Advisory Board
Teagan, 11 Years Old
I work with my horse almost every day, even in the winter. I live in Seattle where it’s pretty rainy, so I have no choice but to get out in the wet weather. We have an outdoor uncovered arena, and I prefer to ride when it’s dry so I don’t get soaked. If it’s too rainy to ride, I like to brush up on my showmanship skills or groom and spend time with Bear in the barn.
One of my long-term goals is to lope again. Last spring during a lesson, I transitioned Bear into a lope and he bucked me o pretty hard. I’m pretty sure this happened because the saddle I had was pinching his withers. It took a while to gain my confidence back, especially since I had to ride him bareback, because we couldn’t find a saddle that fit him. After about two months, I started to use an English saddle so I wouldn’t have to worry about slipping o when I trotted—he has such a bouncy trot! Everything about my experience has taught me so much and brought Bear and I closer together. I hope that when I get a new saddle, we will come back stronger than ever!
Samantha, 13 Years Old
I definitely ride in the winter! It’s when Peep and I get the most work done before the next show season. Recently, my coach did our year-end surveys where we set goals for next season. I’m really hoping to move up to jumpers next year.
I want to go to college at University of Findlay and major in either equine veterinary science or some kind of equine business field. In the meantime, I want to start working my way toward showing at American Quarter Horse Congress in the next two to three years.
Adalyn, 10 Years Old
I do ride in the winter. We do our same training in the winter as we do during show season. We also have started doing virtual shows, which allow us to show at our barn at any time. It’s a great opportunity for us to stay in the show mindset all year round.
My long-term goal in riding is to continue to build up my skills and ride through school. I would also love to work with horses in my everyday job when I get older.
Julie, 15 Years Old
We live in an area where there are sub-zero temperatures, which come with snow and ice. I am extremely grateful that the barns I ride at have indoor arenas, so we don’t have to worry too much about the weather except for the temperature. Winter is also a great time to ride bareback—that’s always fun!
My long-term horsey goals are to complete my British Horse Society Stage 2 and 3 certifications and maybe get certified to instruct through them. I also want to learn to be a Centered Riding instructor. Someday I’d like to raise a foal
and train it from the ground up. I never want to stop learning about horses and trying to improve my skills.
Ellie, 10 Years Old
Sadly, my riding instructor has not been giving lessons for a while now due to COVID-19. I might be able to start riding at a di erent barn next year, but for now, I am not planning on being able to ride this winter.
My long-term goals that include horses are mostly about owning horses in the future. I am also considering volunteering at a horse rescue shelter near my house, so that I can help horses in need!
Annette, 12 Years Old
Because I don’t have an indoor arena or an arena with deep sand, my arena is usually slippery in the winter. If the snow is deep enough, I’ll ride in the snow in our pasture. It’s great exercise for the horses, because it takes a lot more energy and power to go through snow. I also ride down in the sand washes in New Mexico where the footing is good and it doesn’t snow much. At the end of winter, I usually have to tune my horses up in the finer stu such as dressage and jumping.
What I hope to do in the long term with horses is training Mustangs. I want to train Mustangs from the BLM or Forest Service and give them good homes. I also want to play polo. I think it would be super fun to do a bunch of Mustang makeovers.
Samara, 14 Years Old
In Arizona, winter has perfect trail-riding weather. When I’m not riding, I love to play Star Stable, read horse books and magazines, make horse treats with my family, and do unmounted liberty work and clicker training.
Some of my long-term horsey goals are to help share my love of horses with everyone, continue learning about and training horses and doing equine therapy. I’d like to become a veterinarian and own a zoo or horse farm one day.
Caroline, 11 Years Old
I’m glad my barn has a nice and warm indoor arena so I can keep riding hunter/jumpers in the winter. I have to layer up when I ride because Colorado can get very cold in the winter. Our barn usually hosts several schooling shows during the winter too, so hopefully we can do these shows. I will also continue to compete in IEA shows, and, I like to give the horses a nice massage with a curry comb or grooming mitt that they can feel through their winter coats.
My long-term horsey goals are to one day own a horse of my own. I want to keep doing IEA through high school and compete at higher rated shows. It would be amazing if I could continue riding through college.