Most horse people will tell you that horses can teach you much more than just riding skills and
animal care. The atmosphere, experiences and environment if the horse world is practically a breeding ground for
life lessons. Here are some of the best (and sometimes hardest) lessons I have learned while pursuing my
love of horses.
Try Again - Patience
Practice is a staple in horse riding because nothing will ever go the same way twice. You and your horse may gel one day and the next be on opposite ends of a the ring (in more ways than one). Trying again and being patient with yourself and your horse is essential to growth. In life, patience helps you get through rough days, deal with people that are on your nerves and achieve heights that others have given up on.
Breathe - Stay Calm
The horse world can be extremely irritating and hectic. Horses stepping on our toes, running us over, horse show bustle and everything else can overwhelm and crush us if we do not stay calm. Especially before
IHSA shows or riding a sassy horse I have learned that taking a deep breathe and saying a prayer helps me to refocus and remember my true goals. Apart from the barn, there are many things that can harry us as well. Because of the
calming techniques i have learned from riding, I can breathe, pray and recalibrate my thinking faster in hectic situations so that the situation cannot control me.
Getting Back On - Resilience
Everyone falls but not everyone gets back on. Whenever I fall off, my instructor always makes me get back on and work through my
fears. If you know you can get up off of the ground and get back on a animal that is 10 times bigger than you and ride through it, it is easier to bounce back from a bad grade, bad news and other besetting events in life.
Work First, Play Later - Responsibility
It is so easy to put your own wants and feelings before others and even your horse. But every good rider know that you must take
care of your horse before you relax. Even in training horses you have to establish good
ground work and drill the basics before you can trust your horse to play around. If you constantly put fun before work, no work will get done and the fun will quickly pass. Working on your horse, with your horse and for your horse teaches you to work hard and gives you more appreciation for the free time that follows.
Hurry Up and Wait - Flexibility
You will hear the classic "
hurry up and wait" to describe any horse show. Because of the massive amount of variables nothing will go exactly to plan. In order to stay calm and focused you have to be ready for everything and go with what the day brings. In life, there are few things that go according to our wishes. Flexibility gives us the shocks to keep going on the bumpy road of life.
Pretty Mean Horse - Don't judge the outside
Sometimes, the prettiest horses have the sourest attitudes and the plainest ponies consistently place well. Though one can learn so much from those difficult equines, the steady horses are superheroes in a
lesson program and in teaching the essential basics. Because one of our first senses that we perceive the world around us is our sight, it is difficult for us not to judge by first impressions. However, one cannot judge people or horses by their looks. Being open and ready to get to know others before labeling them will help you to get friends and influence people in a positive way.
Sit Back and Look Up - Staying grounded and positive
One of the most important lessons that I have learned in horse riding that applies so well in daily experiences in to sit back and look up. Sitting back puts your center of balance in your seat and heels making you balanced and
in tune with your horse. Looking up gives you direction and clarity on what needs to be done. Sometimes, when the going gets tough, the best thing to do is sit back to ground yourself in what you believe, look up at your goals and hang on.
So, just as I told my parents when I was convincing them to let me take horse riding lessons, I learned a lot of character traits and
life lessons as I rode. Of course, I am still working on learning and understanding these lessons but the horse world has given me a jump start on them. What lessons have you learned in your experiences with horses? What lessons are you working on right now? Comment below and subscribe!
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