POPCORN FALLS
pone: (p n) n. pl. 1: A large hoofed mammal (Equus caballus) domesticated since ancient times and used for riding and for drawing or carrying loads. 2: informal term derived from pony referring to a domestic horse. 3. Cookie monster [syn: horse, pony]
PONES
Posted by Andi:
I started riding horses as an adult. I always wanted to ride, but my parents were pretty successful in avoiding the subject for most of my life. When I was 19 I started riding my aunt’s Western horses. After riding with her occasionally for 3 years, she told me if I wanted to progress that I would have to take lessons. Being in Virginia, this meant switching to an English style. I found a lesson barn, talked my sister into joining me in some group lessons, learned about a sport called ‘Combined Training,’ and the obsession began.
“Combined Training?” you ask. “What the hell is that?” Well, the name was changed to “Eventing” some years ago, to reflect the informal name “3-day eventing”. In a nutshell, it’s an equestrian triathalon. There are three phases, and at the upper levels those three phases are done on separate days, thus “3-day eventing”. Those three phases are dressage, cross-country (or endurance), and stadium jumping. Clear as mud?
Jim and I currently own one horse – Allie. She’s an off-the-race-track Thoroughbred mare with some pedigree ties back to Secretariat. She’s a prototypical chestnut mare – hot, opinionated, and sensitive. I love her anyway. We’re currently competing at the Novice level, with some strong hopes to get to the Training level next season.
