20 Questions

Stolen from Karley @ All In ;)


1. What's your horse's name and how did he come by it?
Poplar's Samoa Star is his registered name. I call him Sam. He came named as Samson but just seemed like a mouthful to me. Poplar's is his breeder's farm (of Curly Horses) and my theory is that Samoa is like the Girl Scout cookie because his Dam's name is Col's Carmel Candy and Samoa's have caramel. And he has a nice star - but it's not in the shape of the Samoa Islands (I did think about that). I show him as Samoa Star though his prior owner showed him as Teacher's Pet (she is a teacher).

Samoas (refrigerated) and Thin Mints (freezer) are my fav GS cookies

2. What are your favorite breeches?
FITS Beka for schooling & shows.

3. Tall boots or paddock boots and half chaps?
Ariat zip paddocks & Grand Prix leather half chaps. Haven't really broken in my tall boots yet, but probably will keep them just for showing unless they provide some sort of miracle advantage.

4. What brand of tall boots do you have(if you wear them)? If you had an unlimited budget what would you get?
I have Tredstep Donatellos. Apparently I have a very short fibula but a wide calf so I have to get what fits and there aren't a lot of choices. These are my first tall boots and not fully broken in (I'm such a baby) so I really don't know what I'm missing.

5. Favorite Helmet 
Charles Owens AYR8 fit and look the best on me. Love the venting.

6. Shows or no shows?
Shows all the way. It's really what keeps me motivated and not just lolling around on my horse everyday. Plus I didn't get to do many sports and stuff as a kid, and I sure didn't ride as a kid. So this is my inner child having fun now.

Our first hunter show in spring 2012

7. Jumping or flat work?
Jumping all the way. I started in dressage but now that I have some basics, it's so BORING. My horse hates it too. He immediately starts grinding whenever we start any lateral work - the precursor to either flatwork or dressage. But I see the value of flatwork/dressage so I force myself to do it.

8. Hunters, Jumpers, Cross Country or Derby's?
Hunters, but rather be judged like a jumper. Just don't want to go that fast/high yet. I tried xcountry, too chicken for that. A Derby might be fun. Just enough mix without being scary.

9.  What other disciplines have you ridden?
Dressage.

Dressage show in Oct 2011

10. Dressed to the nine or whatever you can find when riding?
I purposely pick out what I wear. I have several breeches and LOTS of shirts. Kerrits & FITS for summer, Under Armour long sleeve compression (I have the whole rainbow) with coordinating vests for winter. I always coordinate or match. I have a TON of tall socks from Target ($2/ea) so those always coordinate too. Often my saddle pads/bell boots/crop match too. But no shirts tucked in or a belt because I shouldn't emphasis my widest area ;)  Someday I'd love to do solid polos and fun belts.

11. Where do you shop the most for you? Your horse?
Online. I buy from everywhere and have a list of over 50 online tack shops. I probably buy from SmartPak the most, easy returns. Same goes for my horse. I buy where ever is cheapest unless I'm really unsure then I'll SmartPak it because the little higher price will counterbalance any returns.

12. When was the last time you rode and what did you do?
I rode today in a lesson. I ride 3-5 days a week.

13. What tack do you use every ride/day?
Bridle: SmartPak Harwich padded fancy stitch with laced reins
Saddle: Black Country Ricochet
Stirrup Leathers: Arc De Triomphe calfskin half holes
Stirrups: MDC Jumper Classics (just switched to these from MDC Ultimates)
Halfpad: Fleeceworks FXK, white or brown
AP pad: Lettia baby pads, variety of colors/patterns, the new wither relief ones are the da bomb!
Jump Boots: Veredus Olympus open fronts (when jumping only)
Bell Boots: Davis traditional bell boots (when jumping only)
I don't ride dressage everyday, so not listing that tack.

14. What are your horses color(s)?
Royal Blue but we do a lot of navy/white/black because it's more commonly found like all his Horseware Newmarket blankets in Navy.

15. How often do you clean your tack? 
About twice a month I thoroughly clean with Effax cleaner. Every few months I condition with Passier Leaderbasalm or oil with Hydrophane. Our barn isn't super dusty and def not most of the year (wet ground all the time).

16. What kind of bit do you use?
For the last year I've been using the Pessoa SS Magic Copper Moon Dee Bit. They are very hard to find in a dee - which is why I have 2. :)  Obviously I don't use this for dressage, since it's not legal, so Happy Mouth Mullen Loose Ring for dressage.

Pessoa SS Magic Copper Moon Dee Bit

17. Mares or Geldings?
Geldings forever. Tho I've owned more mares then geldings.

18. What is something you want to improve on in your riding?
Cardio. I don't have as much cardio as someone at my level should have.

19. Favorite horse themed quote?
No hoof, no horse.


20. What was your most recent equestrian purchase?
MDC Jumper Classics - I heard they are good for not having your toes fall asleep and my knees like the flex of my MDC Ultimates - I just wasn't using the 90degree part of my Ultimates for jumping.

MDC Jumper Classics