Horse Survey
Your Horse’s Name:
Danny Boy
Discipline:
Mostly dressage, jumps on occasion, trying to learn western pleasure
Bad Habits:
Stopping at fences, “talking back” when I ask him to do something he feels is too hard (when it really isn’t)
Markings:
Wide blaze, white chin, stockings on front legs that go up to and over his knees respectively, left hind sock, belly splash, and he’s developing white ticking all over his body as he gets older
Gender:
Gelding
Age:
12
Breed:
Jockey-club registered Thoroughbred
History:
Bred in Pennsylvania to be a race horse, was given the basics of race training before they saw how small and slow he was. Sold to a hunter/jumper barn who gave him a few more miles before my friend bought him and had him shipped down to Texas to be an eventing prospect. I started riding him the winter of my senior year of high school when my friend slipped and hurt her back. Went off to college, my friend got back to riding and found that their personalities clashed. When I came home after my first semester, I started riding him again in hopes to get him into shape and started campaigning him at shows to be sold before I was talked into making a deal with my friend by a clinician that we took a lesson from. I started leasing him Febuary 2nd 2007, leased him all through college and finally bought him January 18th 2012.
Favorite Treats:
He will climb a wall to get Sonic onion rings (which he gets on his birthday and other super special occasions, like shows)
Buck?:
On occasion to tell me that he thinks I’m full of shit.
Rear?:
Only around cows.
Jump?:
When it suits him.
Load Easily?:
With a broom, yes.
Greenie or Push Button?:
You need to know which button to push and how to push it.
Ever Seriously Injured/Sick?:
He broke his coffin bone in his left front hoof the day after we signed his lease papers. Complete stall rest for 8 weeks, followed by a lengthy legging up.
Like Human Food?:
Sonic onion rings, pretzels, teddy grahams, I think I gave him part of a doughnut once, and part of a hot dog, and maybe a little tootise roll. He pretends that he likes bananas, but he really doesn’t.
Saddle:
Bates Prix Caprelli dressage saddle, borrowing a Pessoa jumping saddle that doesn’t fit him anymore.
Pad Color:
Uh, mostly white, a couple of black ones, a mint green and navy one, a gold baroque patterned one, a powder blue one, and a navy one; I think that’s it.
Halter Color:
It was chocolate brown and powder blue when I first bought it, now it’s brown and tan. He’s also got a fancy leather one for horse shows with a name plate.
Lead Color?:
WELL, it used to be tan/burgundy/navy, BUT I got a text from my trainer today saying that he busted it, so I bought him a plain white cotton one.
Lunge Well?:
Yup! He can be an idiot on the other end sometimes, but generally lunges like a gentleman.
Done Something Other Than Regular Discipline?:
We rode sidesaddle a couple of times! I really want to try that again.
Have Good Manners?:
He’s a punk with a heart of gold.
Bite?:
No, thank god.
Good With Children?:
Surprisingly yes. Tiny humans fascinate him, as do dogs and cats.
School Horse?:
Every once in a while I’ll let my trainer use him with some of her more advanced students in private lessons to get a feel for some higher level movements.
Good With Strangers?:
He’ll win over anyone within five minutes, guaranteed.
Get Pampered?:
What? Between the chiropractic sessions, shockwave therapy, massage sessions, treats, brace baths, and magnetic blankets? Nah, not spoiled at all.
Loves What He Does?:
I think so, he likes to show off, so dressage is perfect for him.
Personality Traits:
He’s a goofball on the ground, very easy to teach him stupid tricks. Under saddle he can be a bit of a punk. If he doesn’t feel like doing something, he’ll be sure to let you know in a big way. He likes to do as little as possible, but still be the hero.
Love His Home?:
Oh yeah, this was the first place he actually put on weight instead of us struggling to keep weight on! We had to put him on a diet within two months of settling down there. He’s very sensitive to the energy in his surroundings, and our barn owner is strictly no-nonsense when it comes to drama.
Stall Buddies?:
Stall, Jamaica on one side, Bailey on the other. In turn out, he’s between two mares, Destiny and Fiona. Who he has claimed as his ‘hos.
Have You Ever…?
Jumped?:
Yes
Dressage?:
Yup!
Fallen Off?:
More times that I can count. I’ve actually gotten quite good at it, as my trainer has pointed out.
Slept in His Stall?:
Not yet
Gotten Seriously Injured Because of Horses?:
Gotten a couple of concussions, all courtesy of Danny.
Fallen Off and Gotten Right Back On?:
Yup!
Ridden With No Tack?:
A few times, at the last place we boarded we would gallop around the back pastures with nothing but a string around his neck.
Ridden Without Stirrups?:
Ugh, yes.
Ridden Bareback?:
Danny hates it because I can’t “un-find” my seatbones.
Crosscountry Jumped?:
Twice, once with a great school horse named Champagne, and once with Danny. I want to take him again!
Cried Because of Your Horse?:
Yeah :T
Spent More Than $2,000 On One Trip To the Tack Store?:
Not yet…
Fed Your Own Horse?:
Only at shows, though I give him his electrolytes myself.
Mixed Feed?:
I’ve mixed supplements.
Ridden Next to a Road?:
Do driveways at horse shows count?
Taught a Lesson?:
A few, to close friends.
Trained a Horse?:
Danny hardly knew how to canter properly when I first started riding him. Now we’re schooling third level movements.
Used Thrush Buster?:
Yes
Given Dewormers?:
Yes
This Or That.
Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse:
Thoroughbred
Snaffle or Kimberwick:
Snaffle
Spurs or Crop:
Soft-touch spurs, those things are awesome.
Close Contact or All-Purpose:
Close contact
English or Western:
English
Show or Pleasure:
Mostly pleasure, we show for fun.
Discipline or Free-Rein:
Discipline
Indoor or Outdoor:
Depends on the weather
Arena or Trails:
Both have their merits. But I’ve been in the mood to trail ride a lot lately.
Random.
Ever gone swimming with your horse?:
Yes, Danny thought I was trying to drown him.
Ever galloped a racehorse?:
Danny was GONNA be a racehorse, aaaaand I’ve galloped him… Does that count?
Even jumped your own height on horseback?:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha no.
Ever gone to see your horse, even though you know you don’t have time?:
Yup.
Ever jumped through a flaming hoop?:
Hah, no.
Ever gotten a championship before?:
Yup! Every recognized show I’ve taken him to has ended with a tri-color ribbon. He’s kind of a BAMF.
Ever said goodbye to your favorite horse, tears streaming down your face?:
Try holding her head in your lap as she passed away. :C
Ever taken off polo wraps in formal wear?:
Yup
Ever accidentally gotten your horse sick?:
Nope
Ever ridden into the sunset, feeling like John Wayne?:
Yup!
Do you like helmets?:
I love mine, will be sad when I have to replace it in August.
Do you prefer greenies or push-button horses?:
Both are fun for different reasons, push-buttons help you install said buttons on the greenies.
What kind of saddle do you own?:
Didn’t I already answer this question?
Plan on owning your own farm someday?:
Yup! A sheep farm though, with horses and donkeys.
Plan on owning your horse your talking about during this survey?:
Yes, and through the power of positive thinking and The Secret, I made it happen.
(Source: readysetride, via warmblood-wanderlust)
