1. How old were you when you first started riding?
I was 9 or 10.  It all began at Camp Matollionequay in Medford Lakes, NJ. 

2. First horse ridden:
The first was actually a pony at my 4th birthday party.  But the first horse was a lesson horse at Tip-Top Stables at camp.  I don’t remember his name, but he was unique in that he wore blinders. 

3. First horse trotted on:

The same horse with blinders.  Learned to post within a week. 

4. First horse cantered on:
I’m pretty sure it was Robin, a smooth little chestnut QH at Tricorn Farms, in Holmdel, NJ.  

5. First Horse fallen off of:
Probably  Robin.  We were out on a trail ride when he decided to follow the other horses at a canter before I was ready. 

6. Most recent horse fallen off of

Te, my beloved QH, about five years ago in the indoor.  He spooked sideways past a noisy door, and I didn’t go with him.  I thought I was alone, and I blurted out the f-word as I hit the ground.  I looked up to behold the sillouette of my father standing in the doorway with an old friend of the family.   I was more embarrassed than hurt.

7. Most terrifying fall:
Te and I were trotting along the tree line at a local state park when he spooked (yet again).  He literally scooted right out from under me as I was on the “rise” of the rising trot.  I tore my adductor muscles trying to hang on (never do that… it’s better to simply fall);  and I landed flat SMACK on my sacrum as my head followed to the ground next.  It’s a good thing I always wear a helmet because the impact was so hard that the helmet cracked…. imagine that.  Well, Te and I were still fairly new to each other at that point.  He had always been very laid back and relaxed, so I had no reason to expect such an explosive reaction to an imaginary boogy man.  I haven’t completely trusted him since then.  But he has proved himself to be quite reliable in every other way.  And at least I know he doesn’t run away.  In fact, he was so visibly apologetic after this incident that he stood perfectly still while I remounted him, and walked home ever so gently as though he were carrying a crate of eggs. 

8. First horse jumped with:
It was either Chester with the Rod Stewart haircut or Silver, the overstuffed couch.  They were the only school horses who jumped. 

9. First horse who ran away with you:
I never had a big problem with runaway horses, but my friend’s horse (Better Be Good) could be a “little” forward as he was a former racehorse.  I was still very young and pretty green, and I had more guts than brains back then.  I had a hard time getting him to slow down at the canter, and in order to stop him, I literally had to point him toward the side of the barn and pray.  I soon figured out that loosening my grip and sitting back instead of forward was a lot safer.   

10. First horse that scared the crap out of you:
In all my early years of riding and handling horses, I don’t remember ever being frightened.  It wasn’t until the last 10 years that I became “cautious” of certain horses.  One such horse was named Marvin.  He was a recent addition to Te’s pasture when we boarded at a county owned facility.  Unbeknownst to me, Marvin had a reputation of trying to take chunks out of whomever he perceived was invading his space.  My first encounter with Marvin was quite shocking… as I opened the pasture gate to retrieve Te, Marvin stormed at me, and before it registered what was happening, he lunged at my armpit with his teeth and clung there until I punched his lights out.  And then he tried it again.  I had a hematoma for months.  If he had been an inch lower, I’d have had an unscheduled mastectomy.  So, Marvin was subsequently removed from Te’s pasture.  He ultimately bit someone else, and was removed from the facility entirely. 

11. First horse shown :!)

I’m pretty sure that was Chester (with the Rod Stewart hair).  He wasn’t pretty, but he was so smooth.  We did Gymkhana games and got a blue ribbon and a silver dish.  

12. First horse to win a class with:
That would be Chester again.

13. Do you/have you taken lessons:
Forever.  I’m currently not able to ride because I’m old and decrepid, and I’m still healing from a nasty fall from a ladder.  But I still audit clinics whenever I get the chance. 

14. First horse you ever rode bareback:
Probably Silver.  He had a nice broad back and a comfy trot.  He was also a great hunter.

15. First horse trail ridden with:
The horse with the blinders on at camp.  The first part of our lesson was in the ring, and then off to the trails we all went.

16. Current Barn name:
Deer Creek Farm.  My lifelong dream of owning my own farm was realized almost three years ago. 

17. Do you ride English or western?:
Yes.  And sometimes both at the same time.   I don’t do hunt seat anymore.  I use the dressage training to try to achieve self carriage.  I hate labels.  “Dressage” vs. “Hunt Seat” is so unnecessary. 

18. First Horse to place at a show with:
I honestly don’t remember, but it had to have been on of the several school horses at Tricorne Farms.

19. Ever been to horse camp?:
It was a YMCA camp that included horseback riding as just one of the daily activities.

20. Ever been to a riding clinic?
I’ve never ridden one, but I audit whenever someone I like is giving one… such as Charles DeKumfe, Jane Savoie, Stefan Peterson, Betsy Steiner, to name a few.

21. Ridden sidesaddle?
No, and I don’t care to.  As a kid, we were accustomed to riding bareback in many different positions in order to improve our balance.  I never quite got the hang of sitting sideways.

22. First horse leased:
I never leased a horse.  Came close once, though.  A very flighty Trakhener Arab mare.  I’m glad I listened to my instincts.   She injured the owner not too long afterward.

23. Last Horse Leased:
N/A

24. Highest ribbon in a show:
Blue for equitation.

25. Ever been to an ‘A’ rated show?:
I’m not sure of its rating in the early ’60s, but I’ve shown as a kid at the Monmouth County Horse Show.  I’ve never shown as an adult.  Nor will I.

26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?:
Yep.  I did very well at those. 

27. Ever fallen off at a show
No, thank God!

28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers?:
Te was training as hunter/jumper when I bought him.  But he was so unbalanced, I began training with a dressage trainer.  And now I prefer not to have all fours off the ground at the same time.

29. Have you ever barrel raced?
Just for fun.  Te was beginning to get the hang of it.

30. Ever done pole bending?:
Yep.

31. Favorite gait:
I used to love to gallop as a kid.  Now that I’m old, I really enjoy a nice easy lope.  My Sundance (RIP) used to have the BEST 3-beat. 

32. Ever cantered bareback?:
Yep.  Used to ride Sundance bareback.  All his gaits were smooth.

33. Have you ever done dressage?:
I try.  I once trained on an old schoolmaster who made things very easy for me.  Te doesn’t make anything easy for me.   But we’re used to each other’s imbalances. 

34. Have you ever evented?:
No… not my cup ‘o tea, thanks.

35. Have you ever mucked a stall?:
More than my share for several lifetimes.

36. Ever been bucked off?:
Oddly, no.  Te has tried, though.

37. Ever been on a horse that reared
This is too evil to admit… but as a misdirected youth, I once trained my friend’s horse to rear on command.  She thought it pretty cool (the hi ho silver thing), but her mother was not amused. 

38. Horses or ponies.
Horses.  But I really love my Scout-Pony to pieces.  He is my special needs guy.  He came to me with one eye removed, a ruptured SDF tendon, and severe “allergies” complete with heaves and green snot.  Now, exactly a year later, he is snot free and breathing MUCH easier.  His tendon has healed nicely, and he’s 100% sound. 

39. Do you wear a helmet?:
Always.   I don’t understand why people don’t.
40. What’s the highest you’ve jumped:
I don’t remember.  The last time I jumped consistently was about 50 years ago.   It certainly seemed like 4 feet, but probably only half that.  We used to jump headstones in the cemetary.  Egad!

41. Have you ever ridden at night?:
Oh, yes… our moonlight rides in Tyler Park were much fun. 

42. Do you watch horsey television shows?:
You betcha!

43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall?:
Not seriously, but certainly long-lasting pain.

44. Most falls in one lesson:
One.

45. Do you ride in an arena/ring?:
Not if I can help it.  I’d much rather hang out on the trails.

46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse?:
Almost…. by a draft cross with very large feet.  He pushed me off balance while I was massaging him, and my ass ended up on the floor as he was backing toward me.  I quickly rolled into an open stall right into a big fresh pile of manure.  EEWWWW.

47. Have you ever been bitten?:
Oh, yes… on a number of occasions.  But none serious except for the Marvin the Mouth.

48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?:
Does a bear poop in the woods?  I probably have broken every toe on both feet at one time or another.  They’re all pretty gnarly.

49: Favorite riding moment:
Oh gosh… there are sooooooo many.   Swimming in the Creek is high on the list.  Galloping through the field in front of a squall to reach the barn before we got drenched.   Taking my Sundance out when his arthritis wasn’t bothering him and wading in the Creek on a hot day.  He used to love to splash water everywhere.   It doesn’t get much better than that.

50. Most fun horse you’ve ridden:
Sundance.  He was old and decrepid, but he sure did love to move around on the trails.  He was like the energizer bunny.

I’m really quite eager to begin writing my blog.  But I feel as though I’m stalling to write a play at the Globe because of lint on my quill?  I doubt that Shakespeare ever considered lint while writing a play.  I’ve also heard that Beethoven never considered shit while composing his symphonies (literally).    But I’m a perfectionist Virgo who prefers to know the lay of the land before she ventures out anywhere.  And I REALLY hate not knowing the language of said land.   There are basic terms and words that every world traveller should learn, such as, “ou est le or la pooper,” which translates, “waiter, if that was a fly in my soup, I really need to find a john”. 

There’s also an option here called “Excerpt”.   Again… it was tempting me to put something into a box.   So i did.  And I wrote….  ”This blog is basically about my life after 60 and my observations about life’s mysteries while hanging out with animals.”   Is this visible to anyone?  

I’d appreciate your feedback… all BOTH of you.

This is the photo I’ve been trying for the last two hours to upload onto my blog header.  As you can see, I have not been successful.   But I wanted to share this with everyone (all BOTH of you) because I think we may all need a reminder about now that Spring will indeed come around once again someday.  Can’t you just feel the 70 degree sunshine on your faces?  Of course, if you happen to live in a warm climate all year round, then you have nothing to look forward to except more delicious weather.  SIGH.

So in case you’re wondering about this photo, it is a picture of my beloved quarter horse, Te…. munching his way through the sweet spring grass last year.  Can’t you just smell those lilacs?  OKAY, no more teasing.  I must go out to the barn to do my chores (ahhhh…. more sweet fragrances).   I promise I will write more soon…. about animal massage and energy work, buying a farm in Pennsylvania at the age of 60 when most people are retiring to Florida…. and many other subjects.  I’m not exactly sure how this blog will evolve… kind of like life.

OKAY… I’m already quite intimidated.   Hey, it took me a long time to learn to maneuver gracefully through my own simple e-mail thingy.  Now I’m in the vulnerable position of navigating through an even more alien nation…  blog post thingy.   I think my worst fear is that I won’t do it right (whatever “right” is?). 

So…… This is a test.  And I’m hoping that this post reaches someone… and that I’ve done it “right”.    If so, then you can expect some ramblings and ideas from a multi-faceted animal lover, healer, thought provoker, questioner and peaceful warrior.

Respectfully submitted…..

StableHands