Honest Scrap Award

So, it took a blog award to get me out of my posting slump.

I haven't been feeling well for the past week and a half, which has prevented me from riding, so I've been a little down. This award cheered me up and has motivated me to get back to regular posting!

In accordance with the award rules I have to let you all know who gave me this award, 10 things about me you didn’t know before, and pass it along to 10 other blogs.

The wonderful Onthebit from A Horse and a Half gave me this award. Her blog is so honest and real, that I can't help but feel her struggles and triumphs as we follow along with her showing and taking care of Gennyral.

Ok - here are 10 more horse-related things about me - some might not be completely new, but I'll do my best.

1. I'm left handed and always tie up my western cinch the wrong way. It has confused people since I was a kid. My current instructor/barn owner comments on it every time I ride with her! I totally don't see the big deal about which way a knot goes, as long as it is correct and secure! I continue to be a rebel and tie up my cinch the wrong way. I also pick hooves left-handed and have had several comments about "doing it wrong"! Silly non-left-handed people! lol

2. I'm not a very good rider. My balance is sometimes off and my cues are a bit fuzzy. I don't mean this in a negative way - just that I'm not naturally gifted at riding and have to work hard at it. It takes me a while to learn the finer details or "feel". This frustrates me a bit because I'm a quick learner. My brain knows what to do, but my body doesn't always co-operate.

3. I collect information and probably only use about 10% of it. I have horse training books, videos, magazine articles, etc. etc. I also have mountians of cookbooks, home decor books - you name it. I love having all of this info around and read it all once, then carefully file it all away in binders and on my bookshelves. I tend to gather lots of information and then not do anything constructive with it, except organize it!

4. I would really love to buy a nicely bred mare to breed. I would love to raise and train a foal. I know nothing about training young horses (except what I've read ;-0 ). I don't expect this will happen until I retire, as I just don't have much extra time to put into training.

5. Like Onthebit, I would love to ride in a hunter pace. It just sounds fun - riding out on different trails, without the formality of hunt attire. Our local hunt has two of these rides a year and you don't even have to jump to particpate - every jump has a way around.

6. I love boots. Western boots, English boots and pretty much every other kind of boot there is. My collection is very small, as I'm trying to be good and not spend money. But I have about 1o pairs on my list to buy when I feel like splurging.

7. I'm really torn between English and Western riding. My goal is to do both moderately well to someday show in our local schooling shows. I love the attire that goes with both disciplines (especially the boots!). Right now I'm focusing on western and will buy an english saddle again someday.

8. I just sold my beautiful hand-made in Europe english saddle. I was sad to see it go, but I just wasn't using it and it was too nice to sit in the basement and collect dust. It will probably be years before I own one half as nice, but that is ok.

9. I have an old english saddle in the basement that my Dad bought for me when I was 14. It is small (if only my butt was the same size as when I was 14...) and in rough shape, but I can't bear to part with it. Someday, when I have a bigger house with a little office or a den, I plan to put it out on a nice rack, with an old leather bridle or something.

10. Wow - this list is hard! Ok - last one... I ask alot of questions. You guys maybe don't see it here on the blog much, but I ask questions ALL the time. My poor barn owner (who is a vet) gets a bunch of questions every time I see her on a range of topics. I try to refrain myself and space out my questions so it doesn't get annoying (I hope!). I just feel like there is so much to learn in the horse world and I'm a bit of a nerd that way. I grill my farrier, vet and any horsey friends with more or different experience than me.

So that's it! Now, I have to pick 10 blogs to pass this award on to - if anyone has already received this, I apologize...but hey, receiving an award more than once is a compliment, right? :-)

Not Quite Home on the Range
The School of Life with Horses
Oh Horsefeathers
NuzzlingMuzzles
BrownEyedCowgirls
AOHCM
A Year with Horses
Diary of the Over-anxious horse owner
Of Horses and Men
Laughing Orca Ranch