When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine... you know you are loved. ~John Lyons
In life, people invest their time into something that they're passionate about. Well, mine is being around horses. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to be around them since a young age. My dad would bring me to my aunt's barn and she would teach me the basics. She then sent me to her friend Veronica, who taught me everything I know, and then I moved to a different barn. After I moved barns, I learned from Dawn, who owns the property and has become a wonderful friend. But most importantly, I have learned the most from my horse, Tundra.
1. Patience
When Tundra came into my life, I was ten years old and I was a tall child. When looking for a horse, we wanted something that I could grow into but we also wanted something big enough that my dad could ride. I fell in love with the big red horse and thankfully, he fell in love with me. At first, he didn't like being in the riding arena alone, so my Aunt Amy had to lead me around or have me ride her horse, Lakota, because Tundra was a follower. He was a hack horse, so his job was to follow and it was hard to break that habit. It took me forever to be able to not have to follow my aunt and Lakota.
But in the end, Tundra has taught me patience because that's what I had to learn to overcome what we had to get through to break his habit. That's one of the beauties of owning or working with a horse. Patience is a major key with working with equines and it's a must to know.
2. Trust
When working with horses, you have to create a bond and that bond is created with trust. It's a complicated thing to do but it is so rewarding. When Tundra trusted me enough to not follow someone else I was so overjoyed that he got the biggest handful of cookies after our ride!
Knowing that I can do anything with this animal because he trusts me honestly just mind boggles me. I can get him to take a baby carrot from my mouth and I can crawl under him when putting hoof dressings on his feet. I trust him enough to sit by his hay pile on cold nights and read my book. I trust him enough to put my leg over him and sit on him bareback even after he bucked me off freshman year. That led to a broken collar bone and surgery but hey, I still trusted this massive creature.
3. He's Always a Great Listener
When my dad died three years ago, I was distraught. I felt like I had no one to talk to and because of that, I kept a lot of things to myself. I would bottle it up until it I couldn't take it anymore and I would just cry into Tundra's mane until I couldn't cry anymore. I cried into his mane when my heart was broken for the first time by a boy who I thought would be there for me, but it turned out he wouldn't. My horse was there for me when it felt like no one else was and having him by my side was probably the best thing that could've happened to me.
4. Be Humble
Being humble is probably the number one rule when working with horses. They teach you not to be cocky because they know when your ego is getting too big. For example, there was a time where I was sitting on my high horse (my metaphorical one) because Tundra was finally getting the correct lead when we cantered. Then when I went to show people, he did it wrong and then threw in a sassy buck. Horses show you how to handle your ego because they can kick it to the curb (literally).
It is their job to keep your feet on the ground. This sport is not for people who only care about their upward mobility. This sport is about learning something each and every ride. There are times where I find a new way to ask for something if it isn't working the way I was taught. You learn how to ask properly.
5. Know that You Are a Team
When working with horses, you have to know that the animal is about ten times as heavy as you are and that he is a lot stronger than you. You have to learn the difference between a horse you've bonded with and one you haven't bonded with. You are a team and it is communicated by a language that only the two of you understand.
I have been working with a horse that goes by the name of Phantom. His owner lets me ride him and when we first began our team, the two of us were out of shape. He sat in a field for a long time and I was about to use muscles that I haven't used in awhile. I was used to just getting on Tundra and going on a trail ride, because Tundra is 28 years old. You can't work him like you could with a 12 year old.
Phantom has given me a run for my money; he can be stubborn but he can also be understanding. He has done everything I have asked him unless it involves crossing a puddle, but that's okay. He trusts me and I trust him and we have created a partnership that I am forever grateful for.
*Author's Note: Phantom is on the left and Tundra is on the right.
So as you go through life, you will come across all kinds of horses and hardships but know that every horse is placed into your life to teach you a lesson. They will all test your limits and they will all make you cry in frustration. But at the end of the day, you give them a kiss, a treat, and a pat on the nose because they didn't kill you when they could have easily done so.
