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Member Spotlight 2008 Archives August 2008 Member Spotlight - Reinerslider
Name: Lerin (reinerslider)
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
What's the significance of your avatar?
There is not much too it, just me and my horse, one of my favorite senior pictures. Raji's wearing our first regional championship garland.
Your member name is reinerslider...so you're into spinning and sliding? Tell us about the disciplines you like to work?
Ha, yeah, I thought I was clever. My newest discipline and focus is reining. I've been doing it for about five years now, as long as I've owned Raji. I think it suits me well, I like the speed and precision, and knowing a good ride is undeniable. I won't get lost in the crowd or shadowed by big names. However, I've ridden any and every discipline I've been offered on any horse. Mostly, aside from reining, I show western and hunt seat (both pleasure and equitation, and showmanship when I can at this age). I only have one horse and there is only so much multitasking I can ask Raji for, though he will try anything for me. Now and then, I show trail, but it is not offered at many shows. I have even dabbled in dressage, Driving, English (saddle seat), western patterns and halter showing Arabians, Quarter Horses, Morgans, NSH, Shetland ponies and all kinds of crosses.
Describe your life with horses today:
Today I have two Arabians in my family; one for myself, and one for my sister. We show them when we can afford to and train them ourselves. I work at the barn whenever possible and I am actually "horse sitting" there for two weeks right now. We show at Arabian circuit shows, open shows and 4H. However, we can't really afford all that much with college for both myself and my twin sister, so although we've both qualified a couple times, nationals will have to wait ‘till I win the lottery or something. I try to "catch-ride" whenever possible, because it is one way I can show without going broke. Horses are my life.
What was your first experience with a horse?
I honestly do not know when my first experience with a horse was. I was so young it is all blurry. I don't remember life without horses because I started riding when I was about two years old, in the lap of my mother. I remember riding the three-year-old quarter horse she leased, and having the gentle giant stand on my foot for several minutes before my mom noticed. He was probably the first horse I rode. If there were any before him, Eclipse, or "Clipper" I was too young to know.
You do a lot of showing. How important is that to you?
Showing for me is important, it is the only recognition I get for all my hard work in the saddle. Mostly, though, it is just fun. It
is my sport and I love it. It's a chance to show off and hang with friends and most of all an excuse to spend nearly 24 hours a day with my horse.
You do most or all of your own training of your horses, right? Love the teaching your hose to bow video you uploaded! What's it like doing the work on your own? Pluses/minuses?
I've always had to train my own horses, so I don't know what it is like to have someone else do it, and I probably wouldn't want it. I enjoy showing my horse so much more than any I catch ride because I know that any success comes completely from my effort. I feed the horse, ride him, train him, groom him, warm up and present him in the ring. I grew up with horses, but I got passed off on any horse available. I just learned to adapt and make the best with what I had.
Training my own horse allows me a lot of other things, no one can take a victory away from me and credit anyone else, and I get time to know my horse. I'm never in a ring or a situation where I can't reasonably predict what my horse will do, how I will correct him. Most of all I get what a lot of young riders these days don't, the opportunity to just hang out with my horse. He's home and right there for me to work with.
The drawbacks? Well, it's hard to get to a show far away with our little three horse and SUV. They are in good condition and everything but they aren't right for a haul to Tulsa. I also have to "just dive" into everything, sometimes blind. I never rode a reining horse until I got Raji, and he spent few years as a pleasure horse before I bought him. I had to not only learn the discipline, but find a way to figure out how train the horse not only to make him better, but first to maintain what was there while I figured things out. Training takes longer when you are not sure. I have to learn by trial and error, cause and effect. In the end it makes me a better rider, and sets me up for a less expensive horse life, but guidance would be nice now and then. I know I'd love a break at a show once and a while too, loading, unloading, bathing, clipping, grooming, cleaning stalls, warming up, lunging, showing and all that stuff is a lot to do alone, I'm wiped for a few days after. I suppose that's why it's so fun, I never get to waste time sitting down waiting!
Where do you go to get additional advice or information?
Since I have been around horses for so long, I've made a few friends. My mother, Luane Hendrickson, has had horses since she was a girl, so I have learned a lot from her. The late Jane Currier and her husband Al Currier, our stable owner and friend, have taught me a lot too and become family. Jane got me into 4H and let me ride her QH mare;the first full sized horse I really got to show when I was five. Al still helps me out today. He hauls us to shows because my mom hates hauling and he does a lot of work to help us out, and help me work with Raji. Bill Heiser, I must thank for my riding abilities. I have taken lessons from him since I was five years old and he's always there to help out. He is more like family than coach. Marni Koob & Rod Mattesien have both also helped me with Raji. When I first got Raji, Marni showed me the ropes. A few years later Rod & Bill helped me refine him with lessons. Rod helped me with some specific problems. I even remember having Hoyt and Marni talk me up before my first reining class in Rice Lake. Many friends and acquaintances have offered me little bits of advice that have taken me a long way.
I talk to people and I'm never too good for someone's help or advice. Being in 4H in Dane County has helped too. I get the opportunity to attend a lot of clinics in different disciplines. I even teach a few these days. Through 4H clinics I know I have spent over 100 hours in seminars or clinics, as Dane county 4H requires 8-12 hours a year. Not to mention tons more by choice, I can never get enough. I watch videos on the internet and read a lot. Even if I do not agree with someone, they usually can lead me to a new idea that works for me.
Other people also inspire me, like Eleanor Hamilton, I want to be like her when I'm her age, still out there doing it. Or seeing Stacey Westfall, riding bareback without a bridle, it made me want to try it. A lot of people impress me. These are just two women off the top of my head. URNR is also a helpful tool to have now. I enjoy it.
You're in college now, right? What would be your ideal work life after graduation?
This fall I start at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. I'm not sure what I'm doing but I'm paying for it. I just want to get started. I'm taking business and Spanish and a bunch of other things. I just want a career that will support my horse life and intellectual/academic interests. I'm a huge nerd. If I were rich I'd just buy a farm and ride horses. Someday I'd like to be able to ease up on a "regular" career and just ride, show and train horses. I know I can't do that yet, I can't build the dream barn yet, and to make it somewhere in this industry. I'll have to pay my dues and prove myself. I'm too young and broke now. The goal is to graduate and enter the working world and keep building my horse interests. Maybe I'll find a horse career, equine research? Vet? Equine business management? Maybe I can work for the Arabian Horse Association on the business end of things.
What's one of your most memorable experiences with horses? This is another tough question. There are so many. I remember getting my first pony and all the times she nearly killed me. I remember seeing Raji for the first time, our first spin and our first win. I also remember a lot of really random moments. My favorites are usually just hanging out with my horse, like galloping Raji through an open field on a St. Jude benefit trail ride. It was just one of those perfect moments. I burst out laughing for no reason.
If you could change one thing within the horse industry, what would that be? Oh, there are many things. It would be nice if showing were less expensive. I wish there were more people out there who want to have fun with their horse and do more than just win. If the abusive side of the industry would go away, that would be great too. I am sick of hearing about the horrible things some people do for a silly ribbon or to meet a training deadline, at the expense of a horse's well-being. I'd also like the slaughter issue to be better resolved. I do not like horse slaughter, but keeping them around hurts the horse market, and keeps more of them in the hands of negligent people, or in abusive situations. I do not know what to do there, but something needs to happen.
Is there a special horse or horses in your life, past or present, that stand out? I think each and every horse has taught me something. They have all done a lot for me.
Eclipse or "Clipper" my mom's lease horse introduced me to horses; I already loved them but he proved it was not just a crush. After him we got a pony, Morningstar Largo, or "Morningstar." She taught my twin sister and me to ride and drive, as well as fall and crash. She took us through cart accidents, bucks and trophies and helped us grow up. Dells Fancy Ginger, or "Ginger" was the first horse I really got to show a lot without sharing. She was both wild and safe at the same time. She never bucked, only ran. She took me a long way. When we retired Ginger, Rou Elite or "Elite" was my gateway to the Arabian circuit as a 13 & under competitor. I leased her from Bill Heiser and her owners, as she was one of his lesson horses. Mitmik Phantasia, our Arab mare is both sweet and sour, I love her to death even though she's one of the toughest horses I've been around. We have had her since I was probably 3 or 4 years old. She helped teach me to ride too, but she's taken my sister much farther. My current horse, the love of my life, BH KhouRaji or "Raji" has taken me the farthest I've ever been both in and out of the show ring. He keeps me on my toes and has taught me new disciplines and to expect the unexpected. I don't know where I'd be without any of them.
Other than horses, what else do you enjoy doing for fun?
I'm a huge nerd, being an equestrian is my one and only sport. I only ever had a brief affair with soccer (while still riding horses), but that didn't last long. I read, write, and learn. I do a lot of homework, even when I am not in school I look things up; I just have to know. I spend a lot of time with friends. Together we hang out all over the city, or better said, southern Wisconsin, and spend a lot of time at rock concerts or "shows". Music is a big interest of mine even though I quit playing the violin; I still love to listen to any, and all, music. I'm also interested in computers and such. If I'm not busy on a late evening or rainy day I'll bury myself in a book… unless I was really looking forward to the book, in that case I'd keep reading non-stop until it's done.
Anything else we should know about you?
I'll ride any horse if it needs to be shown, or just worked . Oh and I have honed the skill of stall cleaning for years. Ha!
Comments
Sorry christi! my email failed and it said something about a sever limit or something i dunno. the pictures just wouldnt send. very frusterating!
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