1. Dedication.
I think the most valuable thing we learn as horseback riders is dedication. We can’t just give up the sport one day and walk away. We have our horse. We owe our horses, our partners, to stick with it through thick and thin. If we have a bad lesson, or even a bad fall, we need to get back on and continue. This sport requires constant exercise, not just for ourselves, but for the horse as well. It takes time out of every day to ride, do barn work, feed, etc. Being a rider teaches us how to be completely dedicated to something, which can help us in so many other situations we will experience in our lives.
2. How to wake up early.
Now I don’t know about everyone else, but I have definitely learned how to wake up early from horse showing. I have never been much of a morning person, but somehow that “horseshow adrenaline” always gets me up on those 3 a.m. mornings! Whether you get caffeine on the drive there, or at one of those cute food trucks they always have, you have to force yourself to keep your eyes open for the day! Falling asleep while you’re competing probably won’t turn out well.
3. How to bathe your horse and yourself at the same time.
We can never just bathe our horses and stay dry at the same time. So why not bathe yourself as well! If the bucket of soap is going to eventually be all over you anyway, you may as well scrub yourself too. And if you’re bathing your horse late at night, or at 4 a.m., you don’t even have to take the extra time to shower. It works out perfectly!
4. How to “hurry up and wait.”
If you are a horse person than you have definitely heard this expression. “You need to go school over the jumps! Hurry up and get on!” Then you get on, run in, school your horse, come out, and get off. And look at that -- you now have two hours until you actually have to show.
5. How to spend more money on your horse than yourself.
I think I’ve made more trips to Dover Saddlery than the actual mall. If it comes between getting a new halter for my horse or new shoes for myself? WELL THE HALTER OF COURSE! And probably some new polo’s, and maybe get an extra bit, and I can’t NOT get that cute saddle pad. And there goes all of my money for the month….
6. How to explain that you don’t race horses.
I can’t count the amount of times people have asked me if I won my race. Then I have to awkwardly explain that I don’t race horses, and that there are more things you can do besides gallop on a track. We usually just say we jump jumps or (if a dressage rider) make the horse “dance.” You either have to spend hours trying to explain it, or just nod and walk away. Smile and wave girls, just smile and wave.
7. How to deal with not having much of a social life.
If you own a horse, compete, AND have a social life? Congratulations because that is not easy. We usually have to skip dances or parties because we have to wake up early for a horse show. Or we can’t hangout after school because we need to go ride and do barn work. And trying to get your friends to understand this? Even harder.
8. How to deal with horse show moms.
Whether this is your mom or someone else’s, we have all met the typical horse show mom. I definitely think a reality TV show about them would be as interesting as “Dance Moms”. It’s that mom who is way more competitive than their child, and is living their horse show dreams and fantasies through their kid. This is most evident when the child doesn’t win, and then the mom usually gets very angry, either at her own kid or at another. Let’s just say these moms wont be winning any sportsmanship prizes!
9. What it’s like to have a true best friend.
Horses hold a special place in my heart. They can fill the hole that some people create. I don’t know where I’d be without these animals, or how I would get through the hard competitions without the confidence and support of my best friend, my horse.
