state young artist competition with a charcoal drawing of... horses! I still have the drawing and I'm quite impressed with the skills I had back then. However, I can now see that most of the horses in my drawing are moving their legs all wrong since I had no exposure to horses when I made it (not sure what gait they're showing--the legs are moving every which way) ! :lol:

3. I spend way more on riding attire than office clothes. I buy new apparel for the office when I have to. I buy riding attire all the time because it's fun!

4. I enjoy grooming and spending time with my horse as much as I do riding her. And I love riding her!

5. I'm looking at new cars, and probably the most important feature is how well it will haul my tack around (e.g. can I get a saddle in and out of it easily?)

6. I ride better without stirrups than with them. (Still hate it though.)

7. I'm fascinated by bits. I read all I can about them and always check out the bits at the tack store. My horse goes in a happy mouth snaffle--no chance to play around with bits with her. But the fascination continues!

8. I chose my eye glasses based on what model would work best for riding and how they look with my helmet! I'll wear contacts for showing, but I tend to get dirt/dust in them, so it's always glasses for schooling.

9. My friends have to stage interventions to keep me from buying ponies. I love ponies. I fit better on a horse. I ride hunters (so I need a horse as an adult). And I really can't afford one now. But I want one and think even the ugly ones are cute as the dickens!

10. If I won the lottery I'd buy a lot of nice equines and a farm for them! However, I'd also want to help fund some research into how to make equestrian sports safer for the horses and riders.

[WorthTheWait95]

haha I JUST finished typing up my 25 things on facebook (it was HARD!) I guess I'll try my hand on this one:

1. My favorite thing on earth is walking through the dark barn during night check and listening to the horses munching hay.

2. My once in a lifetime horse is exactly 5 days older then me and I've owned him since we were both 9. I haven't put a saddle on him in years since he allows me to flat, jump and trail ride bareback and bridleless (and no we're NOT parelli weirdo's! He just prefers it that way :lol:).

3. I've broken over 25 bones in my riding career.

4. I've trained with GM, Margie Engle, Bernie Traurig, Linda Allen and Jeff Cook as a junior.

5. I'm now a college student and a full time pleasure rider...the only thing I miss about showing on the AA Circuit are my friends that I don't get to see nearly enough now a days.

6. I only ride in tailored sportsmans and tall boots b/c they are the only type of breeches that fit me well and I don't want to destroy my saddle with jeans.

7. I love my Tad Coffin saddle more then any other saddle I've ever owned, I'll never go back to the butet's and antares if I can help it.

8. My first horse only cost $5,000.

9. As a kid my friends and I would regularly get in trouble for jumping cross country fences and playing in the water complex after rain storms during shows at the Kentucky Horse Park.

10. The first thing I did after my last AA show was buy a paint horse (APHA registered). I had surpressed my obsession with them since I was kid b/c only WB's were acceptable/scopey enough. I love him to peices and he's possibly the flashiest little horse I've ever seen :).

[mkevent]

This is great-since I'm relatively new to COTH, you guys could probably also list 10 things everyone knows about you and I still wouldn't know that, either!

1. I try to fix everything possible with duct tape and/or WD40.

2. I was 3rd runner up in 1978 Burlington County Equine Princess Contest.

3. I wanted to be a veterinarian but never became one-but I did marry a veterinarians' son.

4. I used to ride 10 miles (each way) just to show in our local 4-H horse shows.(thankfully, I did buy a trailer when I turned 17)

5. I got into eventing because my instructor felt it might make my lazy mare "more forward".

6. I didn't decide that I actually liked eventing until 2 days after my first event-I was that nervous!

7. I hate side zip breeches. (on me)

8. People tell me that I'm stronger than I look-(usually for hay deliveries, fencing,etc.) Not sure if that is a compliment or insult!

9. I rode my first horse through the drive in window of a bank once to make a deposit.

10. I started out riding western because my first horse was too lazy for english(there seems to be a recurring theme here)

[Linny]

1. I have only ridden in a western saddle once.

2. I canter, without a horse

3. My favorite horse of all time was named Millenium aka "Linny" thus my screen name.

4. I'd love to own a buckskin thoroughbred.

5. My favorite ride of recent vintage was Jumphigh's mare So So, who was anything but.

6. If I could ride any horse in the world right now it might be A Fine Romance or maybe Mandate or...

7. The first horse I ever rode was Muffet. In her day she was a hot stuff "large pony" and showed at places like the Garden. I rode her way past "her day" but once you knew how to ride, she could still give you grief.

8. I took my first fence on Val Field at Dutch Manor Stable in Albany NY.

9. The best schoolie I ever rode was Laffy.

10. Rodney Jenkins is my "horsey hero" but I have never met him in person.

[SimplyRed]

Hehe this is lots of fun!

1. My first ever pony ride was on a little bay pony at the state fair, named star. Or so the guy operating it claimed, I now wonder if he really knew their names. I was about 6 at the time.

2. When I was 2 years old I actually asked my mom to build a gate, and when she asked me why I told her so I could get a horse! If only it was that simple....

3. Our neighbors across the street used to own a horse and keep it in their back yard, I got to ride double with their teenage daughter occasionally. She moved out a couple of years ago and I have begged my parents to let me put a horse there.

4. I started riding in lessons when I was ten and I kept count of how many times I had ridden until I got to somewhere around 250.

5. My first real experience cantering was on a friends horse (we were both young and inexperienced) and she took off with me! Good thing she had a balanced canter. My instructor didn't know how I became so good so fast! xD

6. I dreamed of riding a clydesdale cross that was at my very first barn... and I almost got to. I was supposed to but he turned out lame and the next week my usual horse was back for me to ride. Still wish I could have ridden him, he was amazing.

7. I trained a full-blooded 18 hh+ Belgian draft horse to be a hunter jumper :D He was actually really good and loved it! He is the first horse I got to play around with, and ride bareback. He was so tall that in order to get on bareback I either used a picnic table and still had to jump, or I was in the saddle, set down behind my saddle and reached over, unhooked the girth then walked him to the rail and set the saddle off. He was a saint.

8. I dream of owning my own small stables and giving other little girls the chances I had to ride horses.

9. I once went on a western trail ride when I was ten (shortly after starting english lessons) wearing my breeches, boots, half chaps and helmet. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Haha.

10. I horse-sat my friends horse for two weeks this past summer and loved every minute of it. I'm hoping to get my own horse after college, if at all possible.

[dressagetraks]

Okay. . .

1. My first word was also horse. My parents wondered where on earth I got that from. There were none (alive) in my childhood.

2. I learned to read at age 3, and one of my first horse books was Black Beauty (a young kid's sort of Cliff's Notes version). I felt so gyped when I later, at the age of 6, discovered the actual and complete Black Beauty, which was so much better than the dumbed down and kiddized version.

3. When I was a young kid, our house caught on fire on New Year's Eve and burned down. We were asleep when it started and just barely made it out. I will never forget standing by the curb, watching the roof fall in and the spark shower, waiting for the fire department, and listening to my next-up brother cry. "The big baby," I thought. Two days later, when we were fishing through for anything left and I found my small and now melted collection of Breyers, that was the first and only time I cried related to the fire, and then, I bawled my eyes out.

4. I would go on bike rides to scout the neighborhood for horses. My bike, of course, was actually a horse.

5. The first horse I ever rode aside from fair pony rides was a neighbor's horse - bareback, without tack, and without permission. :eek: I would sneak over and gaze, then slip through the fence and gaze, and one day, the temptation was too much. This occasion was also my first fall, perhaps due to the combination of no tack and no knowledge. :lol:

6. That same neighbor then originally boarded my first horse years later. Turns out, he knew I had visited his old horse (although didn't know about that one ride). He would stay inside and watch me and never discouraged me (disclaimer: I was about 9-10 at this time). He said he would have intervened if I had been loud, sudden, inconsiderate of the horse, or destructive, but I always came in so reverently, just wanting to worship a bit at the altar.

7. My first horse was given to me as a bribe by my new stepfather, whom I distrusted and disliked (with excellent reason, as it turned out later). The bribe failed. I loved the mare, still distrusted and disliked him, which he couldn't understand. If you happen to be out there reading this now, thanks again, you amoral jerk. :D

8. When my mother gave me riding lessons a few years before the marriage to the above stepfather, on the day we first visited the stable to arrange lessons, I was coming down with blood poisoning from a minor foot surgery (removal of plantar's wart) and already had red streaks starting up my leg. I managed to conceal my advancing illness from my mother all day, afraid she'd postpone the barn scouting visit, then told her at the first stop sign on the way home, at which point we diverted to the hospital. But hey, I did get to go to the barn that day. :yes:

9. During my first fall, at least the first one I admitted to (see #5 above, always kept secret from Mom), I was jumping my first fence on my favorite lesson horse, and as I came off and he tried valiantly to swing back under me, I uttered the words, "You're NOT supposed to do this." Addressing, of course, myself, not the horse. :lol:

10. My first blue ribbon (same favorite school horse) came the day after a minor turned much more major than expected surgery to remove a tumor from my left shoulder. It had been thought to be superficial, but it was 5 times as deep as it was wide, which the surgeon didn't realize until dissecting. So I was stitched up to the hilt that day, couldn't even raise my left arm, had to be lifted onto the horse from the wrong side by my trainer and my Mom, but I WAS NOT going to miss a horse show. The horse was marvelous, stood like a rock for this mounting, and directed almost on thoughts, not cues, all day. "Nice straight position," the judge remarked approvingly. :lol:

[Little Valkyrie]

1. My best friend and I used to have walking races when our parents were looking, and galloping races when they weren't
2. This same best friend and I have matching scars from an ill-advised attempt at riding my late QH double... ended up with lots of road rash and having to pick out a small quarry from the cuts.
3. My favorite horses are TB/Clyde crosses.
4. I love fox hunting more than any other equestrian sport, and whip-in for Old Chatham Hunt.
5. I would like to get my HA in pony club before I age out.
6. I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have had 3 horses of a lifetime in 6 years of horse ownership, possibly one more but he was taken all too soon. 2 out of these 3 horses were free or rescued.
7. I think competitive dressage is horribly boring, I would much rather school than compete.
8. I desperately want to learn how to ride side saddle correctly.
9. I demand perfection when it comes to turnout of a horse at a show; preferably all the time (but that never happens ;) ).
10. My favorite equine things are: going for a misty morning or twilight gallop, a stroll through the woods during a light fall rain, the sounds of a barn at night when the ponies are put away all warm and happy, pointing your horse toward a towering jump and feeling that flutter of excitement and twinge of nerves but having full confidence in your mount, and going for a hack on your favorite horse and knowing that they truly are your best friend. :D

[betsyk]

1. I love a well trained western horse and have a not-so secret desire to chase cows.

2. all my horses except one have been grays.

3. my project pony is not really for sale, unless someone is able to pry the reins from my cold dead fingers.

4. The best Christmas present I ever got from the worst boyfriend was a bridle that I still use daily.

5. as kids, we only had to wear helmets if we rode across a paved street.

6. In 7th grade, I had to earn $5/week for my riding lesson by doing chores around the house. One week I didn't do my chores and had to call my riding instructor and tell her I couldn't come. That only happened once.

7. In 11th grade, I fell off and cut my face on a rock (we were wearing helmets because we had crossed the paved street!). I called my dad and said "don't tell mom but I fell off the horse and I'm kind of bloody. Can you bring me some clean clothes?" I had a shiner, a concussion and a broken rib, which got me out of gym class, but with makeup on the black eye I could still go to the Boston Ballet's Nutcracker.

8. Each of my horses smells different and has a different coat and I think I could tell them apart if I was blindfolded.

9. I wish my dad was still alive to see the extent to which I've stayed with horses. He loved them too.

10. I'll be disappointed if I never get to go foxhunting.

[Bluehorsesjp]

I love this. It was so hard on Facebook, but the horse version will be way easier. Plus some of you all have got me thinking.....

1.After I watched the '84 Olympics and was sure I was destined to go to the Olympics in either Eventing or Show jumping. I held on to that dream until I was driving down my driveway at age 28 with my first horse, a 15'1 hand QH in a dinky 2 horse trailer. Call it an ephany - I walked into the barn and announced "I'm not going to go to the Olympics" :no: Which made everyone look at me funny.
2. Despite showing jumpers for years I really really want to barrel race and wear all the bling and wild colors.
3. I once had a job driving horse drawn carriages with beautiful blond Belgiums.
4. my dream horse would be a buckskin- not sure if he would jump or chase cans :D
5. Black beauty always makes me cry
6. I ride because of the beach scenes in the Black Stallion. It is that type of relationship that I always strive for.
7. My horses have more blankets than I have winter coats
8. My favorite time of the day is after nighttime feeding when everyone is happily eating hay
9. I love one of my horses more than the other....well maybe differently
10. My one speed horse show bicycle still is a horse to me, like when I was a kid. He has a name and sometimes tries to buck me off, or needs me to "go to the whip" - perhaps a bit of am over active imagination :lol:

[ChristineC]

Lots of cool stuff, everyone.

1) My first pony (at age 4 1/2 - me, not the pony) was a chestnut Welsh/Arab mare... I remember being sad because she wasn't gray like the one pony I tried out. I now realize just how truly perfect she really was.

2) Trying out said pony before buying her I was riding her around, and turned her around some trees and pointed her at this tiny jump, and of course, being the good pony-club pony she hopped right over it. It apparently scared a couple years of the lives of my mom and the sellers. I didn't fall off, and was completely oblivious. (I can vaguely remember this episode.)

3) One of my first horsey memories is of riding my mom's old standardbred gelding (had been raced in his 'other' life) and being in the riding arena. He was a darling old man to put up with a 3 yr old.

4) My favourite show jumpers of all time are Judgement (or any of Beezie's mounts), Tinka's Boy (love his snip), and pretty much anything ridden by Ludgar. And I've been lucky enough to see them numerous times at Spruce Meadows.

5) I'm still amazed how famous riders walk around Spruce Meadows without getting completely mobbed by people. To me, they're celebrities and to be standing in line being someone like Beezie is just phenomenal!

6) I must taste good because two of the horses I've owned are lickers. My current gelding is VERY much a licker. And has right from the time I bought him, at 7 months.

7) I'd like to show at an AQHA/APHA show, but don't see that happening because my current guy is a Saddlebred/Paint.

8) I watched Black Beauty (on VHS) probably a hundred times one year. It's the only movie I've been able to watch again and again. That said, I haven't watched it since that year.

9) I love my horse, and really don't like his barn name. But because I've had him for 3 years now, it's too late to change it.

10) I've only been to three (local) shows in my life. Every year I say I want show, and it doesn't seem to happen. I'm determined to make 2009 the year I show! I'm just hoping my greenbean will be ready to go sometime this coming summer.

[cu.at.x]

1. My first horse was an Arabian mare; my second, a solid Paint

2. I have only showed (or is that shown?) twice in my life

3. I cluck to other drivers when they're going too slow

4. I have been known to grocery shop in riding attire

5. I love the smell of horse and leather

6. My heart horse was a Lippizan mare who I had the pleasure of leasing one summer...since then, I've always dreamed of owning a Lipp

7. I generally prefer mares over geldings

8. I feel awkward riding without a whip

9. I have a collection of vintage horse books

10. I love riding bareback

[deltawave]

We need to form a "People who want spotted Buckskins" clique! :)

[LessonLearned]

1) One of my first (and fondest) memories is riding the ponies at the Philadelphia Zoo.

2) As a result of my early addiction to horses, my mother thought that she could keep things under wraps by buying me books about horses. No dice.

3) My two favorite books as a child (which I still have copies of today) were Little Black, A Pony and A Very Young Rider.

4) I took lessons as a kid, until boys and cars became more important. Sigh.

5) I rode at a scary trail place all throughout grad school, only I didn't really understand how scary it was. To this day, I occasionally dream about my favorite horse there -- Velvet.

6) My first adventure in horse ownership lasted 48 hours in which horse fell over upon arrival with a surgical colic case. The owner took the horse back but threatened to sue, etc. The details of know nothing newbie buys pony doing every possible thing wrong that she could was well covered on COTH.

7) I was pretty much ready to stick to Breyer horses after the first 48 hours of horse ownership.

8) BUT, that experience actually turned out to be a good thing, because I eventually found the perfect horse for me -- my Fisher. He has owned me since 2005 and I love him to pieces.

9) I have to include "horse treats" in my monthly budget.

10) I fear that I will stay a "wanna-be" eventer forever.

[Invested1]

1. I don't actually know how tall Tedi is. He was a hair over 17h when he was 5 and I haven't sticked him since because I don't really want to know.

2. My horse was a total lucky find--he was a print ad in the COTH with no pix. I almost didn't go see him because I felt like it was similar to online dating--if you don't have a picture, there's probably a reason. :lol: I did end up seeing him because he was only 5 minutes away from 2 other horses I was seeing that day. I knew he was *the one* the moment I laid eyes on him.

3. His show name is actually a fluke. I had decided on Vested Interest but when I wrote it down, I accidentally wrote Invested Interest. I thought it was a funny play on words so I kept it.

4. I almost named him Virginia Gentleman (I went to UVa) and his barn name was going to be TJ (after Thomas Jefferson). I think it actually would have suited him equally well as his name.

5. I have a crush on my horse. I get butterflies in my belly every time I'm on my way to see him (I've had him almost 5 years) and I get giddy every time I call him and he looks up (sometimes nickers) and walks over to me.

6. I'm scared he will commit suicide sooner rather than later (he's 10) and he tries often.

7. It drives me nuts when people spell Tedi's name wrong (Teddy) when they are close enough to me/him to know how to spell it correctly.

8. I am SO proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together. We started eventing together--we did 1st Timers together and we (hopefully) will move up to Prelim soon, together. It's the most awesome feeling of being a true team.

9. He has the qualities that I look for in a man (don't be dirty! :lol:)-- he's tall, handsome, kind, sweet, smart, athletic and he makes my heart flutter. :D

10. I know that he is my *horse of a lifetime* and I will never find another like him.

[Scaramouch]

1) I remember the first time I was on a horse without being led - I was 4 maybe? My mother just handed me the leadrope and let the horse walk off. Having no idea how to steer (not that I could have with a leadrope only) I was terrified. In retrospect I really have to laugh at myself.

2) I won my first blue ribbon on that same mare 8 years later in an 18" hunter class at a local show.

3) I was terrified to canter until I was 12 and would sometimes be afraid to trot up until that point. :o

4) Although my family's always had horses on our property, I didn't get to pick a horse that I wanted (within budget limits of course) until I was almost 17.

5) My father bought a green 4 year old as my "first horse" when I was 7. Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo, anyone? We do still have him, though.

6) If someone walked up to me and said that I could have a ride on any horse in the world, I would pick Moose - my horse.

7) I actually feel awkward riding with a whip and usually stick a crop in my half chaps and hope that I won't need it.

8) I'm in college and I actually sit in class and daydream about horses more than I ever did before. :uhoh:

9) I have this utterly silly fantasy that involves me breeding my own horse one day for me to ride at the upper levels of eventing.

10) When I was horse shopping I tried three bay TBs and one chestnut TB. Guess which one I ended up with. :lol:

[MajMeadowMorgans]

I am in the middle of my "25 things" on FB. I can't think anymore! Might as well do the horsey one :D

1. I own a horse from the Giveaways that I have yet to ride. She's sound now, time time time!

2. I have hay in the pockets of EVERY sweatshirt/hoodie/whatever that I own. Even the ones I don't wear IN the barn!

3. I live in my barn. Well, an apartment in the front of my barn. That was fun explaining to the school bus people!

4. My daughter has ridden The Perfect Pony more than I have ridden at all this winter.

5. I have needed a new Close Contact for going on 10 years now. I have purchased my daughter 3 saddles in the last 6 months.

6. I am a 4th generation horse person. My daughter is continuing the tradition (whew!)

7. I own approximately 250 bits. That is not an exaggeration.

8. Every horse I own drives, or is learning how to drive.

9. I vowed to never own a red-headed mare or an App/POA. There are currently 5 chesnut mares, 1 App and 1 POA in my barn.

10. My first victory pass was in the womb. My Mom won the Deerfield Fair Park Saddle Championship when she was 7 months pregnant with me.

That was harder than I thought!

[LazyTrot]

1. My first lesson as a kid was on a white pony named Poodles.
2. I hate the idea of thoroughbred racing, but I am fascinated by it as well and have to watch it.
3. My mare reminds me of my mother (and vice versa).
4. I am (sigh) a timid rider, and think I will always be so.
5. I too am addicted to horse magazines, and keep a stack in the bathroom and by my bed.
6. I cried when Secretariat died.
7. Sometimes I change into my riding clothes, take my horse out, groom, tack up, let her eat grass and then reverse everything and put her back out without even getting on ! How embarrassing.
8. My imaginary horse is an Irish Tb (grey) named Applejack.
9. My mother's cousin was a jockey in Ireland.
10. I am very inconsistent as a horseperson, but somehow my mare has learned to adjust to me. We have an understanding.

[tabula rashah]

1. When I was little, I wanted a horse so bad that I used to make my younger brother pretend he was a pony- I even made him eat grass- that is until my parents found out.

2. I hate showing, but love competing- ie I'm all for jumpers, barrels, endurance, but wouldn't show hunters anymore for a million bucks

3. I really dislike brown tack

4. I had a really bad accident 4.5 years ago where I broke 2 vertebrae and now I have confidence issues with jumping

5. I've been riding for 22 years.

6. I have a horse job in one of the most spectacular barns in the country that I love, love, love

7. One day I will have a a) a buckskin Morgan/ Lusitano cross b) a grey morgan percheron cross and c) a black paso fino

8. I've saved every horse magazine I've ever gotten since the mid eighties

9. I love to trail ride by myself

10. I've had a horse fall completely on me on the other side of a 4' jump- and walked away with just a bruise

[PhoenixFarm]

This is cool!

1) I went to a montesori pre school that required you to take part in afternoon enrichment classes. You had two choices: swimming or riding, you did one for 12 weeks, then switched. The interesting part is that not only did that start me down the path of horses, but I was also a state class a level swimmer, though I gave up swimming when I was 15 to have more riding time. There exists a picture of me riding an ancient white barrel horse named Blue with no helmet in my tennis shoes and shorts at the age of three.

2) While I am a wholehearted believer in hacking and riding out for a horse's physical and mental well being, I find actually riding out to be kind of . . . boring. And I have a lot of guilt about that.

3) I think I'm a better teacher than a rider.

4) my current personal horse is the most difficult one I've ever owned. He's also my favorite, every day I ride him I smile, and he teaches me something I can use for another horse every single day.

5) The above horse is a gray, and I will do everything in my power not to own another one. I feel like in the time I spend grooming him at shows, I could have 5 bays looking Rolex ready.

6) I've won best turned out at the last five fei events my horses have done.

7) the horse that carried my husband through the cci** level was free. In fact all of our current competition horses are homebreds or freebies.

8) my secret if-I-won-the-lottery purchase wish would be a grand prix dressage trained Andalusian. If he did some tricks like levade or Spanish walk, even better.

9) I never rode ponies as a child, but did ride them as an adult. As a
Kid I rode hony qh types because I've always been tall and wasn't afraid. But in my late teens/early 20s ran a pony school and had to occaisionslly tune the little buggers. Since i'm 6'0 tall it was pretty comical.

10) I've never been very good at mounting, it always feels awkward and uncoordinated, even though everyone says it looks fine.

[kateh]

1. I somehow skipped the lunge/lead line phase-I started riding at sketchy camps with too many kids to put on a lunge line. Not sure how we all survived.

2. I'm considering getting a horse related tattoo-maybe a silhouette of a jumping horse or a bit.

3. I wanted to start riding because older sister did, but I kept at it long after she quit.

4. My parents told me I couldn't take riding lessons until I could tell my left from my right (BS!) and then when I could they still didn't let me!

5. My mom tells stories how when I was 5 and at my sister's barn, I always insisted on going out into a field with carrots. So she'd go out with me and we'd get mugged by horses, I would be laughing and giggling and she was worried one was going to eat me any second.

6. I didn't learn how to really sit a canter until college-I'd always just cantered in a half-seat.

7. I'm addicted to COTH and "window shopping" for horses. My friends say it's my form of porn.

8. I have a thing for ponies. The more 'tude the better.

9. I think I'd like to try jumpers in the future. I tend to zone out on outside/diagonal/outside/diagonal courses, and I love a forward ride.

10. I LOVE thoroughbreds and someday I want to retrain an OTTB on my own.

[ptshco]

1. Like probably many of the people on this forum, I was horse-obsessed from birth, with no particular explanation for why. My family has some randomly horsey parts, but my immediate family is completely un-horsey. The word "phase" was used a lot during my childhood. Ha! Some phase...

2. My grandmother bought me my first official riding lessons when I was 8. I think my parents secretly cursed her for this, because after that there was NO turning back.

3. I've only owned outright two horses in my 20 years of riding. Both were incredible and taught me a lot. I've ridden loads more horses than those two over the years, but look forward to being able to own again someday, once I can afford it. That's the real sticking point, unfortunately :(

4. I am prone to going out in public after having gone riding. I'm sure this offends some people, but it seems perfectly normal to me to be covered in dirt and muck and smell to high heaven. I'm rarely happier than when I'm in that state.

5. Regardless of what's going on in my life, I can feel happy, content, calm, and confident in a barn. In fact, a barn is probably the only place on the planet where I do consistently feel that blissful combination of sensations. Nowhere else do I feel as comfortable and competent. A barn is sheer magic for me.

6. My parents divorced my senior year of college, and during the tumult of selling our family house and the two of them moving into their own places, all of my show ribbons got thrown out. I'm still sort of sad about that. A lot of effort went into those.

7. It's a little dangerous to let me drive a car through farmland because I'll nearly drive off the road ogling the beautiful land and the gorgeous barns.

8. I'm too busy and too broke to show these days, but someday I'll get back into it. And when I do, I'm gonna buy myself a pair of Vogels. I know there are really nice boots off the rack nowadays, much nicer than when I was a kid and showing a lot, but I've always wanted Vogels. They're so classic.

9. Even though I will always harbor dreams of wanting to work with horses for a living, and I've held various jobs over the years grooming, riding, and teaching, I am coming to terms with the fact that I am, anymore, a big ol' amateur, and that's just the way it is. I just don't have the time to ride much right now, and my skills and fitness are not even remotely what they used to be. It's humbling.

10. I wish it was socially acceptable to schedule one's job around one's riding, as opposed to the other way around.

[PiaffeDreams]

I love this on Facebook!

1. My first word was da-da... my second word was horsey. We joke that all I needed to learn after that was "Money". "Da-da. Horsey!... Money?" Hey, its worked so far. :lol::lol:

2. By the time I was 9yrs old I had read all the horse related books in the children's section of the Santa Clara County library. I had not yet had a riding lesson.

3. At some point, a relative had bought me a grooming tote complete with brushes, hoof pick, and curry comb. I would take them out to the carport and brush and curry the air, pretend to pick feet all based on what I saw in the books. My imaginary horse was named "Buddy" and he was palomino.

4. I got repeatedly teased through 4th grade. My jeans always had holes in the knees because I spent so much time on all fours pretending to be a horse. My parents finally signed me up for lessons and camp. :cool:

5. On road trips I would take a note pad and tally all the horses we saw in pastures, trailers etc.

6. We moved when I was 12 and the deal was I got to ride in regular (weekly) lessons and MAYBE get a horse after that. My mom picked a trainer out of the phone book! Luckily, she happened to be an A-circuit h/j trainer of very high repute. Mom had NO idea what she was getting into. My eventual jumper/eq horse was named Buddy.... he was a chestnut though.

7. From my h/j days I still walk strides and count and look for my 'spot' when walking across seams in concrete or shadows.

8. When I graduated from high school, my parents both lost their jobs, and my junior jumper/eq horse had to be retired. I could either get a job in the h/j world to allow me to ride or get another horse of my own while going to school. I'd never done dressage, but it just looked so fascinating I wanted to give it a go. So, with $1500 to my name I left the h/j barn, bought a slaughter bound TB for $700, a $350 dressage saddle, and had enough for 2 months of board at a friend's place while I figured out a job during the upcoming college semester. I then started teaching myself dressage by watching other lessons and making money galloping TB's and polo ponies at a local vet's barn.

9. I've known within 5 minutes of meeting them that I would buy all of the horses I have since I left the direction of my h/j trainer. One horse it took over 6 months to make it a reality, but I knew instantly he was for me and I for him.

10. I have the wonderful... albeit annoying habit to all my non-horsey family/friends of being able to tie horses into ANY topic or conversation and I have to make my tongue bleed often not to do so. I'll likely marry the first man who can tolerate it. :winkgrin:

11. I never want to spend a day without horses. .... oops.. that was one too many. :D

[Equilibrium]

1) Never owned my own horse til I was 32. But I did ride most of my life.

2) I galloped racehorses for 12 years and had a very brief stint (because I was horrible!) as a jockey.

3)I keep getting out of hunting every year because Frank has an iffy hock and we wouldn't want to hurt him. My homebreds are now reaching the age where I won't be able to make excuses.

4)Living in Ireland has taught me why we bang tails and I am very fond of the look now.

5)I worked for Richard Spooner as a second job while galloping at Santa Anita and so loved it. He's a really great guy and he taught me so much.

6)Prefer my husband to ride my favorite horse in the world once she's started because I don't want to screw her up.

7) I never let my husband near the feed room. One because he feeds from love and 2) because I have things randomly hidden which he doesn't need to know about!

8) The first whinny from a newborn usually makes my cry and I also cry when I realize the birth has gone fine and everyone is alright.

9)Many falls have left me without the confidence I use to have.

10)Oh and we only pick stalls on Sunday - oh what horrible people we are. We do bed extra heavy on Saturday though!

Terri

[Valeureux]

I'll play!

1) George Morris' Hunter Seat Equitation is the freaking bible to me. I bring it to every single show and I've probably read it 50 times.

2) When I was little, my mom let me take a riding lesson at a local stable and when the lesson was over I wouldn't get off the pony. Trainer and my mom had to drag me off.

3) Before I had ever ridden a horse, I had read every singe horse related book in Rochester, Ny's public library.

4) I loathe shopping in general, but if it's for my horse I can be in a tack shop for hours.

5) When I first got my greenie, he would buck me off every single time I got on him for like three months. It got to the point that I would either stay on, or if I did fall, I would land on my feet.

6) My friends and I at my old barn used to jump all the jumps on our feet in the arena and set them up really high. I can still jump up to my nose.

7) My bff and I were at a local schooling show one year and leaned up what turned out to be an electric fence. We were shocked so bad that we just sat on the ground laughing for like 15 minutes.

8) The girls and I at my previous barn used to pretend we were were riders and a trainer and would walk the grand prix with the people that were showing in it. We would bs our way through and make up courses and everything. It was hilarious.

9) Same above friends and I would sneak into our trainer's hayloft and jump off the bales close to the celing onto the ones on the floor. So scary, but so much fun.

10) I got a ton of shit in middle school and still in high school for riding. People would always tease me and say riding wasn't a sport, and I'd always be so pissed at them, and try to explain why it was a sport, but they were just so shallow they had no freaking idea what I was talking about.

[midnightdream]

Horsey versions of these are always more fun
1. I didn't start riding until I was in my 20s because my mom was afraid of horses and worried something would happen if I rode.
2. I got my first horse at 22- a standardbred gelding who I adore- and it was after 20 someodd years of begging for one.
3. After I got my first horse I found out that my parents had looked at ponies when I was younger and were about to buy one for me when Christopher Reeves had his accident and my mom decided riding was too dangerous.
4. I bought a horse with the intention of riding around in my backyard and had no plans to show. Then I reconnected with a friend from high school who is a coach, had her start coaching me and now I show.
5. My horse and I like to do our own freestyle version of dressage tests which the judges don't usually like.
6. Dressage is my true love but I still enjoy hunters from time to time.
7. I would love to give cross-country a try but am much to chicken to do so.
8. I sometimes dress my gelding up in embarrassing colors like liliac purple.
9. I hate shopping at the mall but jump when there is a chance to go to the tack shop.
10. I sit in class dreaming of the things I could be doing with my horse, like hacking or just hanging out.

[jazzrider]

Fun!
1) When I was little I was so horse crazy my room was covered with horse posters -- that I hung up with big globs of vaseline. They petrified and wouldn't come off the walls. My parents were not happy.
2) My first pony ride was outside of Rutland, Vermont. We belong to a ski club in Pittsford and there was a trail barn close by. I wore a poncho. :D
3) Got hooked on horses after a summer at Thomas' School of Horsemanship on LI. Loved a horse there named Robin.
4) Took lessons at Sweet Hollow Stables for years. Loved a horse there named Miracle.
5) Worked at a camp during college that had horses and rode every minute of my free time. Loved a horse there named Dexter.
6) Got married, moved overseas, moved back and travelled overseas a lot. Then hubby went overseas for 5 months and I made friends with someone who was given a retired jumper that needed more riding.
7) Reintroduced to riding in late 20's (maybe I was 30...)by riding a half blind TB mare who jumped everything (and I mean everything) as if it were 4 feet high and had no brakes because she could only be ridden in a hackamore because of a tumor in her mouth. I miss you Rennie.
8) Leased a TB mare named Allie who was evil on the ground, but great fun to ride. Not such a great jumper though, so we turned to the trails.
9) Hubby bought me my own horse as a present for putting him through school for his MBA after we both quit our federal jobs. He's retired now, but I love my Zack.
10) Ten years later we now have four horses and have moved out of suburbia to have them here at home. Life is good, and I love my boys Zack, Rocket, Jazz & Luke.

[jubilee43]

1. My first horse was a runaway foxhunter and from him, I learned to love speed and have no fear of any jump.
2. My Dad used to bring home STB's from the track and I would ride them the day after they got to the farm all over and thru everything.
3. Whenever I have fallen off in a group ride, people always complement my form while falling for some reason. Like this is the time when I am the most graceful.....lol.
4. I don't show, as I cannot imagine going around in a small circle all day with someone else determining the speed.
5. My next horse will be a golden buckskin appendix or a dun.
6. I love how polo challenges my riding and my horse training ability.
7. When we were little, my cousin and i would play STB racer and pack each others feet with clay, put on a twine harness and then one would have to pull the other in a jog cart around the 1/2 mile track, wearing twine hopples no less....AND the driver got to carry a whip and use it if the "horse" acted up!
8. We had stick horses and we set up jumping courses for them.
9. I have had 3 serious concussions because i hold the horse when I fall off(if I am alone) and this causes my head to snap back onto the ground rather hard. However, no horse of mine will get loose to run in front of someone's car if there is anyway I can stop it.
10. Nothing is more calming to me then walking into my barn.

[worth_the_wait08]

1. I've been riding multiple horses roughly 5 days a week for 9 years, but I've never owned a horse :no:

2. I used to ride in tan leggings because I (and my mom) thought they would suffice as breeches

3. In my first horse show I wore said tan leggings, cheap suede-ish half chaps, and a helmet cover with my hair in a bun. I was champion in the crossrails :D

4. I'm 5'7'' but I still ride ponies on occasion and LOVE it!

5. I fell off a pony this summer and shattered my collarbone (as a result of our balance being off b/c I am tall), but that doesn't stop me from getting on the little buggers

6. I like riding bratty horses sometimes b/c I like giving them "attitude adjustments" (non-abusively of course)

7. I will take a whoa ride over a kick ride any day

8. I can't remember the last time I won an o/f class when there were more than a couple people in the class- a result of showing an OTTB and whatever else my trainer thinks needs miles

9. When I learned to canter, my "trainer" told me to check my leads by seeing which of the horse's feet were going farther forward, not which shoulder was going farther forward, resulting in a horrible habit of hanging off the side of the horse to check my leads. My next trainer changed that in a jiffy :lol:

10. When I spent a month in Europe a couple summers ago, I couldn't wait to get home and ride my new lease horse

[takethestage]

1. I LOVE to clean tack. And I don't mean a quick wipe-down, I'm talking the works... soaking the bit, taking apart the whole bridle, shining the metal. I do this the night before every horse show, it's a ritual.

2. I would love to be a DQ. Riding those half passes and tempi changes... I'd even settle for hopping on an upper-level schoolmaster just so I can feel what it's like to ride all that training.

3. The day my horse was officially mine, I broke my sternum flying over his head. He stumbled as we were cantering around the ring. I got back on and had a full lesson jumping 3' courses, but by the time I was untacking it was painful to breathe, so I sucked it up and got x-rayed.

4. At my first A-rated show, I was doing Itty Bitty Jumpers and fell off my first class. I went on to kick butt the next two classes and get Champion. :)

5. The first time I was on a horse without someone leading me, it started trotting and I started crying. Meanwhile, my younger sister was trotting around with a smile on her face. Needless to say, nearly 10 years later, I'm the competitive equestrian and she isn't.

6. I want to be a hunt master once I retire. I've never been foxhunting, but I'm determined to go cubbing this summer. Since eventing is going to the dogs, maybe I'll go join a hunt instead of putting out $$$$$ for entry fees.

7. I've free-jumped my cats. They look exactly like some of those Grand Prix horses. Maybe I've discovered a new sport...

8. I love anything related to racing and Thoroughbreds. I'm going to retrain an OTTB one day and make it an eventer.

9. I spend way too much time on the internet looking at CANTER horses, new tack to buy, places to school XC, hunt clubs... etc. etc. etc.

10. When I'm a passenger on long drives, I'm always thinking "WOW that field would be awesome to gallop XC in" or "I bet it would be so fun to jump that stone wall." The best was when I was driving through back roads in Lancaster two weeks ago and I saw all the hunt fences. I got so excited!

[J-Lu]

I'll play, because I really should be going to bed.

1. When I was a child, I used to ride the doghouse like a horse. I made a saddle and all. I put rope reins on my bike handlebars, too.
2. I rode jumpers on a horse named Fozzy Bear.
3. I also go out shopping after riding in order to consolidate trips. People stare sometimes.
4. i have old pictures that *I* took as a child - close up - of Corsair, Sweet and Low, Gem Twist, Calypso, etc. The riders were soooo very cool to let a kid come around the GP jumper warmup and take closeup pictures and pet the noses of their horses. I made a huge impact to me as a kid.
5. As a kid, I sent away yearly for the Holsteiner Auction booklets in Germany. They sent them to me! Contender was my favorite horse.
6. I have laid down with my horse in her stall...on many occasions.
7. I have swum with my horses, galloped on sandbars and through rivers, up arroyos full speed on OTTBs, and over snowy fields. These were some of the best moments! But being out on a cross country course - just me and my horse (preferably a confident TB), tops the list. Funny, because I am a dressage rider.
8. I prefer mares.
9. My only broken bones are in my hands and they are all horse-related accidents.
10. I wrote, illustrated and copywrited a book about discrimination, using an apaloosa racing horse as the main character when I was about 10.

[Whimsically Smart]

1. I want to do jumpers, but think I'll be taking the easy way out by not doing at least Junior Hunters.

2. I love watching dressage but don't like riding it.

3. I apologize profusely to my horse whenever I mess up.

4. I rather ride a rearer than a bolt-and-bucker

5. My first OTTB used to buck me off at least once a week, this is where I lost count of how many falls I've had... well over 100 times

6. I sit in class with my textbook covering a Practical Horseman magazine.

7. I have many Practical Horseman magazines all over my house, many from before I was born, because my trainer brought a box full out to the barn and slowly I believe I have taken them all. (I have read them all as well)

8. There is nothing that I would love more than to be younger with the same talent so in a year or two I could go to the Maclay Finals.

9. I hope that even though I'm aging out for the Maclay this year that I will be able to go to the CET Medal Finals before I'm 21.

10. I dream daily of going to a medal final and watch youtube video after youtube video of top junior riders. There is absolutely NOTHING I want more than this.

[zippandrich]

1. the first pony i rode was named toby; toby belonged to my great grandpa :)

2. When i was little i use to tell my mom to bring me back a horse from the store :lol:

3. I started riding when i was 5, one a arabian named annie who to this day i remember her being so sweet.

4. I stopped riding when i was 14 found boys more interesting and softball, started riding after my brother was killed in a car accident

5. first horse i cantered was a camp horse named Hank :) big palomino who i loved to death and had the chance to own but parents wouldn't let me.

6. So i fell in love with the phsyco horse named red-dog who was just not happy with his job. Brought him and still own him to this day and i will say he's a awesome one person horse.

7. Jumped for the first time last-year its fun but not for me! I can do it but don't care to do it. :) thank god for friends lmao

8. I've loved Zips Chocolate Chip since i first seen pictures of him, as a true western person that horse is the best horse.

9. Walked into the barn a hour after my dream horse was born, brought him when he was 1 i've trained him all by myself and i get great pride when he's packing around little kids or pulling a sled with me sitting in it.

10. Or yea my dream horse is a grandson of zips chocolate chip :) looks alot like chip also. My proudest moment? Sitting on my 3 year olds back winning a AQHA Western pleasure class out of 30 horses with the judge going awesome ride young lady. I still choke up when i remember that and crying as i went to get my ribbon with George acting like mom serisouly you doubted me? I love that little horse and i think he likes me too :)

[texang73]

1. I was lucky enough to grow up on a TB and QH racing and breeding farm. We had 2 stallions and lots of mares. It was always so fun in the spring with all the babies. :D Unfortunately, dad lost that farm in a foreclosure. :no:

2. I learned to ride at age 6 on a Shitland named Susie. She used to stick her nose into the corner of the arena and NOT budge, despite my futile pulling of reins and kicking (though my legs didn't go past the saddle flap, so the kicking really was futile!).

3. My first horse was a retired cutting horse, Johnny. He was a great horse. I wonder what happened to him. :sadsmile:

4. I have loved TBs all my life. IMHO they are THE horse.

5. I have loved horseracing just about as long (despite it's faults).

6. So far, all my horses (3) have been chestnut geldings. I think I'll keep it that way!

7. I prefer to clean a barn than a house.

8. One day, I'd like to own my own farmette, and I'll call it "Red Horse Farm" (see #6 above)

9. I have an extensive collection of horse art books.

10. I am pretty miserable without horses (as evidenced by my year in Africa without them!) and can't imagine not having them in my life.

[CowgirlDressage]

1. One of my first clearly spoken words was horse, my city mom was not sure why I would know it to say it.

2. I started asking for a pony when I was only 2 years old. I kept asking for one on every birthday and at Christmas until I bought my own at age 16.

3. I lived for certain nights when I was growing up: Big Valley, Gunsmoke, Alias Smith & Jones, Black Beauty, etc. I was allowed to eat at the coffee table and watch my shows :D

4. I used my very small weekly allowance to ride the living carousel ponies while my mom bought groceries. (Does anyone remember those things?)

5. My favorite teacher in grade school had oodles of ponies & horses, I was friends with her kids, and got to ride fairly often.

6. When my mom remarried & we moved away I was a very bad kid, I'd sneak into the very large pastures (think 25 up to 100's of acres each) around us and ride which ever pony or horse seemed gentle, with my Indian war bridle my uncle taught me to make.

7. I lived in San Antonio for a few years and rode weekly at Brackenridge Park on the rental horses across the road. Sometimes several times weekly just to be able to ride.

8. I have bought 2 horses with spare change that I kept in jugs.

9. I met my farrier/horse trainer husband at Meredith Manor when I went back to college as a 30 yr. old single mom with 4 kids. He could really ride and that caught my attention, turned out he'd had 10+ years of dressage lessons. Gotta love it!

10. I put off entering any dressage shows every year because I don't feel I'm ready; I've been riding dressage for almost 11 yrs. now. :no: Dear hubby keeps encouraging me and I think I may do it this year, though only schooling shows :)