Why Do You Ride?

                                                                                                  morguefile.com

    

  It had been a frustrating day and I couldn’t seem to let go and trust my horse over the jumps. My instructor called me over to talk about it and I explained countless memories of horse refusing, ducking out and running away with me. Then my instructor asked me a question.

“So, why do you ride?" 

     It was a simple question and one that I should have known the answer to. But honestly, I started riding because I loved horses but had never taken the time to figure out why I continued to ride.

      Of course, I still love horses but it has grown deeper than a little girl’s love for ponies. I had to ask myself a lot of questions to come to the core issue. Did I ride because of the adrenaline rush I got when I flew over a jump? Was it the possibilities of exploration that opened up when I trail rode? Perhaps it was the mystery of a horse’ mind and the constant learning that accompanies horse riding. Was it for the companionship of the horse itself, the physical challenge or health benefits? What is at the core of any passion for equines?

In reality, a list with all the reasons someone rides could go on and on. Personally, I find the joy of connecting with something outside of myself without using words one of the driving factors of why I ride. I love animals and the physical and competitive aspect of horseback riding. But, something about listening to your horse using more than just your ears keeps me coming back for more.

    Knowing why you ride helps direct you to where you truly want to go with horses. Without going to extremes, there are not inherently “good” or “bad” reasons to ride. Some might do it mainly for the competition and some for companionship. Whatever the case, finding out why you ride will help you to set goals that will fulfill you and encourage your love for horses even more.

    One way to figure out why you ride is to strip away everything else surrounding horse riding. Would you still ride if there were no health benefits? Would you continue riding if your friends were not with you? What if you never showed again? When you find the things that are irreplaceable in your equestrian experience, you have found the core of why you ride.
       You can use your reason to ride to motivate you on those days where nothing seems to go the way it ought.  And when you have a great day with your equine you will be able to define the fulfillment that you feel. Having a reason that drives your equine passion often puts things into perspective and helps to keep the joy in everyday horsemanship.

Me and my favorite horse: a thoroughbred named Flying Solo