GoHorseShow.com columnist, Kirsten Farris, is an Animal Communicator.
Yes, she talks to
animals, and often times, they talk back! She
has had the
pleasure of working with hundreds of horses, from World Champions to
Weanlings. Farris had a conversation with 4-time Congress Champion and
Multiple
NSBA Year-End
Champion Allocate Your Assets and his owner Katherine Tobin to get the
inside
dish straight from the horse’s mouth, on his successful
show ring and breeding career as well as some of his personal likes and dislikes.
KF:
Thanks for taking time out of your day to talk to me, Al. You have had a successful
show career and now
you are a very successful sire. Can you tell me how you feel about what you
have done?
Al: I
am happy that I have been successful, although sometimes I do not understand
what the fuss is
all about. Once I understand what my job is, I enjoy doing it. When I was
showing, I enjoyed
the excitement and going to different places. Now as a stallion, I understand
what is expected
of me, and I am happy to do it. I like having a job, and I like structure, but
really, I am not any
different than other horses, although I do like getting special treatment once
in a while.
KF: One
of the things that you are known for is your calm disposition. Are you really
that laid back?
Al:
Nothing really bothers me. When I am doing my job, I focus on the task at hand,
and am not easily
distracted. I do like to run and buck when I am turned out, but I know when to
play and when to
work.
Kathy:
He really was very easy to show, and was never ‘studish’ to ride. I felt very
confident riding
him, he really was pretty easy.
KF:
What is your biggest achievement?
Al: I
don’t really know the names of all of the things – but I do remember the first
time I won something
big. I could tell it was a big deal, and I felt very good about what I did.
After that, I knew
when I did well because I would get my picture taken with lots of people in the
picture.
Kathy:
We bought Al the summer of his 2 year-old year prior to his Congress win. Winning
that was one of his biggest achievements, but no less was his win in the Senior
Hunter Under Saddle at Congress
in 2006, and then following that up by winning Reserve World Champion in Senior
Hunter Under Saddle at the
World Show with Sue Ellen Vickery. He also won the year-end high point award
twice for the
NSBA in HUS. Looking back on it now, I am not sure what his biggest achievement
is; they were
all special in their own way. Now that his offspring are out in the show pen,
his biggest achievement
may come from siring great horses.
KF:
What can people do as owners, riders and trainers to keep horses happy, healthy
and performing
at their best?
AL: I
can’t speak for everyone, but I know that having people around that see the
best in you really
helps build confidence. If people focus on the good points and don’t fuss about
the small stuff,
horses will rise to the occasion. I also think that each horse needs their own
program to become
all they can be. I was able to perform as a two year old, but that doesn’t mean
every horse
should be able to do that. We aren’t machines; we are individuals with a heart.
If you take that
into consideration people will maximize each horses potential. All of us have
something to offer,
and with the right team, we can realize our potential.
KF: Okay Al,
let’s have a little fun. There is a TV show called the Actors Studio, and at the end of the interview,
the guests are all
asked the exact same questions. I thought it would be fun to ask you the same
questions. Is that okay
with you?
AL:
Sure – I don’t watch TV, but I will give it a shot.
KF: OK,
here we go.
1. What
is your favorite word?
“Hello.”
2. What
is your least favorite word?
“Quit!
Usually involves a jerk on the lead rope as well.”
3. What
turns you on?
“Bay
Mares.”
4. What
turns you off?
“Flies.”
5. What
sound or noise do you love?
“The sound
of stall doors opening, and then the sound of the grain being put into my feed
buckets.”
6. What
sound or noise do you hate?
“Thunder.”
7. What
profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
“Stockbroker.”
8. What
profession would you not want to participate in?
“Garbage
collector…because of the flies.”
9. What
is your favorite curse word?
“Damn,
but you need to say it with a southern accent.”
10. If
Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the
pearly gates?
“Welcome
Home!”
KF: Al
and Kathy, thanks for your time. It was great to get to know a little more
about you and your career together. I
look forward to seeing the new Al’s in upcoming futurities this year!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kirsten Farris is a Certified Sport Consultant, Certified Equestrian
Fitness Trainer, and the Author of The Workbook for the Equestrian
Athlete- A Guide to Showring Success. Under the guidance of Jim and Deanna Searles, Kirsten has had a very successful 2010 show season aboard Lyles Al Lie who is by Allocate Your Assets. For more information contact her
at: kirsten@equestrianathlete.com
© 2010
