About Me
I have trained in dressage, jumping and cross country for the last nine years. I competed in jumping for a bit then had a nasty fall and backed off. My current horse, Griffin, needs to learn. I took a beginners polo clinic in 2009. I selected polo as my secondary discipline because I am interested in talking to other polo people about how to start. Of course, the horse I am leasing now is a bit scared of a whip, gets really excited about other horses jumping and cantering, and still has to learn to canter himself even though he is 10. We have plenty to work on! May 2010 update: Griffin is cantering well this week finally, and not so hyper-alert all the time. There is hope! Griffin has had some western training from his previous and current owner. I haven't figured out how to get him to spin yet.
Your Horse Life:
How often do you ride? 3 times a week.
Do you ride english or western? English.
Do you show? Not currently. I did a little a few years ago.
Do you help out at your barn or take care of your own horse? Sorta.
Do you have friends that love horses? Only people I know from the barns.
Do you ride with friends? Sorta. I have made friends with others in my lessons and at the barn where I ride.
Do you jump? Not much right now but I have jumped a lot with other horses.
Do you trail ride? Short trails.
Are you in 4-H or Pony Club? No
Do/did you take lessons? Yes
Favorites:
Saddle:: Treeless
Bit:: Snaffle with a bit of a twist..
Helmet:: Troxel
Boots:: Ariat paddock boots
Chaps/half-chaps:: Half chaps
Breeches or jeans:: Breeches
Halter/saddle pad/etc. color:: Black, black and brown
Nylon or leather halter:: Nylon
Horse name:: Griffin
Breed:: Not sure. Probably a quarter with draft and arab?
Color:: Palomino
Gait:: Working on a calm canter
Horse treat:: Carrots, apples and hand grazing
Horse celebrity:: Mr. Ed
Fly spray:: huh?
Discipline to watch:: Eventing and high level dressage
Horse web site:: Equestrian Life and Barnmice
Have You Ever:
Galloped? Yes, I think so.
Ridden bareback? Yes
Jumped bareback? No
Ridden double? No
Ridden a draft horse? Yes. I used to ride a clydesdale name Rita and I am pretty sure Griffin is.
Ridden a pony? Too small for me
Sat on a horse backwards? Yep
Had a longe lesson? Yes
Been yelled at by an instructor? I think so early on when I wasn't getting something and of course during a downpour.
Spent the night at the barn? Nope
Spent an entire day at the barn? Duh.........
Longed a horse? Maybe a dozen times. Grif is too crazy for me still.
Fallen off? Yes ten times
Ridden a horse that bucked/reared/bolted? Yes!
Ridden a horse that spooked? Yes (mares and geldings)
Been seriously injured in a riding accident, or seen someone injured? Sorta. I sprained my back.
Made your own jumps, treats, or other horse-related item? Hmmm?
Ridden in a body of water? A long time ago. We went in a river and came right back out.
Blanketed a horse? Duh!
Bathed a horse? Yes
Cleaned a horse's sheath? No
Watched/Helped a vet with medical procedures? Yes
Pulled or braided a mane? Yes
Been on a tourist trail ride? Yes
Been bitten? Yes
Been stepped on? Yes
Been run over? The horse I was riding stopped at a jump then popped over it suddenly. I went over her head and she ran over my leg.
Done a somersault with your horse? Yes, the horse clipped his back feet on the jump and did a nose dive. I went off his left shoulder and he rolled over his head and right shoulder. I opened my eyes to see him upside down and his feet kicking in the air! I crawled away quick! My trainer used that as an example for a long time to tell people to get plenty of energy going into a jump.
Drawn little horses all over your school papers? No - I was not very confident in my drawing ability as a kid.
Been made fun of for your horse obsession? No, but people don't understand it that's for sure!
Mucked a stall? Duh!
Been to a clinic? Yes
Ridden with a crop or spurs? Both but not with Griffin.
Ridden next to a road? with a fence in between
Met friends through some kind of horse-related activity? Yes, in lessons and at the barn
Been to horse camp? Yes
Ridden with gum, an iPod, etc.? Never gum! I have my iPhone with me at all times in case I need it in an emergency!
Ridden without a helmet? Never!!
Worked toward and acheieved a riding goal? Yes, plenty
Kept a riding/lesson/show journal? Yes. I have been keeping notes on a calendar and decided this weekend to start a blog/journal.
Collected model horses? Yep!
Cleaned tack?: Duh!
Mary's Riding Style
| Primary Discipline |
 English |
|
 Dressage  Eventing |
| Secondary Discipline |
 Polo |
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