Breeches & Boat Shoes

In the midst of re-watching SmartPak‘s If Horses Were People videos, I saw that they released an “equestrian tag”. After watching it, I thought that it would be a nice “tag” to blog about! Who says tags are only for Youtube?

SmartPak’s Horse Name Equestrian Tag asks…

What’s the name of the first horse you rode?

• I have to mention two different horses for this one. Aside from ponyrides at the fair, the first horse I actually took a lesson on was named JB. He was a chubby, chestnut Quarter Horse with permanent old man face, and he taught me everything. From grooming and tacking up to jumping cross rails in Short Stirrup at my very first horse show. He also taught me how to fall off…many, many times. He passed in 2011 and I know that he is up there somewhere watching over Ax and I with my favorite old schoolie, Ziggy. Zig was a HUGE chestnut Appendix (I think) with  tumor in one of his eyes. To this day, I think I can attribute my continuation of riding horses to this big guy. After a nasty fall on a trail ride resulted in some damage to my tailbone, he was the only horse I would ride. We went trail riding for hours and he helped me get my confidence back. If there was one horse that I would have made live forever just to keep in a pasture, it would have been Zig.

What’s the name of the first horse you leased/owned?

• My Angel pony, of course! She is the first horse I leased and the first horse owned since we leased her before we bought her.

What’s the name of the naughtiest horse you’ve ever known?

• This is a toughie. I don’t think I can pinpoint one single naughty horse, but I have definitely ridden plenty…buckers, rearers, the ones that run you into the wall…

What’s the name of your current horse?

• My current horse is Southern Axcent, or Ax. Yes, it is spelled like that.

What’s your favorite name for a horse?

• I Like “old man” names for horses. But I could never imagine changing the name of a horse to one that I prefer, that would just feel wrong.

I tag anyone reading this to participate in SmartPak’s Horse Name Equestrian Tag!

-TC

I love these kind of posts because I get to answer random questions on things that no one thinks to ask. Another ten questions thanks to Viva Carlos! And another post that I am doing in the wrong month, oh well.

1. Is there something you don’t like about your riding?
   • Ugh, where do I start? On the flat, I have the tendency to tip my upper body too far forward and over-post Ax’s über-lofty warmblood trot. Over fences is probably where I need the most work. When I get nervous I jump with my shoulders instead of waiting for the fence and I like to take the long spots or hold right to the base, no in-between.
2. Does your horse buck? 
   • Yes, but never to be naughty. It’s usually only after a fence, during a flying change, and every now and then if he is being playful. He will buck definitely when I free-lunge or let him loose in the ring. There is plenty of sassy bucking pony in him.
3. Is your horse head shy?
   • No, thank goodness.
4. Favorite barn chore to do?
   • Making up grain. I feel like a good mommy making dinner for my horsey children.
5. How many times do you ride a week?
   • I aim for five times a week, but realistically I only ride three, maybe four, times a week. Whenever I don’t get to ride, I try to at least groom or lunge.
6. Who is your favorite pro rider?
   • I’m not sure that I have an absolute favorite. I love Beezie because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t?
7. If one pro rider could train you for one day who would it be?
   • Anyone. I volunteer as tribute to anyone! Someone who can make my irrational fear of “big jumps” disappear.
8. Favorite Facial Marking?
   • While I have never had a horse with one, I think a blaze on a big bay is handsome. Though, I do love Ax’s half-blaze, crooked-stripe, one-nostril-snip combination.
9. Leg Markings or No Leg Markings?
   • Yes, but they have to be in pairs, so two hinds, two fronts, all four, or none at all. My inner OCD needs things to be symmetrical.
10. Ever broken anything falling off?
    • Knock on wood, not yet. *literally knocks on nearest wood object* But I have had some undiagnosed damage to my tail bone.

Read last month’s questions and answers here.

-TC

 

After becoming slightly addicted to reading and participating in blog hops, I decided I would give it a try and start one of my own! I even made a snazzy logo, that is commitment right there.

 

 

This hop is inspired by Ax being a bit of a poop (literally) the other day and I realized how many weird things he does. I know that I can’t be the only one with a weirdo horse, so my question to all you equestrian blog hoppers out there is:

What are some quirks, naughty or nice, that your horse has and do you love or hate them?

• When I say that Ax was literally being a poop, I mean it. There I am, grooming my mud-crusted horse, when all of a sudden he takes two giant steps forward until the cross ties are taut and he is standing there with his hind legs spread and his butt hunched underneath him. At this point I can figure out what he is doing, so it was no surprise when he let out a large grunt and dropped a nice, steamy load to the ground. This was a first experience for me. Yes, I have seen my horse take a poo before and he usually grunts, but never with that much enthusiasm. It gave me a good laugh, so I don’t necessarily love or hate it.
• One of Ax’s new favorite things to do is blow up his belly when I go to put his girth on, the only problem is that he isn’t very discreet about it. He takes a step forward, raises his back, and puffs out like a balloon. This is a quirk I am not a fan of, but luckily all it takes is a crinkle of a mint wrapper to distract him long enough to get the girth on.
• One of the annoying things that Ax does that I HATE is paw. God forbid you leave him standing on the cross ties without paying attention to him for TWO SECONDS and he is trying to dig a hole to China. I have tried everything to get him to stop but he is relentless.
• A quirky thing that I love is that he sticks his nose into his halter before you can even get it on him. I will be getting ready to lift it onto his head and he will literally shove his nose through the nose hole. It also leads a great opportunity for a snuggle session.

Ax probably has a million more weird things that he does, but I love most of them. It makes him who he is.

Happy hopping!

-TC