Equestrian Bucket List

Friday, April 16, 2010

This was sent to me a while back and I didn't really pay much attention to it.

  1. Gallop on a beach.
    I would love to do this. Of course here in Pittsburgh we don't really have beaches to ride on. Someday.
  2. Win a blue ribbon, even if it's for the egg and spoon race.
    Check! Miss and I took home a couple of blues back in our mini trial days. More recently I won a couple of western pleasure classes with Dalal.
  3. Enjoy an evening of equestrian theater, from major touring productions such as Cavalia to local performance troupes.
    Have not had the opportunity. But will definitely take advantage if it is ever presented.
  4. Try your hand at cattle work. Find out what it means when they say a horse is “cowy.”
    Maybe one of these times we'll get Airy down to do some team penning.
  5. Jump! From crossrails to cross-country obstacles, experience the thrill of soaring over fences.
    Check, check and check!
  6. Fall off and get right back on again. Conquering fear is empowering.
    Lost count of how many times that's happened. But I always get back on and try again.
  7. See the majestic white Lipizzan stallions at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
    One of my dreams.
  8. Come to a sliding stop on a well-trained reining horse.
    I'm always game for trying out other disciplines.
  9. Take a lesson with your equestrian idol, _________ (you fill in the blank.)
    There's so many I could fill in the blank with. Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Lucinda Fredericks, Bettina Hoy
  10. Nurse a horse through a crisis and back to full health.
    Bully and Miss
  11. Experience the smooth ride of a gaited horse.
    Not really a fan of the gaited horses. But I'm game to try anything.
  12. Watch the horses come through the Head of the Lake on cross-country day at the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event.
    One week from tomorrow I'll be doing this for the 4th year in a row. And it never gets old!
  13. Have the courage to do the right thing for your horse, even when it’s not easy.
    I was prepared to do so. Luckily it did not come to that. But at 22 I know that day will be here sooner rather than later for Miss.
  14. Attend the Kentucky Derby dressed to the nines—including hat!
    This used to be a huge dream of mine. Now if I'm going to head down to Kentucky in the spring it'll be a week earlier for Rolex. But I'd still like to go if I ever got the chance.
  15. Tackle a trail accessible only by horseback and enjoy the view.
    Done! Beautiful views and quite the experience to share with my pony.
  16. Take your dream vacation on horseback.
    An Irish riding vacation has always been a dream. Hopefully someday it will come true.
  17. Master the sitting trot.
    Done!
  18. Ride a fine-tuned horse in your discipline of choice, be it dressage schoolmaster or barrel champ.
    I'm lucky enough to experience this every time I climb on Kaye or Bugs.
  19. Watch polo. Even better, try your hand at it!
    Something new, I'm up for trying it.
  20. Feed, muck, groom, ride. Repeat daily.
    Every summer for several years. Unfortunately now I have to work to afford the ponies. So it's only on weekends.
  21. Wake up to a whinny every morning.
    Someday I will.
  22. Fly down the track on a thoroughbred.
    I've flown across a cross country course on a thoroughbred, does that count?
  23. Meet one of your favorite famous horses in person.
    Got to meet Cigar down at the Horse Park. I watched every race he ever ran in as a kid.
  24. Ride bareback, bridleless ... or both!
    Done both, just not at the same time. Maybe this weekend...
  25. Share a bond with your horse that’s deeper than words.
    There's nothing better in the whole world.

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