Equestrians.
How would you describe us?
People on the outside looking in might use descriptions such as, "Crazy. Obsessed. Weird. Smelly." The funny thing is, while those of us on the inside might choose to use different vocabulary to describe ourselves, we certainly wouldn't deny any of those things mentioned above being true. We know damn well that they are true.
If equestrians know one thing, it's that we were born this way. Do we know exactly when we started being obsessed with horses? Nope. All we know is that it's been a thing for as long as we can remember. More importantly, do we know why? Absolutely not.
One of the most plausible reasons I — and many other riders alike — can argue for the question "why?", is the use of the word challenge. I love when people who have never ridden a horse tell me, "All you do is sit there. Doesn't the horse do all the work?" All I can do with that statement is simply laugh. I laugh because the only reason we look like we just sit there is because there's years and years of training, tears and repeated failure under our belts that have taught us how to make our sport look effortless. It is anything but that. So, (although I'm sure there's probably no one reading this that willingly clicked on this article who isn't an equestrian), let's dive into what we mean by challenge.
Riding is incredibly frustrating. It is one of the universe's greatest mysteries. Why? You could be the best rider in the world and there's still things that you would need to learn and improve on. It is a never ending challenge. The best hunter jumper would most likely fail at saddle seat and vice versa. You'll meet a lot of snotty, conceited equestrians in your life time, but the best thing about it is that the horse, and the sport itself, remain humble. You're never finished learning.
There's a fire that burns deep down inside of equestrians that makes us incredibly prone to over-doing it. If we are presented with a skill we struggle with in the saddle, we will not stop. We will die before we ever say, "I give up." Even if it hurts (it usually does) and even if we're in tears (we usually are), we will take a deep breath and try again until we get it right. We could hate the challenge presented to us with a burning passion, but we would still prove to ourselves that we are capable. And when we do get it right? Nobody could explain that feeling unless you've experienced it. It's what keeps us coming back for more. It's our drug and our safety net. It's our happiness beyond anything we could ever take from other human beings or materials. Getting thrown to the ground from an animal you trust to take care of you and literally getting back in the saddle after you nearly died is a bigger challenge than you might think. We put ourselves into danger every time we lock our feet into those stirrups, and we never think twice about it. Why aren't we afraid? What do we do with that fear that most human beings have? Have we trained ourselves to stuff that fear so far in the back of our minds that we'd never be able to access it? And seriously — we get a thrill from defying gravity. We squeal in excitement at the thought of jumping a four foot fence or leaping over a body of water and pay no mind to the possible tragedy that could follow. When you think about it...we are kind of crazy. It is by far one of the hardest, most complicated sports out there, and yet, we will always come back for more.
So, what separates equestrianism from dance? Baseball? Football? Soccer? Aren't those all challenging sports, too? Absolutely. But I guess I'd have to say the biggest difference here is that those sports don't involve a 1200 pound animal.
If you didn't love horses as a three year old, you probably aren't an equestrian. We're born absolutely nuts for these beautiful creatures. They're mysterious, graceful, peaceful, and we'd do anything to know what goes on inside their heads. To admire a beautiful horse from a distance and ride one are two completely different things. Horses are prey, and they are unpredictable. To put it bluntly, a horse could spook at a Stop & Shop bag flying in the wind and kill you as a result. They are incredibly sensitive animals. Knowing that the mood you're in is detected by your horse and affects your entire ride is a lesson in itself. Frustration, stress and tension are not tolerated in the saddle.
And while it is frustrating that you can't lie about your bad mood to your horse, it is perhaps one of the most beautiful things about this sport. Why? It teaches us how to be in the present moment.
The horse senses your tension in your fingers that grip the reins all the way through every part of his mouth. The stress you're feeling after a long work day will present itself through your legs and your inability to relax any part of your body. You carry your fear in your hips and you carry your anger through your elbows. The horse knows this, all because he is wiser than you. And because of this, the horse teaches us more about ourselves than we could ever want to know.
The relationship between horse and rider is amazing, and no two horses are the same. You could ride one like an Olympian and flop around on another like you’re taking beginner lessons all over again. I’ve never underestimated how beautiful it is to be able to communicate and ask for certain movements with a horse through your seat, your legs, your hands and your emotions.
And then there’s the trust factor. In any other sport, although you may play with others, the only person you have to trust is yourself. If you have to put your trust in other people to help you play the game…well, at least you can communicate with them through words. A horse’s trust is a guessing game. Not only do you need to trust him without words — he needs to trust you. 100%. There is no backing out, and there is no allowance of 95%. A ride without trust is a setup for failure. To ask your horse to carry himself — and you — successfully over a high fence is perhaps one of the rawest forms of trust there is. He needs to trust that the two of you will still make it safely if you say a five stride distance is safer than a six. He needs you to ask him for that with confidence so he can execute the exact move the two of you need.
And lastly, there’s the adrenaline.
If you’ve never ridden a horse competitively, you won’t have a clue what I mean. Equestrians know there is no drug that can get you as high as riding and no human being that could get the same amount of love you give to this sport. I wouldn’t trade anything for the adrenaline I get approaching and (successfully) finishing a challenging course.
Take the combination of a challenge, some serious adrenaline, and an unbreakable bond between horse and rider…and you have your answer. It may not be a clear cut answer, but one thing is for certain — you could never get us to give up being the smelly, crazy horse people we’ve always been. And if you wanted to — you would die trying.
“Why do you like show jumping?"
"... Beauty and excitement. The elements of trust, talent, training, love, and danger make show jumping a thrilling and aesthetic experience. It's really the ultimate test of two nervous systems--the kinetic transfer of the rider's muscle to the horse's muscle enables them to clear those jumps. And there's nothing like it--horse and rider forming an arc of beauty, efficiency, and power, like a double helix."
"DNA,"
"Yes, DNA, the code to life.”
-Ainsley Sheridan
