Obviously I am running out of updates on Foster (although he’s looking almost 100% again!), so I stole this 30 questions idea from Polka Dot Periodical! Fun!

1: If your horse could talk what would they say? What would they be like?
“Hi, you’re fun. Can I taste you?” If Foster were a person, I imagine he would be the friendly All-American type that can be a bit of a prankster.

2: If you were a horse, what would you look like (color, markings, etc), what discipline would you do, and what would you be like to ride?
Um, I would probably be one of those athletic draft crosses, with some sort of quirky marking. And probably would be a dressage snob!

3: How many barns have you ridden at?
I’ve lived on two farms, but since moving to Raleigh I have had a tough time with boarding- 6 boarding barns so far.

4: What kind of bay do you prefer? (bright bay, blood bay, etc)
Bright bay!

5: Can you braid a horse’s mane? Tail?
Just manes, and sadly, I can’t even use yarn. Need to learn!

Pretty!

6: Do you believe that you have to fall off in order to be a good rider?
Not necessarily, but I think in order to be brave you need to understand that you can fall off and still get back on.

7: What do you think is more important: eq or effective riding?
Eventing is all about effective riding, though I have been trying to improve my eq as well!

8: Are there any “horse couples” at your barn?
Nope!

9: Favorite treat to feed your horse?
Carrots- always have to have a bag handy

10: Silly quirks your horse has. 
Foster is very ‘oral’- nothing is safe from his mouth! He will pick up gloves, sprays, even the mounting block if I’m not looking. He also has a past of resting one hoof on large things- like the top of a picnic table, or a roll top…

11: Strangest thing you’ve fed your horse.
Foster likes cheese-its, which are a horse show staple for me. Otherwise, I used to give Ivan the occasional beer or hard cider 🙂  

Woodchuck Cider, yum..

12: Have you ever made any horse friends through the internet?
I really enjoy interacting with the people who comment on my blog! Can I call you guys friends? 😉

13: Would you buy horse furniture?
Our living room has a fox hunting/equestrian theme, so I’m going with yes.

14: Funniest horsey moment
Oh gosh, there are so many. Once, in my younger years, I thought I would be cool and slap my horse on the butt to send him away in the pasture (not in an abusive way!). Well, he took off quite dramatically, spraying me head-to-toe in mud. I was so filthy I was not allowed to come inside!

15: Post a picture of your horse (or any horse) making a silly face that you got on camera!

A nerdy moment with Foster, caught on camera by Julie 🙂

16: What’s a moment with horses that you wished you caught on camera?
I wish I had photos of my Training XC run from high school. But this makes me even more glad to have our schooling over training jumps last year caught on camera!

Training Jump, yay!

17: How old was the youngest horse you’ve met?
I was fortunate to grow up on a breeding farm, so I’ve seen lots of babies being born. Something you don’t forget!

18: How old was the oldest horse you’ve met?
My first pony was around 30 (maybe older?) when she moved on to greener pastures. 

Heidi in her old age

19: Opinion on colorful tack? (like red or blue)
Saddle pads, yes. Polos or leg coverings, yes. Browbands, bridles, boots, no!

Don’t do it!

20: Have you ever tried horse treats? Hay? 
Definitely tried grain, and the occasional horse treat. Who has eaten hay?

21: Have you ever felt like giving up on a horse?
I don’t want to say that I have given up on a horse, but I have definitely learned to recognize when a horse just isn’t meant to do certain things. My last horse Ivan, was never going to be an eventer because he was not brave enough. Merry was never going to be a great dressage horse. And in both those cases, it was in the best interest for both to put them in a different home where their talents would be appreciated. It’s hard, but I think it’s made me a better horsewoman.

22: Tell the story about the horse that you first felt “click” immediately with you (and if you can’t remember, most recent)
I can remember the most recent, and that is of course with Foster. I had been looking obsessively for a horse for over two months (as in, following ever horse classified site in existence, hourly) and had seen nothing that really matched my criteria enough to go see. Then I saw Foster (at that time Pilgrim), who wasn’t quite old enough, but stood out enough that I jumped in my car and drove the 6ish hours by myself to go see him. The rest, obviously, is history.

Foster’s sale pic- how could I NOT go see him!

23: Ever ridden side-saddle? How was it?
I rode side-saddle on an elephant once, because I was wearing a skirt. It was awkward, but cool.

Yup, not the most lady like mount.

 
24: Most interesting place you’ve ridden at. 
I took a cross country lesson in Ireland on a horse named Crow. We jumped these massive fences out among herds of Connemara ponies- it was amazing!

25: What kind of horse do you like? (sport, stock, endurance, etc)
I have a definite sport horse type- uphill, with a little substance, short backed and preferably a little flash!  

26: Do you feel like you have more patience with horses than people?
Oh yes.

27: Is the horse you ride very vocal?
No, though he tried it for one show and it was awful.

28: Ever ridden in the sunset? 
I ride after work so I feel like I’m always riding when the sun is setting!

29: How do you like a horse’s mane? (roached, pulled, long, etc)
Short and tidy

30: What is your dream name for a horse?  
I’ve been saving the name ‘Glenfiddich’ (it’s lucky to name horses after booze!) for a horse sometime in the future.. barn name Glen!