AN UNCOMMON DISCLIPNE IN JORVIK: INTERVIEWING A TRICK RIDER!

[photos at bottom of article]

Though an uncommon discipline in Jorvik, Trick Riding is starting to gain popularity, especially in the Starshine Ranch area. This amazing, daredevil equine sport caught Reporter Aspen S.'s eye, and since she lived right in the area, she just had to learn more about it - and what better way to learn more about trick riding than interviewing Lee Cinch, one of the most famous trick riders in Jorvik?

Luckily for Aspen S., Lee Cinch was having a trick riding performance that night and was willing to be interviewed afterwards! So here's the interview, with some cool photos following!

Aspen S: Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you, Lee! Honestly, I'm a little star-struck, especially after that amazing performance!

Lee Cinch: *in mock accent* aw shucks! *normal voice* I'm honored to be interviewed myself, actually. It doesn't happen very often.

Aspen S: Well I suppose we'll just jump right in! Let's start with the all important question: how did you get into trick riding?

Lee Cinch: Good question - I think it all started with my pony Bugger. I had and rode him for most of my childhood, he was pretty old, and the steadiest lil guy you'll ever meet. He still loved to go, though, which made him the perfect candidate for a little girl to learn trick riding on. I was always looking for new things to try on him, and I think I first heard about trick riding from a book about "cowboy sports". At the time there weren't really trick riders in Jorvik, but it looked like so much fun and I was just so determined to learn, that over time (with the help of the internet and books) I just started doing it and got better and better. There was a lot of trial and error, but I got there... eventually.

Aspen S: I had no idea that you were pretty much a self taught trick rider, how cool! That takes a lot of dedication and a really good horse. I know that you now have a 'full size' horse, but I am curious: what happened to Bugger? Is he still around? What are all the horses you've done trick riding on?

Lee Cinch: By the time I entered high school he was getting too old for trick riding, so I put him out to the senior pasture and rode him once or twice a week until I fully retired him. I think he passed away when I was a junior in high school, which was very sad. As for your other question - a few! In middle school I started trick riding on one of the retired ranch horses as well as Bugger, but after only a year it was decided that the trick riding was too much work for him and he was put into semi retirement. I then leased a vaulting horse for a couple of years before finally purchasing my current trick horse, Crazy Cloud.

Aspen S: So did you trick train Crazy Cloud yourself?

Lee Cinch: Pretty much. Bugger didn't really have to be trick trained, but when I got Crazy Cloud he was pretty green under saddle so it was more than a year before I was trick riding on him. His training was a lot of work but also super fun because he's such a try-hard, even if he is a bit high strung. He really loves to go too, and he's good at staying on the rail by himself, which helped a lot.

Aspen S: That's so cool! You guys make a great team. Now I know that these days you are invited to preform in shows and rodeos all over Jorvik a lot. How did you get your name out there and get started as a professional trick rider?

Lee Cinch: Through a lot of hard work, and help from friends! At the same as CrazyCloud and I started trick riding, I'd also been barrel racing in the bi weekly rodeos at Starshine Ranch on another horse. I also board my horses at Starshine Ranch, so the barn manager knew me pretty well. I asked him to put in a word for me with the rodeo manager, and before I knew it I had a trial slot for an individual performance to open for the next rodeo! My "act" was such a success that it immediately became a permanent fixture! Then before long, I started getting invited to perform in rodeos by those who had seen me trick ride in the Starshine Ranch rodeos. Though I am a professional trick rider, and though I do make a lot of money from it, it's not my sole income. I also train horses and trick riders on the side and occasionally do some extra work around the ranch when I'm tight on cash.

Aspen S: Wow, that really is a lot of hard work, but your story is also really inspirational because it shows that with hard work and dedication anyone can become a trick rider. Tell me, what are your tips for any readers who would like to get into trick riding?

Lee Cinch: Find a trick riding trainer near you. Since those days long ago where the only trick riding you could find in Jorvik was in books, things have changed a lot. I'm no longer the only trick rider here - in fact, it's one of the current fastest growing sports! Finding a good trick riding trainer will not only be much safer, it will save you YEARS of time in the long run! I offer regular trick riding clinics, lessons, and consultations, but I'm not the only one. Also, a trainer will be able to help you find a good trick horse and, once you've gotten really good, will help you get spots in rodeos. Oh, and trick riding competitions have been popping up around Jorvik, so enter those! It gets you good experience and REALLY helps you get your name out there!

Aspen S: I'm sure that information will be very helpful for my readers, so thank you for that! Also, one more question: what's your favorite trick to do?

Lee Cinch: I love that question! My favorite would definitely be either the death drag or the hippodrome. I don't preform the death drag super often as Crazy Cloud and I are still perfecting it, but I do the hippodrome in every performance! It's a real crowd pleaser!

Aspen S: That's so cool - the death drag sounds scary though, haha! Well, I think that's all my questions of this interview, thank you SO much for your time!

Lee Cinch: And thank you for interviewing me! It's been a fun time!

Lee Cinch and Crazy Cloud prepare to enter the arena.