What Growing Up With Horses Taught Me
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

What Growing Up With Horses Taught Me

Besides how to avoid getting stepped on.

90
What Growing Up With Horses Taught Me
Pexels

Horses have been a part of my entire life. They were one of the few consistent things I had around for all those years. Anyone who spends time with horses can tell you about how sweet, loyal, and fun they are, but they also teach us lessons. Some things can be taught by trainers, but others you have to hear from the horse itself.

Patience is one of the most valuable traits you can have.

Whether it's waiting anxiously for the vet at 4 a.m. or sitting at a horse show for hours to get results, we learn quickly that nothing comes fast in the horse world. Someone's always late, and mishaps happen at the most inconvenient times possible. The ability to take a deep breath and just wait has paid off a lot in the adult world.

Hard work always pays off.

If there is one thing horses are good at, it's making you have to do things the hard way. They can regress with just a few days or weeks of bad handling, and training a horse takes years and years of effort. They also frequently don't like to do the things that are good for them, like calmly reacting to fly spray or staying clean the night before a show. We often have to do things twice, but when we finally achieve something on the horse it all becomes worth it.

Be competitive, but polite.

Winning is great, that's a fact. Being a sore loser or a bragger completely ruins that. It's important to learn how to be friendly with the people you go up against while also giving the competition itself your all. There will always be people in life going up for the same opportunities as you. Fight for what you deserve, without negative feelings.

Budgeting is a lifesaving skill.

One of the hardest struggles for many horse owners is cost. Feed, shoes, lessons, stable fees, tack, it all adds up quickly. Learning how to balance all of that with other expenses forces you to watch your spending so you have enough for the barn. Budgeting is often learned the hard way when you move out of your parents' house, but if you ride horses you probably learned it early.


There are, of course, many other things horses taught me. How to get back on after a rough day, how to put something else's care above my own, how to get up at all hours and function. They are all different and teach different things. Growing up riding was a lot of frustration, tough lessons, and knocks to the ground, but I wouldn't trade what I got from it for anything.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

48192
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

30598
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954526
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

175092
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments