We’ve all been there. We can visualize our perfect horse in our mind, but bringing those dreams to reality can be a daunting task. Many riders know what they want in a horse, however finding the right one can often be much harder than it should be. As a rider at 22 years old myself, I have gone through about ten horses through my riding career…some that have worked out which I’ve learned and grown from, others that have not worked out but have taught me just as many lessons the hard way. So here’s to all the horses that didn’t work out for their various reasons, and the lessons that they teach along the way.
To the Lesson Horses
Thank you for instilling my love of horses deep in my heart. Without you, I would have never had such a passion for all things horses when I was growing up. You taught me how to lope, how to post at the trot and overall, you taught me that horseback riding was a different kind of sport in more ways than one. Lesson horses are a special kind of angel that provide a safe learning environment for the least experienced riders and encourage their love and passion into hopes of someday owning a horse of our own. Without the lesson horse, most of us would not have been bitten by the horse-lover bug and would never have catapulted into the fierce riders we are today.
To My First Horse
As a young rider, all I wanted was a horse of my own. I no longer wanted to share my lesson horse with other students, and I was prepared to take care of my horse, whatever it took. Let’s be honest. My first horse quickly learned that I was inexperienced and began to take advantage of my lack of skills. Just like any other horse crazed young girl, I would come home from school and count the minutes until I could go to the barn to ride my horse. How I wish life could be like a fairytale and my first horse was my current horse or my last horse. Though we parted ways after about the tenth time he bucked me off, thank you to my first horse for teaching me the ultimate lesson – when you fall off, you have to get right back on.
To My Step Up Horse
After many, many more lessons, it was finally time for me to get that “step-up” horse where I could finally go to shows and be competitive. It wasn’t until I got you that my sweat and tears finally began to pay off, and I was starting to get my name called in the show pen. My step up horse was more competitive and flashier, but along with these perks also came the stubbornness. A new horse meant new buttons to learn and new quirks to handle. I would like to thank my step up horse for teaching me how to pick my battles but also refreshing my love of this sport. Thank you for giving me more confidence and drive to succeed, even when the going got tough.
To My Unruly Horse
When looking for my next superstar, I stumbled upon a gorgeous, talented, moody mare. She was the type of horse that you could be loping around like a Congress Champion one minute, then a slight change in the wind would turn her into a raging bull, ready to take out everything in sight. If it weren’t for all of the talents that you exuded, we would have never become a team. However, sometimes the risk is not worth the reward. Though it was safer to admire your skills from the ground, I would still like to thank you for the lessons in humility that you taught me, and that picking battles are a necessity.
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As riders, we have all shared experiences in horses that we bought, thinking they were, “the one” and come to find out, they were not. From bucking broncos to horses that just weren’t competitive enough for our dreams, we all have the memories and the lessons that they taught us to keep us pushing forward. But for now, here’s to the horses that didn’t work out. Thank you for all that you taught us along the way and for turning us into the riders that you see today.
