Name
Katherine Blocksdorf
Website & Places people can find me online
horses.about.com
Follow Katherine on twitter: @kblocksdorf
Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come
from?
I live in Southern Ontario, Canada. I was raised on a tobacco farm, but my mother always had horses. When the tobacco went (thankfully) my mother started boarding, training and giving lessons. My sister works with my mother too.
I have always had horses in my life. I started out riding western, because way back then, nobody around here rode English. About 1972 my mother bought her first English saddle for the monumental price of $200 (I still don’t think my dad knows how much she spent.)
So I’ve shown English and western in local shows, competed in competitive trail riding and ride ‘n’ tie, and even have a ‘top ten’ buckle from a 50 mile endurance race
I have an amazing mare, Trillium, who is so versatile and talented and coming three year old Clyde TB cross, who is so ugly but honest he’ll probably be the horse for my old age–if I buy a step ladder.
Do you have a favorite breed of horse?
I was raised on Arabs and rode them for a long time. Then I met the Bay Goddess Freya, a Clyde cross who turned my head. It took a long time to replace her after she died.
My horse now, FSB Trillium, is a registered Paint. So, I guess you can’t really say I have a favourite breed.
Which riding discipline do you prefer and why?
I ride in an English saddle, but I like to be able to neck rein. I’m not comfortable riding in a western saddle, but perhaps it’s because I haven’t found one that fits me.
Trillium and I did our first dressage test and hunter hack classes together last summer. We’re planning more dressage this summer. I’d love to take side saddle lessons. I’d like to try trail classes too. And my daughter wants me to try eventing–still not sure about that. I like to try everything.
You write about more than just horses. Were they a hobby you incorporated into your day job? Or did you start out with the intention of being involved in the online horse industry?
I didn’t start out thinking “I want to work in the horse industry”. The old adage ‘write what you know’ has served me well however.
Writing about horses was easy for me, although I by no means consider myself an expert (at anything). And writing about horses has opened other doors.
What effect do you think the Internet has had on the equine industry in
general?
I think a wider range of resources and information have become
accessible.
Previous to the internet, you went to a local tack or feed
store, or you went to the library to find books on riding or horse care. Your choices were pretty limited, and were subject to what the owner or the librarian thought would be useful
Or another local horse owner or club was a resource. We are offered a much wider perspective.
Which websites do you read religiously?
LOLCats
What is your take on people blaming the economy for animal abuse and abandonment?
I think there is segment of the population that doesn’t get it, and perhaps never will. If it comes to choosing whether to buy a case of beer, or a round bale, the beer will win. (No offense to responsible beer drinkers.)
These people aren’t able to see that there are consequences to their actions. They make excuses, complain and feel they themselves are victims.
If they can’t afford hay or vet care, it’s not because they didn’t plan, but some cheque or payment they were counting on didn’t make to their bank, or somebody who was supposed to deliver hay didn’t, or the alternator on the truck went and the parts store didn’t have the right one. It really isn’t their fault ever, the darn horse stepped on their foot, and somebody is going to pay—and it ends up being the horse.
Then there are people who are mentally ill. I’m thinking of hoarders here. Some keep every piece of junk mail that enters their home, some collect animals. They don’t understand that the two-year old pasture breeding the motley bunch of mares aren’t worth a dime. They can’t see their horses are unhealthy because their own needs are the only thing they understand.
Now, I think, the media is going looking for problems to report on. Abuse cases may be getting more attention, not because there are more of them, but because that’s where we’ve turned our focus too
And it’s been too easy to keep horses. Those who were ‘just making it’ to look after the 20 head on the back forty now are realizing, with gas and hay prices going up, they suddenly can’t feed those horses.
The bottom line is, not that there is an economic downturn, but that maybe those owners shouldn’t have owned (as many) horses in the first place
Horses are a luxury. You have to think ahead and understand that they can be a potentially expensive luxury. And those of us who understand that aren’t getting angry or turning into victims.
When we decide to sell, or give away a horse because money is tight, we’re trying to make intelligent albeit sometimes difficult choices that are fair to the horse. I think your readers would agree that they’d rather go without a meal themselves then see their animals hungry.
Do you (or did you) have an animal that is the muse behind your work?
I think the horses that I’ve seen that were abused either intentionally or unintentionally inspire me to share knowledge that I hope would prevent the abuse. I’ve seen horses that have gone through auction for slaughter that absolutely haunt me.
What else are you passionate about?
Animal welfare and the environment.
I think they way people treat animals says a lot about how they regard other people. The way societies treat their animals says a lot about the society
And I think respecting our environment is self respect.
Any advice to budding writers online, horse or otherwise?
Take every opportunity to hone your craft. Read books–on writing, on your favourite subjects and everything else. Take courses, join writers’ groups.
Write and write, but don’t stop there. I’m sure that under beds, in closets, and stuffed in drawers are pages filled with brilliant writing. It’s not necessarily the best writers who get published, but the most tenacious, persistent ones.
Most of us don’t get what we want because we won’t or don’t do what it takes
And to get your writing published you may have to be persistent. It’s not fun getting rejection letters or having ideas turned down. But you have to keep going and believe in yourself–do what it takes.
Last question – If you only had one sentence to convince someone who is afraid of horses to get on one, what would you say?
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and if you really want to ride, you have to get on the horse.
More to Come
Many thanks to Katherine for answering our interview and be sure to subscribe to her horse blog on about.com to stay informed about the horse world.
Also check out the interviews section for more interviews from around the horse industry.
Are you doing great things for horses or do you someone in the industry you’d like to see featured? Add your name and website in the comments below or drop me a note to get involved.