Growing up, my horses have always been my best friends. Many people would say they are just an animal, but they truly are so much more. My horses are my teammates, my teachers, my shoulders to cry on, my partners in crime. They are nonjudgmental, always comforting. This four-legged animal truly is my best friend.
I’m often asked what sport I play, and am received with puzzled looks when I reply with “I am an equestrian.” People often mistake horseback riding as something easy, leisurely, and definitely not a sport. To this I respond that their assumption is incorrect. I put in just as much, if not more, effort and time, in my dedication to horses, than many athletes. That, however, is a story for another day.
Another part of horseback riding that truly does make it a sport is the companionship and team aspect. Although I’m not on a team with many other human players, my horses are 100% my teammates. We practice and learn together, in our own special language and way of communicating. We navigate the ring together, listen to what each other is asking, and respond just like humans would. The bond I have with my teammates make our relationship even stronger than any relationship I could have with another person. Like mentioned, my teammates and I have to communicate in our own language. Sure, they knows several cue words, but I cannot yell something across the field to them and expect them to respond the way a person would. Our communication is nonverbal, physical and truly affectionate. My horses are a better teammate than any person I could ask for.
My horses are also my teacher. In my eleven years of riding, I have learned more about myself, others, and life in general than I could have ever imagined. Being an equestrian can be a tough thing. You have to learn how to work with others, and work extremely hard, communicate without words, lose graciously and win humbly, accept that even if you won, there is much room for improvement and maybe you did not even deserve to win, and probably the toughest of all- you have to learn about life and death. Just like anything else, horses do not live forever. Sometimes you have to make the decision that is the best for the comfort of the animal, even if it is not what’s comfortable for you. Through my horses, I have learned how to manage the ups and downs of life. I can assure you that equestrians are wise beyond their years, and they are stronger for it.
My horses are always my shoulder to cry on. No matter what is happening in my life, how bad my day was, or how upset I am, my horses greet me with a whinny and a hug. Their gentle souls can turn any wild day calm in a matter of seconds. They are always happy to see me and provide some peace and comfort to my life. A day with my horses is more relaxing than a day at the spa.
My horses are my partners in crime. Together, we can do anything. We give each other super powers, fighting off negative energy, and can take any arena by storm. My horses give me the wings to fly. The confidence they have instilled in me is greater than any other. I am nothing without them.
My horses truly are my best friends. They give me words when I cannot speak, wings when I feel I cannot fly, and confidence when I feel like hiding away. I feel like the luckiest girl every time I walk in my horses’ stall. I am blessed to own the most wonderful, caring creatures on the earth. I can never thank my horses enough for all that they have taught me.
