My favorite weekly newsletter, Girls Night In, had a really wonderful quote in the intro of the newsletter today that struck a chord with me:
Small kindnesses build community, and we could all use some community right now, even as we're physically apart.
Social media is an absolute shitshow right now, and these words - and really, the whole newsletter with its various links and resources - were such a welcome relief compared to most of the kerfuffle going on. After reading the newsletter, I found myself smiling and full of gratitude for so many little things right now.
And so, in an effort to introduce a bit of positivity and happiness amidst uncertain times, I thought I would share some of my gratitude items here in the hopes that our lovely little community of bloggers will echo back with some of their own. It's been awhile since a blog hop has gone around, but perhaps our little group can come up with a suite of them in the coming weeks to ease us through these unknown times?
Things I'm grateful for amidst the uncertainties of this pandemic:
each of my animal companions - the simple routine of taking care of them and tending to them is such a solace right now
an internet connection to stay connected with friends and family near and far
also on that note, being a part of this little blogging community - your posts are always a highlight, but in the past week they've been an even brighter light in my day
Spotify. Because music and podcasts in their many forms helps liven up my home and give some more liveliness to tedious chores
the blessing of having my horses at home - ohmygoodness. <3
SPRING. More birds return every day and the amphibians are beginning to emerge, too. Hearing every returning species' song brings the biggest of smiles to my face. All of the returning flora is also wonderful. (Though, spring allergies are definitely going to be like the Salem witch trials....)
a husband who is really psyched to be a mandated hermit. Seriously. If he was more of an extrovert this whole ordeal would be so much more miserable. He's fun to hang out with and over-the-moon about getting to avoid people lol!
living in the middle of nowhere. It comes with its own share of costs, but right now, I'm really grateful for the benefits - it definitely makes social distancing easier.
spring chores. Hear me out, while these are often tedious I'm so happy to have something to busy myself with in the upcoming days and weeks. There is so much dusting to do, windows to clean, seasonal items to transition in and out of storage, yard work, etc. to do!
streaming services! Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, take your pick, I'm happy for all of them right now!
BOOKS! The opposite end of the spectrum from digital media, but there's never been a better time to get lost in a good, intense plotline.
online courses - I start my equine nutrition course with Dr. Kellon in a weekish. I'm really excited about it and super grateful that it's something that can continue without needing to be around people.
I could go on, but I think I'm going to head outside to putter around my property for a bit and start on some chores before the next bout of rain hits. ;-)
So what about you? Won't you share a list of small gratitudes during these chaotic times? I'd love to hear about what small things are making you happy right now.
I have a wealth of posts just sitting and waiting to be published. Despite my every intention to blog a lot this month, it is somehow December 23, and I, uh, haven't. Again. lol
BUT! I honestly have 4 nearly-complete drafts waiting in the wings, so I plan to end this year strong and plow merrily into 2020 with more content.
To kick things off, here are photos from each year 2010-2019. I kept this easy on myself and just browsed my social media accounts for options as opposed to deep diving into my many external harddrives... Thanks, Emily, for a fabulous photo challenge to end the decade!
2010
Okay, this photo is actually from autumn of 2009, but the only photo I could find already on the internets of Stan and I from 2010 was one of my feet, Stan's hooves in a dark corner of the photo, and the focus was on one of the barn bloodhounds. Knowing I rode in the same places in 2009 and 2010, this place holder will have to do! So, behold, Stanley and I a decade ago!
2011
In 2011, I was given this horse. I named him Orion. He was a very good boy with very unfortunate conformation. I learned a lot of hard lessons about conformation during the 6 months in 2011 that I owned him. Ultimately, he wasn't going to be able to do any of the things I wanted to do with a horse and it was silly to pump money into something that wasn't going anywhere. I rehomed him with another redhead and he still lives in Elkins and is mostly a pasture puff on a small farm. He really lucked out on a good life!
2012
2012 brought both of these goobers into my life. Grif in January and Q in May.
2013
In 2013, I became an endurance rider. I completed 3 50s on other people's horses and my first 50 on my own horse. It was an awesome season.
2014
I started Griffin under saddle very lightly in 2013 and started putting him through his paces in earnest in 2014. By September of that year, we began schooling little jumps.
2015
It will be hard for another ride photo to ever top this one. RBTR 50 miler in 2015.
2016
Crossing the finishline of each of our first 100-mile ride - the Old Dominion. I was really damn emotional at this point for a lot of reasons, not the least of which included being awake for 26 hours and riding this little mare over 100 miles of hard, rocky, mountainous terrain in the GW Jefferson National Forest in VA and WV. What an amazing experience.
2017
2017 was the year I dove headlong into eventing. Grif and I trailered out of state multiple times and competed in both dressage and eventing schooling events. I sincerely hope to do more of this in the upcoming decade!
2018
2018 was a pretty light year for me, horse-wise, but I did make it out for several lessons with this guy at the start of the year. It was a ton of fun and Grif and I both really started putting the pieces together for that thing they call dressage.
2019
To finish the decade, I brought my horses HOME for GOOD. They're actually inside the barn in this photo <3
What. A. Decade. I started it by becoming a horse owner for the first time in my life and ended it by becoming a land/property owner and bringing my three horses (one of whom has been a part of my life for the ENTIRE DECADE!) home.
Aaaaah! I still can't believe I get to write those words! I am so beyond grateful to have been able to build my dream and bring my horses home. This decade will definitely be hard to top, but I look forward to the challenge of making the 2020s even better.
I've got a lot of Potentially Huge things brewing, so until I get those under wraps to a point where I can write about them, I'm going to [continue to] take advantage of some fun prefab blog content. Thanks, Amanda.
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This post brought to you by several month-old photos of one incredibly muddy Griffin
1. Why horses? Why not a sane sport, like soccer or softball or curling?
The last sane sport I did was swimming. I'd still swim if it hadn't completely botched the soft tissue in my ankles. I miss it all the time. Horses, skiing, and swimming were my first loves. Two have carried forward into my adult life and along the way I decided to adopt some other not-sane sports like rock climbing and mountain biking. Nothing sane interests me much! And the lessons I've learned from horses are superior to any I've learned from any other activity in my life. Horses scratch an itch nothing else can quite reach.
2. What was your riding “career” like as a kid?
I rode ponies and horses that a few of my parents' friends had for awhile. It was sporadic but quieted some of my persistence about wanting to ride. Eventually I would take once weekly lessons for many years before my friends all got their own horses and I could go ride with them.
Ancient photo of Stan and I at one of the very few horse shows I did as a teen.
3. If you could go back to your past and buy ONE horse, which would it be?
I have him. Stanley. And I didn't even have to buy him, his old owner gave him to me.
4. What disciplines have you participated in?
Barrels, cutting, western pleasure, English pleasure, endurance, eventing, dressage.
5. What disciplines do you want to participate in some day?
Polo and vaulting! But from a more realistic standpoint: I'd like to get Griffin on cattle for either cutting or penning and I foresee much more endurance, eventing, and dressage in my future.
6. Have you ever bought a horse at auction or from a rescue?
I bought Q the weekend before she was heading to auction, but that's the closest I've come.
Demo! And 4th grade Liz.
7. What was your FIRST favorite horse breed – the one you loved most as a kid?
Arabians. Demo was an Arabian cross and I was obsessed with him.
8. If you could live and ride in any country in the world, where would it be?
Honestly, I'm pretty damn happy right where I am. But if I were to take a sabbatical somewhere, maybe Chile or New Zealand. I want to see the country from horseback.
9. Do you have any horse-related regrets?
I wish I had developed patience and an understanding of how to communicate with horses sooner. I wish I'd had access to dressage-based training sooner, and I also wish I had understood how powerfully my emotions played into my interactions so that I could check them at the door earlier in life.
10. If you could ride with any trainer in the world, ASIDE from your current trainer, who would it be?
I'd really love to spend a concentrated amount of time with Mary Wanless and hammer out my rider biomechanics. I find it fascinating. Additionally, a focus on that type of work has really changed my riding the past few years and to be able to be drilled on it by one of the best would help me become the best I could be and enable me to troubleshoot future issues with more ease.
11. What is one item on your horse-related bucket list?
Ride at the Biltmore and/or Vermont 100. The Biltmore Estate is GORGEOUS and I'd love to spend hours riding on it, and I absolutely love the northern Appalachian range and would simply enjoy riding in that region.
He thoroughly rolled on both sides...
12. If you were never able to ride again, would you still have horses?
If I were in a situation where the horse would have to be boarded, probably not? There are so many other things in my life that I could put the money toward and time that I could spend doing other things. I would still love horses and seek interaction with them, but I think I could achieve that pretty easily without owning my own.
13. What is your “biggest fantasy” riding goal?
Riding my horse across the country from coast to coast. Linny Kenney really inspired me years ago when she rode Sojourner across the country. It's pretty crazy and I'll likely never do it, but that's why it's a fantasy.
A not-quite-as-muddy Q, forever the horse who humbles and teaches me...
14. What horse do you feel like has taught you the most?
Hands down, Q. She's a challenge for me. A big challenge. But through the challenges she's presented, I've learned more about myself and my actions and reactions than ever before. The lessons I've taken away from my time with her so far have benefited every aspect of my life, especially my interactions with others.
15. If you could change one thing about your current horse/riding situation, what would it be?
I really wish more options for local competition venues and trainers existed. It takes me a good bit of foresight and planning to be able to make it to the events I go to currently. I would also love to audit more clinics and volunteer for more shows, but it's hard to do these things when the travel sometimes is more than the time I'd actually spend at the event.
16. If you could compete at any horse show/venue in your home country, where would it be?
I'mma stick with endurance on this one because it's more within my realm at the moment. I would really love to ride the Big Horn one day or any of the Pioneer rides.
17. If you could attend any competition in the world as a spectator, what would be your top choice?
I'd honestly love to see the Olympics.
18. Have you ever thought about quitting horses?
Ugh, several times. But it's usually just in dark times as an exasperated outburst/thought. There's never any real power behind the thought.
19. If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the horse industry, what would it be?
I wish horse welfare was more of a priority at high-level events. In both eventing and endurance, there have been a slew of issues in recent years and I really wish the governing body would implement measures to avoid and minimize the likelihood of these things happening again.
"Woman, how dare you ever refer to me as a 'dumb decision'!"
20. What’s the dumbest horse-related thing you’ve done that actually turned out pretty well?
Oh, goodness... I guess taking a chance on a VERY UGLY baby Griffin. NO ONE thought he'd amount to much and everyone is astounded at how very nice he's turned out. And, as I told the daughter of one of his soft landings before coming to me, "He didn't get this way overnight and he may not have become this with someone else. I put a ridiculous amount of time into this horse and that alone has resulted in what you see today."
21. As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of?
Becoming seriously injured. My sense of mortality grows greater every year.
22. What horse-related book impacted you the most?
So many! But I'm going to go with the one that made the biggest difference early on - Monty Roberts' The Man Who Listens to Horses completely boggled my mind and changed the way I viewed and interacted with horses. Thanks to that book, I started to realize that a lot of the training methods I'd witnessed to date were quite abusive and unnecessary. There was a gentler way to do things that worked with the horse's natural instincts instead of forcing them to comply with our every whim and desire and causing them a lot of pain when they didn't. His way of explaining how horses observed and reacted to the most minute body language from a human helped me realize that I could stand to do a lot more listening instead of just expecting a horse to do as it was told. I was fortunate that I had only ridden "made" horses up until the point I read this book (early teen years), but it still made me feel bad about the ignorance I'd been living in up to that moment.
Why does he only pose majestically when he's disgusting?
23. What personality trait do you value most in a horse and which do you dislike the most?
I really value a horse who is eager to show up for work and the day's adventures. Griffin has taught me how incredible it is to have this trait in a horse and I have so much fun with him as a result.
Upon pondering traits I dislike the most, I realize that they all revolve around having a distrust of people which leads to a lack of respect/confidence in people. And that isn't the horse's fault, that's the fault of the shit human who taught them that, directly or indirectly. So excluding those types of learned traits, I'd have to say a horse who is lazy by design. I hate a horse who is a push ride!
24. What do you love most about your discipline?
Endurance: it allows me time alone with my horse while enjoying some of the most gorgeous scenery. I love seeing SO MUCH of the land without having to watch my feet every step.
Eventing: I freaking love XC lol. Shocking, I know. Though equally, I really enjoy the minutia that is dressage because it is teaching me to be a better rider and it's so very fun to mold the horse into its best self.
25. What are you focused on improving the most, at the moment?
My rider biomechanics, my understanding of how they affect the horse, and my understanding of how to troubleshoot the communication between myself and the horse under saddle.
The community of horse bloggers is a pretty amazing thing. It is especially amazing for someone like myself who lives in a rural area with limited resources/knowledge on most of the equestrian disciplines. The topics raised, journeys shared, and discussion generated from blog posts over the years has taught me an infinite amount, exposed me to more than I'd ever be able to otherwise, and has made me sit back and think critically about myself/my journey more times than I can count.
Sara started a pretty sweet blog hop outlining how she's been influenced and educated by members of this blogging community. Below are those who have helped jump start my knowledge and understanding the most in recent years.
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1. Austen and Emma's no-nonsense way of writing up lessons and shows was the biggest catalyst for me getting over myself/my fears and really pushing forward to get lessons of my own and pursue some schooling shows. Lessons and competition - especially within eventing and dresssage - were things I've always dreamed of doing but just lacked the mental wherewithal to follow through.
Reading their straight-forward approach to analyzing lessons, clinics, and shows changed my whole mindset about lessons and competition. Prior to this, I would get so caught up in my own head, perceiving every tiny thing as such a huge personal affront when it absolutely wasn't. This in itself is odd because when it comes to my other sports - skiing, mountain biking, and climbing - I don't take things personally at all and often throw myself into the lion's den so far as critique and lessons go.
While it is incredibly difficult for me to find the time to make it to clinics, lessons, and competitions because of travel/finances, when I am able to make it out, Austen and Emma have been so very present and supportive of my endeavors. It's been amazing to finally fulfill my dreams of getting involved in these disciplines, but to have such incredible and supportive cheerleaders has made the experience significantly better.
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2. Jen and Jan's dressage lesson and show write-ups have been paramount in helping me better understand concepts within dressage and have kindled my personal fire for the discipline. Previously, I was beyond intimidated by it. The way these ladies break it down and write about it just makes sense to my brain. I used to view dressage as this crazy-hard discipline full of jargon and concepts way beyond my comprehension. Despite competing at levels higher than I know I'll ever pursue myself, I read their training and competition write-ups and really get it. It's such a cool feeling to "ride along" with them based on their narrative alone. As a result of my increased comprehension of this discipline from their expertly written experiences, I'm now able to think more calmly and critically through things with my own horses.
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3. Megan's posts about Mary Wanless and rider biomechanics absolutely fascinate me. I've been picking through Mary Wanless' book The Natural Rider for ages now, so these things aren't completely foreign to me. However, the way Megan writes up recaps from clinics etc. with Mary Wanless/her teachings has really helped me see the book and the concepts in a new light. I freaking love shit like that.
And, of course, Megan's posts on biomechanics are a great segue into bettering my dressage training. I've worked hard to change my own rider biomechanics the past two years, and these posts have really helped cement my comprehension and implementation of how I should ride and what I should be able to feel during certain movements. I think it is so very cool how the tiniest of changes - especially in the positioning of the pelvis - can completely revolutionize my riding.
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4. I thoroughly enjoy following along with Teresa's journey with Carmen. Teresa picks apart her interactions and relationship with Carmen in a manner that is so very fascinating to me. Q, my mare, and Carmen are so very similar in personality-type and it's very interesting to read along and learn from the way Teresa handles such a sensitive horse. The parallels between the two mares jumps out at me every single post. Teresa's breakthroughs and setbacks with Carmen - and her complete honesty about everything along the way - have helped my relationship with Q so very much. It's really comforting to know that I'm not alone in my struggles with a Very Sensitive Mare.
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5. Of all of the posts I've saved in Feedly over the years, excluding the bloggers listed above, Amanda and Olivia's have been pinned the most. Both have broached various thought-provoking topics over the years that have really made me step back and think about horses, training, trainers, and my thought-process on each of these in more depth. I love that each author has a way of triggering such a critical thought process in me. Of all the epiphanies I've had about horses/horse training, a large portion of them have come from the thinking I've done as a result of the posts these ladies have shared and from the discussion generated as a result of those posts.
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Thank you, ladies, for all you've done to help me further my education and knowledge of all things equestrian.
As I've only purchased one of my three horses, I'll take this time and focus on Q! Which is great, actually, because it's been ages since I dove back into the archives of my brain and this blog to remember what Q was like 6+ years ago.
Gorgeous in her fresh summer coat
Beyond her coloring and the added bonus of so much chrome (I love a blaze face and stockings together!), Q was NOT what I was looking for in my next horse! The things I was looking for were: bay/brown Arabian gelding, aged 6-10, already started under saddle, 15+hh. This horse would be my Future Super Star for endurance.
So, of course, what did I end up with?
She looks so funny in a western headstall
A 14.1½hh, bay/brown, Arabian cross mare. And yes, mare is italicized because of all the things on my list for my next horse, a gelding was the one thing I was most adamant about. I'd ridden some incredible mares in my life to that point, but ugh, I just didn't want to own one! Of course, the Universe got the last laugh on that!
In her new home with me
I rode Q three or four times over the course of a long weekend clinic with my riding club. She was currently living with the cowboy clinician; he and his daughters referred to her as the "crazy" or "psycho" horse. They really didn't like any horse that was hot, forward thinking, and not a quarter horse. I loved her though - and blew them out of the water a bit when I was riding her around bareback later that evening and the following day.
Clearly a crazy psycho horse. My complete relaxation speaks volumes.
Qualities that I noted in my first blog post about Q that I really liked:
Happy leading, following, or being in the middle of a group of horses and is just as happy leaving the group of horses to ride solo
She was forward and alert on trail (HAHAHA)
She navigated up and down steep hills with ease, didn't hesitate at water crossings, stepped over trail obstactles
She collected herself beautifully over a jump (I still remember how lovely this felt for the first time)
Her canter was absolutely dreamy
She not once offered a buck or a rear (And still hasn't to this day!)
And while she was in heat, she didn't act like a witch and showed zero interest toward either of the studs we were trail riding with despite their throaty nickers suggesting otherwise
Studmuffin
Not a bad list by any means! But still, I hemmed and hawed over the commitment to get her. She had really amazing qualities I was seeking in a horse, I could probably let the whole mare thing slide, but the financial side was really scary for someone who, at that time, was in a little bit of an insecure place financially.
Jumping demo for elementary schoolers on the playground where I grew up fantasizing about riding and jumping horses
Finally, more than a few friends pointed out that she'd be an easy resell to someone in the endurance community after a summer of miles with me. So, even if she wasn't the horse for me, I wouldn't be stuck with her forever! My anxiety-ridden brain agreed with this logic at last, and I brought her home the next weekend.
Parade pony
After bringing her home, I introduced her to the blog world and got to know her a bit more. Things that contributed to my decision to buy her as noted in her introductory post (thank goodness for blogging!):
she's very forward on the trail - eager to move up a hill and not a wuss about getting down one either
she collects over jump obstacles in the woods in a way that few horses I've ever ridden have done
she's very, very alert and notices everything (even little butterflies) but doesn't spook like a complete maniac, she notes her surroundings and moves on
she's a quick learner - figured out within only a few tries what she had to do (give me two eyes) to get to stop moving her feet in the round pen
she's a lover
she's responsive - side pass you ask? No problem.
she backs up under saddle like a reining/working cow horse
her floaty trot is a joy to ride
her canter is ground-eating
she's in heat and isn't a complete and total witch! When introduced to her new herd she only threw one warning kick (when a horse charged her) and then she was aloof the rest of the time. She'll arch her neck and pin her ears, but isn't all snarly.
stop means stop
Right after completing our first LD
That's a pretty great list for a brand-new-to-me horse. But of course, I also had a short list of things we needed to improve upon:
ground manners
standing while mounting
snorting and prancing after being haltered
wariness and spookiness around people on the ground
screaming and pawing/digging when left tied alone without a human or horse in sight
She loves a good mash
It's interesting for me to read back on these lists now. I wrote them for a reason back then - to know what our starting blocks were. I knew we backslid with lateral movements, but had forgotten how truly alert yet calm she used to be under saddle. I know her spooking habits were exacerbated extremely by my own poor behavior. It's really nice to read back and know that she didn't always teleport when things caused her alarm. Knowing this was the biggest help as I worked slowly to build her confidence over the past year. I knew what I wanted from her was absolutely within her realm; I knew I could have the riding partner I wanted because I'd had that from her before.
Dolly Sods vistas of Canaan Valley
The things we "lost" that were a part of the original foundation are small potatoes in the grand scheme of my 6+ years with this little mare though! The shortlist of things I knew I wanted to improve with her back then are all complete non-issues now! Paramount of these, she has impeccable ground manners, doesn't scream or paw, trusts most every human (though is still wary of certain types of men), and is very respecting of a human's space.
Showing Austen what the world of endurance is like
Things Q has done in her time with me include, but are certainly not limited to:
parades: during the day, at night, with firetrucks/sirens/horns
backcountry trail riding and overnight camping
countless conditioning rides for thousands of miles
jumping
fun shows
lessons for beginners
LDs, 50s, and one 100 for a total of 3 out of 4 completions for LDs (85 completed miles) and 7 out of 8 completions for endurance (410 completed miles)
traveled and ridden in 4 states
losing and re-building her confidence under saddle
overcoming her raw, instinctual fear of having her hind feet shod
Teaching our tiniest student that trotting is fun
I hope to continue adding to this list in coming years with many more endurance miles and hopefully some dressage competitions one day! I think she'd be such a flashy little thing in the sandbox. Beyond being a showy little thing though, I want to pursue more dressage with her to improve her way of going and overall health. Following her suspensory lesions, proper movement and balance are of utmost importance in everything I pursue with her and my other horses these days. I want to guarantee health and longevity and proper movement goes a long way to achieving that goal.
Still one of the greatest photos
This mare has opened up worlds for me that I wanted so badly to be a part of, endurance being the biggest. The community I've found within endurance riding is like no other. I've certainly had my own ups and downs, but I've met some really incredible people and learned a ton about horsemanship from endurance riding.
Such a wonderful community
The other big world I always wanted to experience was riding in remote places. I never had a horse that could go-go-go for miles and miles so easily with such little maintenance before Q. The backcountry and wilderness conditioning miles I've tackled with Q have been the most beautiful and picturesque. She is so foot-perfect which allows me to literally sit back, look around, and enjoy the world around me.
My very first time riding in the Sods on what is still the most beautiful autumn day I've ever enjoyed
Of everything I've done with this horse, my favorite accomplishments are the Old Dominion 100 and the success I've found in the past year rebuilding Q's lost confidence under saddle.
30-some miles into the OD 100
It sort of goes without saying why the OD was so incredible, but for those who don't know, it's arguably the hardest 100 in the country when you pair the weather with the unrelenting terrain. To have completed it on our first attempt blows me away.
The last ones to finish (and complete!) the OD 100 in 2016 at 5:11am
And regarding her confidence, the year+ I've spent working with her to build her back up has been some of the most fulfilling I've spent with her in our years together. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, is more rewarding than heading down the trail behind those dark ears to tackle mile after mile with ease and confidence.
One of what are becoming many recent spook-free rides with this gorgeous little girl
There are so many more things I hope to accomplish with this little mare in our time together. She's not what I was looking for, but I am so very grateful she's what I have. The trials and tribulations I've had with her have taught me more about horses and about myself than any other animal or human interaction has ever done.
Thanks May As Well Event for this great idea! I've loved reading everyone's replies so far and had to jump in with a list of my own.
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1. I have a lot of house plants. Like...around four dozen right now. Many are spider plants and many are succulents and I'm working on getting more philodendrons because my house has a lot of exposed beams and a tree to train them to grow up/on/around.
2. And because I imagine the mention of "tree" in my house is going to raise some eyebrows, I'll address that... Dave built our home by himself - though many friends assisted for parts along the way. It's a white oak timberframe house, hence the exposed beams. In lieu of a central beam in the house, he used a tree. The tree wasn't easy to find - he and the friend who helped him the most throughout the process were sharing beers at the local brewery (which this friend founded/owns) bemoaning a particularly frustrating day of work on the house due to a rainstorm. While they were there, a local gentleman walked in, got a beer, and proceeded to complain about a large shagbark hickory tree that had fallen in the storm and was blocking a road on his property. The more he described the tree, the more Dave and his buddy's ears perked up. Finally they engaged in conversation with the man and agreed to help him move this tree, hoping that it would meet the specs for the house. Lo and behold, it did! We only have a portion of the tree (it was very, very tall) in our home, but it's almost as if it was made for the house.
The tree and the philodendron I'm training to climb and wrap around it; my loft surrounded by plants.
You can't tell in the photo, but there are four spider plants hanging along the right and 5-6 potted plants beneath - it's a wall of plants!
3. Of my many sports, the only one I have done as long as horseback riding is skiing. I began both riding lessons and ski lessons when I was 5 years old. Most of my school snow days as a kid were spent at one of three local resorts skiing with my family and friends because the resorts would give us a steeply discounted rate ($15-$25) on snow days. The local school systems also incentivized good grades with free ski passes, so that facilitated my skiing habit as a kid.
4. In the winter months, I am a professional ski patroller for two downhill resorts where I live. I've been patrolling since the winter of 2011-12 and really enjoy it. I come from a family of many medical professionals and really enjoy practicing first responder/first aid duties. Free skiing...well, paid skiing is a huge perk. Free lessons from some of the best of the nation is also a huge perk.
5. I never played with dolls as a child. Stuffed animals were much more my jam. I had dozens upon dozens of them. Hell, I still do...they're bagged and in my parents attic. I can guarantee you that I could pull them out and tell you every one of their names to this day. Horses, huskies, dolphins, and orcas were my favorite animals.
6. When I'm stressed, I will clean and reorganize. It's a pretty nice coping mechanism lol
7. As a kid, I was not an adventurous eater and was very content with typical meat 'n potatoes fare. As an adult, I love nearly every ethnic food I've met. Spicy foods are a struggle for me still because I didn't grow up eating them and my tolerance is low, but I keep trying them and can tolerate more spice in my food every year. Sushi is my absolute most favorite food.
I made this! Also, wow, look at that old slider cell phone in the background! Man have phones come a long way...
8. I am a biologist for the Federal government. I work with threatened and endangered species, primarily sit at a desk to achieve my work, and do a lot of technical ghost writing for the government. I don't like being inside so much, but my work makes a huge difference and that's what matters to me.
9. I swam competitively for 10 years and despite multiple college scholarship offers, ceased swimming after HS to focus on my academics/have a personal life. Similar to Amanda, I still love swimming and very much enjoy it, but simply do not have time for it. I dream of getting myself an endless pool one day when I retire...if I ever get to retire.
10. I grew up in 4-H and absolutely loved it. 4-H in West Virginia is unlike 4-H in any other state. We have project books and livestock projects like other states, but we also have a huge emphasis on volunteering within the community, implementing service projects, and pursuing self-discovery/self-awareness. Our summer camps are out of this world, the state camps in particular. The lessons, friends, and mentors I gained through 4-H made me who I am today.
Being a complete and total dork without any regard to how silly I was - THAT was what 4-H was about. Being yourself with no reservations and not worrying about judgement. We couldn't do that in school (because preteens and teenagers are the worst kind of judgemental humans), but at camp everyone was so inclusive and welcoming of everyone.
11. My favorite activity as a kid was playing in the woods behind my house. I
built multiple forts, loved climbing trees, and generally running amok
like a fool as my neighbor and I imagined ourselves as characters from Brian Jacques books (she a badger, me an otter).
12. I was salutatorian of my high school class. I had NO idea I was even in the running for it at the time and was actually upset when I learned about it! I was terrified to have to deliver a speech to a crowd of 500+. In hindsight, I'm grateful I was because giving that speech absolved me of the irrational fear I had of public speaking. I still don't like public speaking, but I can and will do it - and often volunteer myself for public speaking as a part of my job.
Just....lol
13. On the same public speaking track, I was asked a few years ago to give a speech on behalf of my agency to another state agency. At the time, I was led to believe I'd be speaking to 30-40 people solely within that agency. In reality, I was speaking to [yet another] crowd of 500+, spoke from a stage and podium complete with three projector screens. I'm kind of glad I didn't know what I was getting into before hand or I probably would have begged out of it!
14. My undergraduate thesis was on black bear denning habits and den characteristics in one county of West Virginia. I utilized a spatial mapping program and a modeling program to input variables and produce a map showing the probability distribution for black bear denning within that county. As a part of this research, I got to crawl into dens with black bears and help take morphological measurements of the cubs. It was pretty sweet.
Year old cub. Cubs spend the year they're born in hibernation with their mom and the following winter. Then they get kicked out on their own the second summer so the mother can breed again. This cub was one of siblings spending the second and final winter with it's mother.
15. I learned what the word "deciduous" meant in fifth grade science. To help us learn it, my teacher first asked us to fall out of our chairs onto the floor (deciduous trees lose their leaves - they fall). We thought this was great fun. For the rest of the year we would fall out of our chairs whenever she said "deciduous".
16. I played violin as a wee kid, then piano for the middle school years, and the alto sax from 5th-10th grade. Thanks to piano, I learned to read music, but I loved the saxophone the most. Jazz band was my absolute favorite, although concert was a close second. I quit after 10th grade because the teacher who made it so awesome for me went on to bigger and better things. I eventually sold my saxophone (to a program who would sell it at a very, very reduced price to another school kid) so I could buy a mandolin. I've got 4 chords down on my mandolin and can play simple scales, but really haven't advanced further due to lack of time. I dream of devoting enough time to it to understand it well and prove to myself that I'm committed enough to music to justify buying a fiddle one day (which is the same as the mandolin sans frets and double strings).
17. I have been a brand ambassador for Mountain Khakis since 2009. The company has grown SO much in that time and I have truly loved being an ambassador for them and have enjoyed the opportunities it has opened for me that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise.
18. I went to five proms during high school and only purchased a dress for two of them. #winning
Actually NOT a HS prom but a 4-H function the following year that involved prom dresses. God I loved that blue dress. I still fit into it my some miracle of miracles...
19. While I majored in biology in college (and loved it), I was also very
drawn to social psychology. Ultimately, the job prospects in biology
interested me more than social psych, but I still hold a huge interest
in the latter. What makes people tick and why fascinates me to no end.
20. The coolest, most fun, and most bizarre course I took in college was
Human Sexuality. I took the honors version of the course in which we did
all of the book work through eCampus and the classroom time was spent
solely on group discussions. We tackled hard hitting questions, shared
our most embarrassing sexual encounters, discussed the finer points of
how-to perform certain acts, watched porn for a grade, sketched our
favorite sex positions on the chalkboard, and had an end-of-semester
party where we all cooked/baked sexually-suggestive (well, okay, not
suggestive, just plain obvious) foods. It was a freaking BLAST.
21. Shockingly, I still haven't had a jumping lesson in my life from a professional. I'm very grateful for wonderful, helpful friends, the internet, and books.
22. I used to whitewater kayak and raft a fair bit as a teenager and in college. After my college boyfriend - a creek boater - lost 5 friends to whitewater accidents in a two year span I developed a healthy respect and fear of whitewater. Now, I experience a lot of anxiety if I raft on technical class V whitewater and pretty much avoid it at all costs.
Guiding us along a flatwater section of the New River. This was a spring break trip with the whitewater club. The water rose 11 feet overnight, nearly swamping our camp that had been set back >100 feet from the edge of the river the night before. We woke up and it was about 6 feet from the tents! I've never run a river at flood stage before or after this. It was pretty epic.
23. I refuse to get a fitbit or any other type of fitness tracker for myself because I know I will become obsessed with the data and let it rule my life. I know myself well enough to know I'd become obsessive about it and stress myself out if I didn't meet my own imaginary goals.
24. I have never colored or highlighted my hair. Old women still stop me about once a year demanding to know what color combination I use to "make it that way". They don't believe me when I tell them it's natural.
Yep, had that red hair since I was wee. And have dressed as redheaded characters since a young age. Here, I'm Raggedy Ann and my brother is "a bug". I've also been Pippi Longstocking, Mrs. Frizzle (the space version), and Princess Merida.
25. The freakiest horse accident I've ever had was when a horse I was cantering on a back mountain road slipped and fell off the road and down the mountainside. I felt him going and bailed off onto the road, rolling. To my surprise, the horse caught himself before he fell far and scrambled back onto the road, stepping squarely on my chest in the process to stand up. Fortunately, his hoof was centered over my sternum which saved me from broken ribs, punctured lungs, or other internal organ damage.
26. My office is very dog-friendly. Taiga has come to work with me nearly every day since I brought her home. Kenai comes rather often, as well, especially if Dave will be gone for most of the day.
Office dog! Kenai comes a few times a week, too, if the weather is conducive to riding after work. The dogs love running around the farm as I do horse things.
27. I have an irrational fear of fire and have since I was a kid. I can still
remember a series of recurring nightmares I had as a child where I was
told to put my most cherished belongings in a small box, walk outside
with my family, and turn and watch as my house was burned to the ground.
I would later have other dreams of the woods behind my house burning
down and then catching my house on fire. Then, as a fifth grader, my
neighborhood friend, a pyromaniac, ironic I know, started a fire in one
of my forts that resulted in a half-acre of woods going up in flame. I
was briefly trapped in the middle of a wall of flames. 911 was called
and everything was okay in the end. Ultimately, I wouldn't light a match
until I was 12 and wouldn't light a lighter until I was in high school.
My fear of fire is a big contributing factor to my decision to remain
on the east coast where wildfires are much more rare.
28. I have one brother who is 18-months younger. We fought a lot as kids but are really good friends as adults.
Brother and I at a wedding last summer. ....and that would be Dave photobombing. Thanks, dear.
29. My dad is a doctor; when I cut my knee from a fall in the yard as a kid,
he took me inside and stitched me up on the bathroom counter.
#thanksdad
30. One of the coolest things I got to do as a part of 4-H growing up was learn a lot of different heritage and folk dances: square, line, contra, swing, folk, eastern European, Russian, Morris, Irish, shag, spaghetti rag, waltz, and polka. Beyond these experiences (usually 1 concentrated weekend/year), I haven't had any dance training. I'd really love to find the time to learn ballroom dancing and ballet one day though!
