Page 151 - January 2017

Thoroughbred mare I raised was too smart and often got herself into trouble trying things no normal horse would ever think of: trying to open gates with her feet, slinging
the garden hose in the air like a jump-rope, grabbing the top wire of a fence in her teeth and then letting it go just to hear it “twang”. One of the mares my brother and I used to ride 14 miles to town for 4-H meetings liked to drink out of the drinking fountain at the Dairy Queen place at the edge of town. On a hot summer day, we’d stop there on our way to and from the fairgrounds on the other side of town to get a drink at the fountain (because we couldn’t afford to buy anything there) and Ginger would push him out of the way and delicately sip the water herself.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: Central eastern Idaho is rugged moun-
tain country and very beautiful. Our ranch/ rangeland has all kinds of terrain and is a great place to raise cattle and to ride and a wonderful place to train horses. They start out in Sagebrush 101 and graduate to many other accomplishments.
Q: If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would it be and what would you do there?
A: I have never felt like I needed or wanted a vacation. I am perfectly happy where I am and feel very lucky to be able to live where I do, doing what I love.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote and, if so, what is it?
A: My dad always had some good sayings, like, “Do your best and leave the rest” or “Do the wise thing.”
Q: If you could sit down and visit with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
A: My grandfather Smith, who died when I was 16 (I’d like to know more about his life) and my mother’s father (who was Swiss, and died when she was only 6—so I never got to know
him at all). It would be interesting to learn more about my roots.
Q: What drink would your friends describe you as, and why?
A: Milk!!! Because I am a confirmed and dedi- cated milk drinker. Can’t live without it!
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time, and why?
A: Secretariat. And I think everyone knows why.
Q: If you were making a movie about yourself, who would you cast to play you, and why?
A: Someone who can ride a horse and interact with cows.
Q: What’s one thing you don’t like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: It’s too short! I like a horse that can run sev- eral miles if need be! My favorite kind of horse
Heather and “Buffalo Girl”
is an Arab-Thoroughbred cross that can chase cows all day in the mountains, day after day.
Q: What’s one thing you like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: Those horses can really run fast! And, I don’t think there are as many breakdowns on the track as in Thoroughbred racing.
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SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 149
THE LIGHTER SIDE