Everyone knows that being an equestrian means constantly being in the barn. We love what we do. Horses are more than just animals to us. They are our best friends. We treat these beautiful creatures like they’re a part of our family. I’ve always treated my horses like they’re my children. I love each and every one of them, but I always have my favorites (doesn’t everyone though?). There’s a catch(isn’t there always a catch?). To be an equestrian, you’ve got to have passion, drive, strength--both mentally and physically-- and most of all, you need heart. Playing with horses every day seems fun. Believe me, I dreamt about it my whole life. It’s not all fun and games though. You have to think about everything that could happen because, in an instant, everything can change.
I’ve been around horses since I was 5 years old. I had my first riding lesson ever. It was a birthday present from my parents. I think, at that point, they realized that horses were never going to be a “phase” with me. Everyone thinks that it’s only a stage. “Oh, she’ll be over the horse phase soon enough.” “Horses won’t last long with her.” Little did they know that it would become the most important thing in my life. I started to show horses when I was 6 years old. I didn’t realize at the point how much horses meant to me and what kind of impact they’d have on my life. I compete in everything from reining, to showmanship, to jumping. I don't just ride though. I also do lots of barn work. I started cleaning stalls when I was 13 or 14 years old. I didn’t think that I’d be doing that in college.
During my freshman year at Lake Erie College, I learned how to clean stalls efficiently, take temperatures, pulse, and respiration; how to properly lunge a horse, deworming, vaccinations, and--yes-- sheath and udder cleaning! Okay, I know it’s gross sounding, but it’s valuable skills that are needed for being an equestrian. I learned that it’s not just about riding the horses. It’s about doing what is best for the horse and what we can do to make their lives as good as we possibly can.
I know, I know. Everyone thinks that being an equestrian is being a person who rides horses, but there’s so much more to it than that. It’s all about horse care. That’s what so many people have yet to realize. Everyone thinks it’s all about riding the horses and having fun, but what if something were to happen to them? I have to be able to take care of them. That’s the difference between the riders and equestrians.
In my book, those that know how to take care of their horses and create a bond between their horses and themselves are the true equestrians. It’s not all about riding the horses. It’s about taking your horses into your heart and loving them like they’re a part of your family (My horse is a part of my family. Why shouldn’t he be? He’s my pet) and they deserve to be treated as such. I’ve seen so many horses that have been rescued that were in such bad shape because people think that they’re “helping” the horse. It turns out that they weren’t treating them properly like they should be.
I’ve owned a horse since I was 13 years old, but that doesn’t mean that I know everything there is to know. It’s hard to know exactly what a horse is thinking or feeling. There are times when I wish my horse could talk and tell me exactly what was wrong with him. It’s all a huge learning experience for me and I continue to learn more and more every single day. The more I learn, the more I hope to help others learn to become more knowledgeable about our amazing horses.
