Ammy Hour: Meet Alli!

I love this picture

We're back on track with Ammy Hour! I know I've said this before, but I really meet the coolest people doing this series. This week I'm talking to Alli from Ponytude about life as an Ammy with a real life pony. Allie and Dino are always a well matched pair and I love reading about them each week. Without further ado, here's Alli!

1) You’re at dinner with work colleagues. How do you introduce yourself? Hey guys, are we getting appetizers? I think we should get appetizers. And margaritas. Let's stop talking shop and read the menu. There are only four of us in the entire company, so we all know each other pretty darn well!

let's just agree Alli has great pictures

2) But what you really meant to say was this: Yes, I'm a real estate agent, no you won't see my face plastered all over shopping carts, billboards, benches, or buses. I refuse to be obnoxious or pushy, and I also serve as the company IT Department, Marketing Department, and Professional Sign Installer. I mainly sell horse farms, and the best part of my job is the crazy horse people I get to deal with on a daily basis.



3) Tell us about your horse and how you met him. Dino is a 16 y/o German Riding Pony. I first met him in college when he was assigned as my senior year special training project, and he was a total and complete monster. He was famous for his tantrums. But for some reason we just clicked, and I knew that eventually he would come home with me. Something I heard a lot from my classmates was, "Wow, that pony LOVES you." 2 years after my graduation he was retired from the program because he was too badly behaved to be a lesson pony. Whoops. I adopted him, and we've been together ever since! We (creepily) have the exact same stubborn, independent personality, and he's taught me so much over the past few years. Dino is definitely my equine soul mate, without a doubt.

4) What do you do with your horse? Dino and I just started eventing this past summer at the Elementary level, and we both love it! We recently found a fabulous eventing trainer as well, and she's really helping us improve. We also enjoy trail riding, riding western, going to clinics, and having grand adventures together. I love dressage, Dino is not so keen. He much prefers the trail riding and the jumping. We just pretty much do whatever seems fun at the time.

5) Where are you going together? I'm hoping to run BN this year, and maybe one day we'll go Novice. But other than that, Dino and I are just going to continue life as friends and partners and have fun together.

um yes. hello dino.

6) What does success with horses look like for you? For me, success with horses is tied to constant improvement. I may not be able to show every weekend or take lessons twice a week, but I'm dedicated to making myself and my pony the best we can be. If we are both improving and growing steadily, I feel successful.

7) How do you finance the addiction? Real estate is a funny business - it's feast or famine money-wise. Thankfully I'm married to a husband who has a full time IT job that easily covers our regular bills, and I work my butt off at the barn to drastically reduce my board bill. Shows, lessons, major tack purchases, and clinics are all carefully budgeted for, or I wait for a commission check to do or buy something special!

8) What does your support team look like? My husband is my biggest supporter, hands down. While he does ride too, I'm definitely the more hardcore equestrian in our household. Michael knows how much horses and riding mean to me, and always encourages me to spend time at the barn, seek out new opportunities, compete, and learn. And, yes, he also fully supports all of the big-ticket purchases that go along with this expensive habit! I frequently hear, "I want you to have nice things! Dino deserves the best." Yes, ladies, I know you're jealous. I also recently started riding with a GREAT trainer who totally 'gets' the Pony Brain, and I work with an incredible sports psychologist a few times a year. I also couldn't do it without my wonderfully supportive equestrian friends, who are there with me throughout this wild journey.

9) What are your horse keeping arrangements? I keep Dino at a small private boarding barn - at its fullest we have 12 horses there, but right now we're down to 7. He lives outside because that's where he's happiest. Lucky for me, that's also the cheapest option! I work off the majority of my board by working several feeding/turnout/stall shifts each week. I'm also able to completely dictate my pony's diet and management, which is HUGE for me. I consider myself to be a very knowledgeable horse owner, and I'm not OK with a trainer or barn owner telling me how to best manage my pony. In the next few years, I hope to buy a small farm of my own and take Dino (and some friends) home!

10) How often do you ride? I try to ride 5-6 days a week, weather and schedule permitting. The great thing about a career in real estate is that my work schedule is EXTREMELY flexible. My boss and all of my teammates (and most of my clients!) are also horse people, so it's cool if I have to re-arrange my workday in order to ride or meet the vet or farrier. Unfortunately my barn doesn't have an indoor, so in the winter 5-6 days a week drops down to 1 day a week. If I'm lucky.

this pic=win

11) What’s the single biggest thing that helps you achieve your goals? My passion for performance is the biggest driving factor in achieving my goals. While I may not be the second coming of Karen O'Connor, I am very serious about being the best rider I can be. Riding is something I am extremely dedicated to and passionate about, and I work my ever-loving buns off to perform as well as I possibly can, limits be damned!

12) If there was one thing you could say to people getting ready to join the ranks of riding (or re-riding) adults, what would it be? WELCOME TO THE NUTHOUSE! Just kidding. Not really. We're all crazy here. Be prepared to spend more money than you thought you'd ever spend on a hobby, be humbled, have fun, stay safe, and ASK QUESTIONS! The learning curve is steep when it comes to being a knowledgeable horseperson, and the best way to climb that mountain is to ask question after question after question!

Admit it: they're adorable

13) Bottom Line: Even if riding and training horses isn't your main source of income, you can still be heavily involved in this incredible world. If riding is a priority for you, you can make it happen. Do your thing, do what's right for you and your horse, and if it's not fun and rewarding, DON'T DO IT! Horses are incredible and they bring so much depth, richness, and joy into our lives. If you feel passionately about horses, follow that passion and you'll never be sorry!

Many thanks to Alli for participating!! Know someone who should be featured? (Including yourself!). Contact me through email or the comments!