Questions Answered Continued

• Do you compete?
  
  

Yes!  I have only recently started competing since moving to Idaho.  Before I have not had access to horses where I could take them to a competition but I have been able to with several horses here. 

• What kind of competitions? 
  
  

I am an eventing junkie!  I have just recently been exposed to it since moving to Idaho, but I love it!  It combines the difficulty of dressage, the thrill of stadium jumping, and the YAHOO-ness of cross-country.  As my previous "Horse Disciplines explained" said, Eventers truly are the only people who can ride.  ;)  I have to add that I will also go to Hunter/Jumper shows and Dressage shows. 

• Where do you compete?
  
  

Idaho is sadly, sadly lacking in competitions, at least this part of Idaho.  Take it that we're primarily a honkey dory ye-ha awestern state and English competitions are few and far between.  I have to trailer to the Utah valley area, Hailey, or Boise area for shows. 

• What breed of horses do you compete with?
  
  

It's all about Thoroughbreds!  As mentioned before I don't own my own horses.  The woman who I ride for takes Thoroughbreds from off the track and retrains them. I must admit that I am partial to Thoroughbreds but I cannot claim a favorite breed since there are so many great ones out there!

• What are your goals?
  
  

Oh goodness - I want to become good!  Many people (mostly Western riding folk) ask why I pay a trainer and take lessons when I already "know" how to ride.  Their psychology is much different than English riding people.  The reason why us English riders always take lessons is because we know there is always something more to learn, and frankly speaking, you need a trainer to learn it.  There is only so much you can learn by yourself in a round pen; eventually you're going to need someone on the ground who knows more than you do.  Because I have many, many goals concerning horses, I'm going to narrow this down to what are my goals in my horse riding.  I want to be able to get on any horse and be able to ride him/her.  In terms of competition goals, I want to be able to jump grand prix level.  In Eventing I want to be able to ride in Prelim.  In dressage, I want to be able to train using Piaffe's and Tempi Changes, and all that amazing stuff.  This video shows tempi changes, followed by passage, piaffe, and then extended trot.