Josh Faulkner
Age: 21
Where do you live? Snow Camp, North Carolina
What is your involvement in the horse industry? Open rider specializing in Quarter and Paint horses
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? Yes. I think a lot of people in the horse industry tend to gossip which makes it hard to have a relationship with someone. I think it is easier to date someone outside of the industry because they aren’t real involved in all of that. I’ve only ever dated one person within the industry and I would much rather date someone who has nothing to do with horses.
What do you look for in a person? Someone who is funny that I can have a good time with. Looks aren’t everything. After the initial attraction I want someone who will be honest, care for me and my feelings, and who has a sense of humor.
Dealbreaker: Smoking or someone who has bad teeth. A person’s smile is the first thing I look at.
Celebrity Crush: Demi Moore
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? Going to the gym takes up a lot of my time. I also have my personal trainer’s license and I am a sports medicine major.
Carson Underwood
Age: 21
Where do you live? Frisco, Texas
What is your involvement in the horse industry? I have shown Quarter Horse and Paint reiners as a non-pro.
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? I’ve tried dating out of the horse industry and it was probably the weirdest experience I’ve ever had. People outside the industry don’t really understand what we do and it is too hard to explain. They may not understand why you might be gone for a week at a time to a horse show. I prefer to date within the horse industry, but it can be a little harder because horse show gossip can interfere with a relationship.
What do you look for in a person? She has to be able to have an intelligent conversation, have inner beauty, class, respect for herself, integrity and drive.
Dealbreaker: Smoking, excessive partying, and immaturity
Celebrity Crush: Eva Mendes
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? College, video editing, going to the gym, and developing training programs and nutrition plans.
Tate Oakley
Age: 19
Where do you live? Wilmington, North Carolina
What is your involvement in the horse industry? Training reining horses for Double Run Farm
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? Yes, a lot of people gossip and try to be a part of everyone’s business. There are too many outside influences.
Do you have any rules about dating within the horse industry? I believe if you find the right person it doesn’t matter whether they are two houses down or half way across the country. But, when you live that far away from each other you need to have some pretty strong glue to hold a relationship together and be able to deal with all the horse show gossip.
Have you ever competed against someone you were dating? Yes, plenty of times. When you go into the show pen it is everyone for themselves. In the show pen it is all business. When you go outside you can have your fun.
What do you look for in a person? I’m naturally drawn to the type of person who is fun to be around, doesn’t care what everyone else thinks, and has her own opinion of herself.
Dealbreaker: As I’ve gotten older, I have realized that the best thing is not to go after the bad girls.
Celebrity Crush: Megan Fox
Banks Ready
Age:18
Where do you live? Hernando, Mississippi
What is your involvement in the horse industry? Youth/Non-Pro Paint horse exhibitor
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? No, not at all. I think it is easier to date someone you share a common interest with. People within the industry understand that showing horses is a big part of your life. People outside the industry may not understand if you have to go out on the road, or you can’t go out on a date because you have to stay home and ride your horse.
Have you ever competed against someone you were dating? I haven’t, but I don’t think it would be a problem. We are all friends outside the arena, but inside the arena it is every man for himself. What happens in the arena stays in the arena.
Do you have any rules about dating within the horse industry? I’ve never set any rules for myself because if you set rules, you could always miss out on somebody. If you say that you are only going to date people within the Paint breed then you might miss the girl of a lifetime because she shows Quarter Horses.
What do you look for in a person? One of the biggest things is personality. Also, they have to be down to earth. I can’t stand people who think they are better than everyone else.
Dealbreaker: Smoking and excessive drinking
Celebrity Crush: Jessica Alba
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? Hunting and fitting beef cattle for show.
Kyle Manion
Age: 34
Where do you live? Aubrey, Texas
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? The hardest part about dating outside of the horse industry is the fact that some people have a hard time dealing with the time constraints, they may not understand that you aren’t always available to talk when you’re at a show, and sometimes you aren’t completely sure when you’ll be home. It can work if you have someone who is understanding and willing enough to be patient and learn about the industry.
Do you have any rules about dating within the horse industry? It is hard for anyone in the horse world to take criticism from the person they are dating about their horses, especially if they are in the same discipline. If you are going to date someone in your discipline pick and choose what you say, when the horses are involved. In that way, dating someone in another discipline might be less stressful.
Have you ever competed against someone you were dating? As far as competing with someone you are dating, you want to see them do well and you hope they want you to do well also. Having a serious rivalry is not good. As long as you leave the competition in the barn or arena it is advantageous.
Dealbreaker: Jealousy, unwarranted suspicion, and a lack of understanding about time constraints
Celebrity Crush: Rachel McAdams
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? I like to go to the lake, do some non-horse related traveling, and keep up with the racehorse scene.
Dan Prouhet
Age: 25
Where do you live? Ojai, California
What is your involvement in the horse industry? Resident trainer for Aspen Grove Ranch
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? Over the past seven years that I’ve been a trainer, I’ve moved so much that most of my relationships have been long distance. I think it’s hard because the industry is so nationwide and if you do decide to date someone within the business it ends up being fairly unsuccessful.
Do you have any rules about dating within the horse industry? Dating someone who is involved with horses is not really something I have to have because I know how hard it is to be involved with someone in the horse industry. It really has to do with the individual. There are pros and cons to dating people involved with horses. It would be a pro for someone to be able to understand your life, that the work hours aren’t written in stone and that you spend a lot of time away from home. It really depends on the person, but dating within the industry can actually be the demise of a relationship because of differences in personal opinions on horses. Personally, I date outside of the industry.
What do you look for in a person? Personality is most important. I need a person who understands what it takes to be a trainer. Also, honesty and the ability to connect on a level that isn’t just superficial.
Dealbreaker: Dishonesty
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? I go to the beach, hang out with friends, go to dinner parties, and do a lot of photography.
Roy Donn
Age: 56
Where do you live? Crossroads, Texas
What is your involvement in the horse industry: I have trained Appaloosa, Quarter and Palomino halter horses.
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? No, not really. It’s nice if the person has some interest, but it isn’t a requirement.
What do you look for in a person? No drama, a good attitude, and a good personality.
Dealbreaker: Smoking
Celebrity Crush: Catherine Zeta-Jones
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? Real estate, going to dinner, and watching movies.
Adam Wainscott
Age: 25
Where do you live: Ocala, FL
What is your involvement in the horse industry? Resident trainer for Stanley and Susan Scott
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? Yes. It is hard because you are so focused on being an assistant trainer or an up-and-coming trainer that it is very hard to have time for your personal life. But unless you are dating a non-pro or open rider, it’s also hard to find someone who understands the time it takes to do what you do and that you don’t have a set work schedule. It’s hard to date within the industry, but it can be almost impossible outside of the industry. It’s hard to find someone who understands that what you do is so important to you and why it takes up so much of your time. At the end of the day you may be so physically and mentally exhausted that even if you did get off early enough to go to dinner or a movie, you don’t have the energy.
Do you have any rules about dating within the horse industry? I wouldn’t say that I have any rules. Everyone has different personalities and different things that they want out of a relationship.
What do you look for in a person? Personality, character, and someone who has the ability to see life as what it is and knows that there are both good and bad parts. I need someone who can roll with the punches. Also, what a person stands for and what they believe in is very important.
Dealbreaker: Someone who asks me to choose between my career and them.
Celebrity Crush: Halle Berry
Mike Shaffer
Age: 41
Where do you live? Pilot Point, Texas
What is your involvement in the horse industry? Farrier
Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? I couldn’t imagine not being around horses, so the person I date has to be involved in the horse industry in some way. In order to have a long-term commitment with someone, that person has to understand that horses get sick, some days you have to stay at the barn late, and that weekends are often the busiest time for horse people. It is almost like two totally different worlds. The demand on your time and the devotion you have to give to your horses is something that normal people don’t understand. You have to have a different mindset to commit this much of your life to an animal.
What do you look for in a person? Someone who is genuine, honest, sweet, and loves all animals.
Dealbreaker: Negativity
Celebrity Crush: Kat Deely
What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? Fishing and landscaping
If you would like to be part of The Dating Game please contact Brittany Bevis at b.bevis@equinechronicle.com
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