5 Day Challenge Day 2

6. Favorite equestrian book and movie

I absolutely loved the book The Eight Dollar champion.  I enjoyed reading about our sport in its grand hay day and the story of an under dog.  I love to root for the underdog.  I don't like horse movies because they are usually so cheesy and inaccurate but I have probably watched Secretariat 100 times.  Seriously.

7. Most common riding misconception

I guess that it's easy.  People who don't ride don't understand the time, commitment, and skill that is required to ride at a competitive level.  I will leave it at that because I could go off an a tangent about this one here lately...

8. 2 riding strengths and 1 riding weaknesses

I think I am good at trying to figure out a horse and riding them how they like or need to be ridden rather than forcing them to conform to how I want them to go.  I think I also have a strong lower leg.  I feel like I am pretty secure in the saddle and not up there flopping around.  I've learned more leg and less hand gets you far better results.  My riding weakness is my indecisiveness.  Meaning I will sometimes see two distances and not make a decision early enough which can lead to getting there a bit long and weak or deep and backward.  This is something that I am working hard to fix.

9. Least favorite thing about horses and/or riding

Just like everyone else's answer it is the cost.  It would be nice if it was a sport that was available to everyone but it's not.  Owning a show horse has been for the privileged for as long as shows have probably existed.  I make no apologies for being afforded this privilege growing up.  I am incredibly thankful to my parents for supporting my horse addiction as a child and through college but also that my parents required me to work for it as well.  I am bored of the whining from those who didn't have a horse until adulthood because their family didn't have the money.  What I LOVE hearing are the stories of people who instead of whining did something about it.  Maybe they worked their ass off to ride by mucking stalls and riding anything and everything that was offered to them like my trainer did.  Those are the people that have grown into true horsemen and women.  Those are the people I respect.  Pick up the latest magazine from The Chronicle called Untacked and read about Derek Peterson. http://read.uberflip.com/i/218358/37

Ok tangent over, but I seriously do think that show fees have gotten out of control.  From $225 for a stall to all the nickel and diming office fees.  It didn't used to be that way.

10. What do you feed your horse?

I'm not going to list everyone's portions but I feed Purina Senior and Nutrena Compete.  Each horse is on a supplement based their individual needs.  The common one with the 3 horses in work is Tract Guard.  I recently added beet pulp without molasses to Hobbs' diet as he is getting harder to keep weight on as he turns 25 this year.  His cushings also places some limitations in his diet.  Everyone gets T&A hay except the mini horse and Hobbs who get coastal.