20 Questions

1. What is your horse's name and how did you come up with it?

When I was given Ashke, Steve and his family were calling him Abu. We felt it was important to change it to a new name, in order to make a break with his past. I wanted to incorporate his lineage into the name, and knew it needed to start with Thee. His lineage is Thee Asil X Bint Keishta.  I was playing with names, throwing them out to J and T and mostly amusing myself, when I remembered the word Ashke from Mercedes Lackey's book series Magic's Pawn. It means "beloved" and seemed to incorporate both Asil and Keishta.

2. What are my favorite pair of breeches?

I like the blue ones.

Actually, I am wearing Irideons. I really like them and have one pair in dark blue and a pair in beige. Breeches are much more comfortable than jeans and I like the Irideons, especially since both pair were through a second hand tack shop at the barn.

3. Tall Boots or Paddock boots and half chaps?

I have Ariat paddock boots with a heel and leather and nylon half chaps. I've only ever rode in cowboy boots, so riding in paddock boots with half chaps is very different.

4. What kind of tall boots do you have?

I have no idea why I would even want tall boots. Do they come with an uniform and sword?

5. Favorite helmet?

Tipperary Sportage 8500 Riding Helmet in Navy. Hoping to get one for Christmas to replace the horrible white toilet bowl I currently wear.

6. Shows or no shows? 

Now, this is an interesting question. Rachel said Ashke is looking so good and Cassandra thinks we should show. I really am interested in working eq, which has a dressage component, a cow working component and an obstacle course.

7. Jumping or Flat-work? 

Flat work and trail. 

8. I don't like this question because it assumes some things that don't really apply to me.

9. What disciplines have you ridden?

I spent my childhood riding for 4-H, so western pleasure (old style before the stupid four beat canter), halter, bareback and reining. I showed in a couple of open shows in my early adulthood. Some posse work and some roping. As an adult, I rode strictly for pleasure, all over the Front Range. Now, I am working on dressage, in an effort to remake myself as a rider and to make Ashke better as a horse.

I don't think endurance is in the books, since an hour and forty-five minutes of trotting has made me completely broken the next day.

10. Dressed to the nines or whatever you can find when riding?

Why would you ever get dressed up to ride, if you aren't showing? I wear Irideon breeches, paddock boots and half chaps, a t-shirt and my back brace. I will throw on a zip-up flannel jacket/hoody combination I got from Costco if it is cold. I will also exchange the flannel hoody for my winter carhartt when needed.

11. Where do you shop for you and your horse?

Murdocks or Brighton Feed locally. Dover for the dressage stuff. Stockman's for treats, etc.

12. When was the last time you rode and what did you do?

Yesterday. 6.5 miles in an hour and forty-five minutes.

13. What tack do you use every day?

I have a cob-sized dressage bridle with a warmblood sized browband, a Prestige Trekkerland cavalry saddle, a raised rocking S snaffle bit in 4.5", a fleece 26" dressage cinch and a BOT saddle pad that covers his hips.

14. What are your horse's colors?

I guess we are going with Black. And Royal blue. With Silver trim.

15. How often do you clean your tack?

When it's dirty. Last time was after the ride in the rain.

16. What type of bit do you use?

A raised Rockin' S snaffle.

17. Mares or Geldings? Either. Both.

18. What is something you want to improve in your riding?

The canter in both directions. Hunching up my right shoulder.

19. Favorite horse-themed quote?

"And Allah took a handful of southerly wind,
blew His breath over it, and created the horse.
He said to the magnificent creature,
"I have made thee as no other.
All the treasures of the earth lie between thy eyes.
Thou shall carry my friends upon thy back.
Thy saddle shall be the seat of prayers to me.
Thou shall fly without wings,
and conquer without any sword. Oh, horse."
 ~ Bedouin Legend ~

20. Most recent equestrian purchase?

Supplement for joints and new saddlebags.