10 Questions for August and Life

Not too much happening in my end of the world. I have 2 horse shows on my radar, but we all know how my schedule likes to accommodate those. Lexie finally came back in full work after a month off due to feet issues, and now has decided sweating is for ~*~losers~*~. I put her on Guinness and electrolytes this week, and if that doesn't kickstart her sweating, I may give 1-AC a try. In a world of 95 degrees and 80% humidity, mama needs to sweat. Candy continues to be a dweeb and force his girlfriend to die of heatstroke- he stands in the sand by the barn waiting for pets, baths with the hose, and so he can steal hay from other horses' mouths (not kidding). Poor Lexie stands under him for a little bit of shade. Hopefully, we can all get settled in and back into our working routine. And hopefully, this Alabama summer may let up a little.

Since nothing is too new in the horse world, I figured I would do Viva Carlos' 10 Questions for August.

1. What is your biggest source of caffeine that gets you through the day? (drink, not just brand) 
I drink caffeinated Crystal Light and Mio by the gallon- I drink maybe 2 liters of it a day. In the fall and winter, I love green tea and chai tea. 

2. Do you honestly think your trainer is the best trainer for you?
I think my current trainer is a good match for my needs right now- laidback, supportive, and pushes me when I need it. I really like that she's open to me going to clinics/riding with other instructors as well all in the name of pushing forward my riding abilities.

3. One token of advice a fellow rider/trainer/horse person told you that you still remember to this day.  
Ride inside leg to outside hand. If I panic and remember one thing about riding- this is it. 

4. If riding meant costing your family so much money that they’d be basically on poverty line, or making your family terribly unhappy (if they were not supportive or understanding, etc.) would you still do it?
If it was just me alone and I could afford equine emergencies, absolutely. Significant other and I have had to make some compromises (I ride in the late evening or early morning, 4-5 days a week, spend one night solely with him); riding is so important to my mental health I think it would be hard for me to cut it out completely because then I would be a wealthy, angry person instead of a poor, happy person. So... I would continue to ride, but find a way to make it work.

5. (Girls) would you ride while pregnant?
I will ride until my doctor advises against it or until my land whale of a body can't get into the saddle.

6. How do you tell when a horse likes someone/has bonded with you or someone else?
I think it depends on that person and their interactions with the horse. I think Candy has bonded to me because he will look to me for my reactions in stressful situations and comes to me for comfort. Lexie and I have a working partnership, but I don't know that we've "bonded".

7. Are horses capable of loving, in your opinion?
I think so.

8. If you could have one horse from your past come back for 5 minutes, who would it be, why, and what would you do with them in those 5 minutes? 
I've been lucky to have not "lost" a horse yet, per se. I would want a sound Candy at his peak fitness and athletic abilities just to pop him over a fence or two, and ask for a couple half passes.

9. Should a trainer also be a friend, or should it be a student/teacher relationship? 
I think a trainer should be a mentor- so halfway between a friend and a teacher. I've asked trainers about things involving horses, and come to them when my life has hit the fan and I don't know where to turn. A mentor keeps it professional, but you can still develop a very personal relationship.
10. One piece of advice/training you were given by a trainer or mentor that you look back on now and view it as incorrect? 
Buying vaccines from Tractor Supply....

- K & C & L