5 Day Challenge - Day 1

Tracy at Fly on Over started this and it sounded like fun, plus with nothing exciting happening this week, I thought I'd join in!

1. Most influential person on your riding

My first two trainers would have to be the most influential. My first trainer, DVO, was very hard on me and eventually we parted ways because our personalities didn't match well, but she laid a very strong foundation and I will always thank her for introducing me to my first two horses and my love of training. My second trainer came after leaving DVO and she has been such a great friend and trainer. JF helped me start my first project horse and has most recently helped me get into doing cow work!

JF's just awesome all around

2. Piece of tack you’d love to splurge on

Seemingly like everyone else, it would definitely be a saddle. While I love my dressage saddle, I really want a new jumping saddle. I'd love a CWD (specifically an SEO2 with 3C flaps custom fit to my horse) or Antares saddle with long, forward flaps and a deep seat. Would also love buffalo leather. Drool...

 

So much want.

3. Top 5 riding playlist

I don't usually listen to music when I ride unless I'm in a bad or unmotivated mood, but I definitely do when I clean stalls. Here's my current top 5, though this list fluctuates dramatically from week to week.

Flaws - Bastille
Counting Stars - One Republic
Downtown - Lady Antebellum
Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
Lose Yourself - Eminem

4. Most important aspect of your barn?

I don't think I can choose just one! But I guess my top priority would be good care of the horses - meaning they get fed regularly what they're supposed to get fed, they always have water, their stalls get cleaned daily, etc. But also a inviting/friendly atmosphere, turnout and arena with nice footing are also high up there on the priority list.

Of my current barn? The most important thing is that we have awesome turnout and that my parents take excellent care of my ponies.


5. Three winter riding goals

I don't have very cut-and-dry winter goals, but here's the general idea:

• With Jetta and dressage, prepare to show at second level, fine tune first level and introduce third level movements. 

This trot needs to make a reappearance/improve.

• Also with Jetta, continue working on jumping, make my lower leg more solid and get Jetta more confident over cross country-like fences. We probably won't get to school cross country until late spring, but hopefully we can still work on some things. I'd really, really like to show her at Novice this year, but the issue is cross country...
  

Someday we'll conquer this airplane jump.

• Continue to work on Misty in terms of jumping and dressage. I'd like her to be ready to show training and first level dressage at the beginning of the show season and take her to a one-day event at intro or BN as well. And hopefully there's going to be a winter ranch sorting series as well (fingers crossed!)

More cows!