TTE Advisory Board: Get to Know their Favorites and Admirations
We hope you are enjoying one of my favorite months: June – a hybrid month – half spring and half summer filled with long sunny days (hopefully) and low humidity (in the Northeast, at least) and also a perfect month to get to know The Tech Equestrian Advisory Board members. We asked them a range of questions to get to know them beyond their amazing products/services/apps. I know I can relate to many of their answers.
Enjoy and happy riding!
Favorite Riding Discipline
I appreciate the beauty in all riding disciplines. A great reining horse or cutting horse is amazing to watch along with the scope of a show jumper or the grace of a dressage horse. Even down to watching a therapy horse do its job with a special needs rider. These animals are truly a gift and I hope everyone appreciates each of them as special.
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
I have this dog de-shedding tool I use for pulling manes. I use it on a regular basis to keep those crazy manes under control.
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Both! I get up early with my kids and that's when I'm most productive. However, I also love the evenings for my downtime and will often stay up late just to get some quiet time and catch up on HGTV.
Favorite Social Channel
Snapchat for personal and Instagram for business. I love sending and getting quick, funny updates from my closest friends. We all live really far from each other so getting a glimpse into their life makes me feel more connected to them.
What are you currently Binge Watching?
I don't like to get into shows on Netflix because I am the worst binger there is and will stay up until 3 am! So I stick to current shows and my favorites are: any house flipping show on HGTV, A Million Little Things, Single Parents and the Voice.
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
People who are detail oriented. I am a big picture girl so focusing on details is really hard for me. I often miss things because I don't do the small tasks in a day.
Favorite Season
Fall! When the nights start getting crisper, you don't sweat by just walking outside and the leaves become so bright and beautiful.
Favorite Dessert
Cupcakes.... Most specific yellow cake with chocolate frosting
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
I can't wait to be the first person to buy a self-driving car! I will get so much more done in my day without the hours of commuting I do.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
I hope VR doesn't take off in a way to replace people from getting out there. People should have real experiences and adventure. I will never forget the first time I walked up on the Grand Canyon; it literally took my breath away. I hope people get to have that experience for themselves.
Alison’s unforgettable experience to the Grand Canyon.
Favorite Tech Gadget
iPhone
Favorite Riding Discipline
Show Jumping
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Earphones and pen
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Morning, early morning but with coffee
Favorite Social Channel
Instagram
What are you currently Binge Watching?
Nothing, Game of Thrones is over!
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Kindness
Favorite Season
Winter
Favorite Dessert
Ice Cream
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
Learning experience
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
Friendship, love, happiness
Favorite Tech Gadget
Definitely my iPhone!
Favorite Riding Discipline
Galloping in wide-open spaces
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
SleekEZ shedding blade
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Evening
Favorite Social Channel
Facebook
What are you currently Binge Watching?
The Patriot
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Humility
Favorite Season
Spring
Favorite Dessert
Ice cream Cake from Dairy Queen!
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
I hope technology can get medical knowledge to the far reaches of the world that are still losing animal and human life to illnesses we have treatments for.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
I hope technology won't contribute to dehumanizing people as we begin to communicate more and more behind walls, computers, iPhones, etc. and less face-to-face interaction – I don't want to lose that good ol' handshake or hug!
Favorite Tech Gadget
Peloton
Favorite Riding Discipline
Back country trail riding
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Deck of cards
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Morning
Favorite Social Channel
I prefer in-person interactions!
What are you currently Binge Watching?
Fleabag
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Perseverance
Favorite Season
Fall
Favorite Dessert
Ice Cream and Cake
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
Improve my daily commute!
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
I love technology but I don’t want it to pervade all aspects of my life. I hope tech doesn’t change the time I get to spend with my family outdoors, doing the things we love.
Favorite Tech Gadget
My iPhone, sad to say I couldn't live without it in the world we live in today
Favorite Riding Discipline
Show Jumping
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Chapstick
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Both, not sure if that's by choice or by lifestyle? :-)
Favorite Social Channel
The Tech Equestrian (Note: TTE didn’t prompt her to write this!)
What are you currently Binge Watching?
The Unit
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Grit
Favorite Season
Spring
Favorite Dessert
Ice Cream 100%
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
I hope that technology can continue to improve the lives of both humans and animals. Finding a cure for Cancer, ALS, etc.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
Basic human interaction is one that I hope doesn't continue to dissolve. I worry that hiding behind our phones to avoid social interactions is happening more and more often these days.
Favorite Tech Gadget
iPhone
Favorite Riding Discipline
Hunters
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Chapstick and hair ties
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Morning! If I could do my whole day before 1pm, I'd be one happy camper!
Favorite Social Channel
Facebook
What are you currently Binge Watching?
Gray's Anatomy! It's my one and only favorite show. I also read a lot because I can't find other TV shows worth watching!
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Integrity
Favorite Season
Summer, I like it hot!
Favorite Dessert
Cake, ice cream, brownies, cookies and pie - I love dessert!
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
I already use technology (some apps) to track fitness, and I really like what that offers. And, like I said before, I love to read, and having a Kindle has made it much easier to do that.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
Human interaction - I have to make a real effort to not look at my email on my phone. While I love the convenience that technology in handheld devices has offered, I really do not like the distraction-from-real-life that goes along with it.
Favorite Tech Gadget
My Gimbal Osmo Mobile 2; it comes with me everywhere I need to take photos and videos to have a stable image all the time
Favorite Riding Discipline
Show Jumping and Dressage
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
My Etnia sunglasses… cannot go out in Spain without them on!
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Definitely a morning person
Favorite Social Channel
Instagram without any doubt
What are you currently Binge Watching?
The Handmaid's Tale… truly intriguing
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Kindness
Favorite Season
Summer
Favorite Dessert
As a good Italian, GELATO all the way!
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
The constant churn of new technology means landfills are often full of old and obsolete tech. One thing the human race will have to do in the future is to learn new ways to recycle, reuse and re-engineer old technology to minimize waste and save the world. People are already coming up with a variety of interesting ways to recycle old tech, including turning disused plastic into material for paving roads and pavements.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
On the other hand, as technology advances, it scares me how humans are becoming less and less important and how technology is taking over might be actually dangerous.
Nick wearing his favorite pair of sunglasses: Etnia
Favorite Tech Gadget
iPhone or Garmin watch – can’t decide between them!
Favorite Riding Discipline
Show Jumping
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Key shaped multi-tool – I use it almost every day
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Evening
Favorite Social Channel
Huufe
What are you currently Binge Watching?
Would love to find the time to watch Game of Thrones
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Empathy
Favorite Season
Spring
Favorite Dessert
Anything my daughters bake – just tastes nicer somehow
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
Would love technology to give me more free time in the day.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
Would hate technology to intrude on time with my family.
Favorite Tech Gadget
Marshall Bluetooth speaker
Favorite Riding Discipline
Saddle Seat (English)
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Inspirational fortune cookie quote/saying from PF Chang’s
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Evening person, but it also depends upon how much coffee I have!
Favorite Social Channel
LinkedIn
What are you currently Binge Watching?
Schitt’s Creek (Canadian sitcom) It’s so good, and now I’m anxiously waiting for the new season to start this Fall.
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Integrity. I have no tolerance for anyone who is morally bankrupt or questionable.
Favorite Season
Summer
Favorite Dessert
Ice Cream
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
Would love to see technology help my seasonal allergies.
Jeff is a big fan of the Canadian sitcom, Schitts Creek
Favorite Tech Gadget
Apple Watch
Favorite Riding Discipline
Show Jumping
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
Chapstick
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
Morning
Favorite Social Channel
Instagram
What are you currently Binge Watching?
Downton Abbey
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Hard Work
Favorite Season
Summer
Favorite Dessert
Anything with sugar!
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
I hope technology can help save people time to do more of what they love!
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
I hope it does not affect our ability to communicate in person.
Misty riding Snoopy in the Miami Beach Longines Global Champions Tour this year.
IN SUMMARY:
We really loved the feedback and recorded the most popular answers:
Favorite Tech Gadget: Hands down – iPhone/smart phones
Favorite Riding Discipline: Show Jumping
Favorite Item in your Tack Box/Bag/Purse
The ladies love their chapstick!
Are you a Morning or Evening Person?
The majority enjoys the morning but we did have a couple that were both.
Favorite Social Channel
We got a range of channels from Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and LinkedIn but most popular was Instagram.
What are you currently Binge Watching?
There were a couple Game of Thrones fans and then a wide variety of other programs.
Characteristic you Admire Most in Others
Our Advisory Board members admire those who are kind but also have the grit, perseverance and integrity to go the distance.
Favorite Season
A majority likes the summer months followed by spring, fall and winter.
Favorite Dessert
We have lots of sweet tooth’s!
What is one area of your life you'd like TECHNOLOGY to help CHANGE?
Saving time, making the commute easier, and helping save more lives were top of the list.
What is one area of your life you hope TECHNOLOGY WON’T CHANGE?
The need for human interaction from communication to family time.