I have always appreciated the beauty of horses but never owned one until 2006. As a young girl I was fortunate to take lessons on a horse named “Honeyboy”, a beautiful paint gelding. I decided, being a willful young lady, that I would save up my allowance and purchase him. By the time I had saved maybe $100, my father announced that we were moving – to another state! My young heart was broken. I recovered and after the move forgot about horses for many years.
Fast forward to 2002. While visiting Sequoia National Park with family and friends, we went on a trail ride through the hills. It was fun but not enough to turn me into the crazy horse lady that I am today. There were a few other trail rides on vacations with the same result, no desperate need to own a horse.
In December 2005 at a church silent auction, I bid on an hour session with an Icelandic horse and won. As I was riding this beautiful animal, it hit me. I knew I wanted to pursue riding. The horse’s owner told me that the barn had a regular trainer who could give me lessons. I contacted her and by taking this step, my world had expanded.
By August of 2006 I was in the market for my own horse. Thus began my journey into the equine world. Initially I rode “western” and felt every bit the cowgirl. My husband bought a horse and for a few years we rode together. We moved our horses to a barn closer to home where I continued to work with a trainer.
One thing you learn and often too late is that choosing the right horse for you is like choosing a mate. You and your horse should have similar or at least compatible personalities. Secondly, your horse should enjoy whatever riding discipline you are into, be it trail riding, barrel racing, jumping, eventing or dressage. Forcing a horse into a discipline it neither enjoys nor is good at is tantamount to animal cruelty. Strong words but my belief.
Once you find the right partner, there is nothing you can’t do together. It took me three horses to get there. My third horse, Barbie, was the one who got sick last December and passed away in January of this year. That led me to my fourth horse, Ruby, who is even more suited to me. She is a treasure.
Another mistake that many people make with horses is seeing them as a pet, like the dog or cat they have at home. No! If you treat your horse like a pet you are putting yourself in a potentially dangerous position. This is not a 50 or even 100 pound dog but a 900-1200 (average) pound animal that can put you in the hospital or worse if you do not pay attention and have a healthy respect for it.
What do I love about horses? Their sensitivity to the world around them. The fact that they are prey animals and yet learn to trust humans, a.k.a. predators, to ride on their backs! How much trust is involved in this? One can only imagine.
Horses live in the moment. You won’t catch a horse lamenting over the past or worrying about tomorrow.
They are mentors who teach you how to be present. Horses only know the now.
Horses are used as therapists for the disabled and veterans with PTSD. Successful work with autistic children has also been documented.
Because of their innate sensitivity, you can “cue” your horse while on its back with such subtlety that no one watching will know what you have done. Watch a rider during a dressage performance. The horse will walk, trot, canter, do precise circles of different circumferences, lead changes, transitions, etc. and you will think it was all the horse’s idea and not the rider.
There are moments while riding your horse when you are so in sync that you feel like one creature instead of two. These are the moments riders live for.
Horses are beautiful, spiritual, trusting, generous creatures. You would be blessed to know one.
