Questions Answered

I have been trying to figure out what exactly this blog is about. One of my classmates was very helpful in giving me questions to address. There were a lot of questions so I’ll post just a few at a time.

• What kind of riding?
  

I do mostly English type riding. There are two main types of horseback riding: western and English. This site explains the difference between English and Western riding relatively well.

• How did you learn?
  

Horses have always been my passion and since I've lived many places, I'd had the opportunity to ride from many different horse riding instructors. When I was very young I would go trail riding (Western) with my Grandpa in the mountains in Idaho. However as I began to grow older, I wanted something more between whatever horse I was riding and I. That led me to search out English riding, which focuses on greater contact and communication between the horse and the rider. In addition to living in Europe where any reputable horse stable teaches English, I was able to start learning English style horse riding and have loved it ever since.

• Are you affiliated with any trainers in the area?
  

There are two horse-riding stables in my area, Alohomora Farm LLC. and Red Rock Stables. I am able to ride horses at both places but I typically hang around Alohomora. My trainer is Meredith Harvey. She is a very knowledgeable trainer who is so far one of my favorites. She's mostly a Hunter/Jumper trainer with some background in Dressage.

• If you don't own a horse then how do you ride?
  

I have sadly never owned a horse. My parents were great as I was growing up always allow me opportunities to ride through lessons at horse riding stables. If you add up how many years I've been riding you'd think I should be very good, however add in long stints with no horsey contact and the real time in actual training and it's not a lot. Plus by the time I would become great for one trainer, we would move and the next trainer would have her own ideas about how I should ride and take me back to basics. Think of the progress as three steps forward, two and a half back. But by this time, I've gotten relatively decent. I am able to ride other people's horses who want me to keep their horses schooled and fresh.