Profile on Whiskey Ranch-Horse

It’s been a little while since someone was profiled on Equus Education.  And this profile is unique in that it has two lots of responses!  Whiskey Ranch-Horse and Lisa Wolters-Broder share about their lives as equine writer and the world’s most perfect ranch horse.  Enjoy!

Equus Education Profile Questions

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Whiskey: Seeing as how I actually am a horse, all of my day/week, all the time is related to being a horse.

Lisa: In my chief role as the bucket gal in Whiskey’s world, I spend 2-4 hours a day taking care of Whiskey and his two sidekicks, between feeding, schlepping buckets, mucking, other assorted barn chores, and then grooming and riding. When I’m done with that, then it’s time to get to work as Whiskey’s translator. Or my day job, in addition to all of that, when COVID-19 hasn’t left me unemployed. My last job was as a technical editor for a software company, to support my horse habit.

What is it exactly that you do?
Whiskey: I’m a 32-year-old bonafide retired ranch horse who tells entirely true tales about my life on the County Island, which is filled with pampered pet horses instead of honest working horses. It’s a strange land filled with Arabians that prance for a living, pet cows with names like Chocolate Chip and Moo, bad beagle dogs, and even stranger things like the barenaked jogger. I like to take long naps in the sun.

Lisa: See above! Also, I mostly feed Whiskey on time.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
Whiskey: Working ranch horses get paid in feed and water and the satisfaction of doing an honest day’s work. I was a full-time professional ranch horse until I was in my teens.

Lisa: Since being laid off right before COVID-19 and unable to find a new job during the pandemic gave me this strange opportunity, I’ve been working at turning Whiskey’s stories into at least two books. Whiskey has written his County Island blog for fun for 10 years and has a very loyal following. I figured now was my chance to share him with more people in print. I have also worked full-time professionally in the horse industry as a writer/editor.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Whiskey: Being born on a ranch likely helps, but any horse can overcome his birthright and learn to be honest and work hard. You have to listen to your rider, and trust them, and get them to trust you. Always do your best. And be an honest horse. People appreciate an honest, good horse far more than a purty face or a purty tail. But being palomino doesn’t hurt.

Lisa: If writing about horses is your goal, start writing! Just do it. Finish what you start, and then start publishing it as a blog, or online series to get your name out there. If you want to work as an editor, get an education in technical writing or English literature. The tech world pays the best and offers the best flexibility for horse people and our unique needs for work/life/barn balance.

Profile on Lisa Wolters-Broder and Whiskey Ranch-Horse

Favourite horse memory?
Whiskey: Well, seeing as how all my memories are horse memories, I’ll try to pick one. Maybe it was the day I was at a sale and snoozing in the sun, and I felt something real nice and gentle scratching my withers. When I opened one eye, I saw a lady dressed in funny riding clothes, which I later learned was “English,” and that’s how I met the bucket gal.

Lisa: A definite favorite was trying out Whiskey for the very first time, when we were looking for a gentle and bombproof second horse, and ending the ride with a huge grin on my face, knowing in every possible way I had found the horse.

Future goals?
Whiskey: To keep being as honest as the day is long, and maybe try to tell more stories and impart more of my hard-earned wisdom to the younger horse generation. Pampered pet pleasure horses could use a lot more wisdom.

Lisa: Keep writing, keep riding and keep listening to the tales Whiskey tells me.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Whiskey: Nowadays it’s the food and the buckets, which are filled with food. Also short rides and long naps. And by telling my tales, I get to meet a lot of good folks with good horses, even if I meet them indirectly.

Lisa: Getting to share the world’s most perfect ranch horse with the world.