MQHA Member Spotlight: Dani Picard
Name: Dani Picard
Where are you from: Grain Valley, MO
How long have you been showing horses? I’ve been showing horses for about 8 years! But showing quarter horses specifically for 6.
How long have you been in Missouri? My whole life! So going on 24 years!
What is your favorite horse show? My favorite quarter horse show is probably The American Royal. I love the progressive dinner, plus it’s close enough to home that I can go home every night!
What is your favorite event to show in? Showmanship! It took me a long time to have an appreciation for this class, but I think it’s a class where virtually ANY horse could be good at it! You don’t have to have the most expensive horse to be successful in it, as long as you’ve put the time in!
What is your favorite class to watch? I enjoy any cattle or reining class. I also LOVE watching barrels and poles! The opposite side to my showing side has a need for speed.
Who is your all-time favorite horse? And why? I’d have to say my all time favorite is my own horse, Zips Ultimatum aka Armani. He’s an absolute once in a lifetime horse. He’s helped me earn several major successes in the show pen, but also will do just about anything you throw at him. When we’re not showing, you can find Armani and I in extreme trail riding competitions, participating in cowboy mounted shooting clinics, sorting cattle, or even barrel racing a weekend or two out of the summer.
If you are not at a horse show, what would we find you doing? I’m still in school, so you may find me doing homework or studying. But I love going to concerts, spending time with my friends (both horsey and non horsey), and reading when I get the time!
Do you have another job…besides taking care of your horses? Too many! I work full time as a veterinary technician at an equine clinic, but I also work weekend events at a local horse facility and when I get the time and/or opportunity, you may even find me in the middle of the show pen scribing!
Favorite food? Grilled cheese! I’m a kid at heart.
Favorite restaurant? Hmmm, this is a tough one but I’d have to go with Jack Stack! I love a good brisket sandwich with a side of cheesy corn!
Favorite fun class at a horse show? When I was younger I LOVED the hangman race. In this event, you would ride out double to a pole with a rope hanging down, the person on back would grab on the rope and hang, while the other ran the horse around the arena. The horse and rider would then come back and pick up the person hanging from the rope and you would run across the finish line double. It was always exciting!
Favorite movie? Forrest Gump!
Favorite quote? “Bad breathy is better than no breath.” - Dale Brisby
What is your dream vacation? Anytime I can travel, I feel blessed, but I would love to visit Italy, Greece and Germany!
Tell us something most people don’t know about you? I’m pretty much an open book, so I can’t think of anything too exciting I wouldn’t have already shared on Facebook. But something that might surprise some people is that I have a fascination with the American Saddlebred and briefly took lessons at a show barn several years ago and truly enjoyed the breed! I always think if I ever won the lottery, I would buy a nice saddlebred and keep it in training!
One piece of advice you would like to share with exhibitors who are just getting started? Spend your money where it’s most important: on training for your horse and training for you! At the end of the day, the judges don’t know or care what truck and trailer you pulled up in, or that your shirt is a button down from Macy’s your mom pleated in the back to fit better. But they will immediately notice an unruly horse and an unconfident rider.
If there is anything else you would like to share, please tell us! I don’t want to leave out my new guy in my life, Sign Over The Assets aka Midas, he’s my yearling and quickly becoming a tie with Armani for my favorite horse!
