Redish Equine Journal

When you’re a little girl and you’re excited to go to the barn, you’re anxiously wondering:

“Who will I ride today?”
“I hope it’s my favorite horse, Star!”
“I know Star loves me and waits for me to come ride her!”

And then you grow up. You learn that most lesson horses dread seeing you when you walk up to them with a halter.

Let’s say you’re a little child dreaming of having your own horse:

“I wish I could ride every day!”
“My horse would love me, and I will love them forever!”
“Nothing could go wrong if I have a horse!”
“I never want to leave the barn!”

And then you grow up. And you start saying things like:

“I never have time to ride my own horse.”
“I can’t believe board is going up this month.”
“Grain and his new supplements are so expensive.”
“My horse has so many problems that I never considered dealing with before owning one.”
“I didn’t know as much as I thought I did about horses.”

The frustrations of owning a horse seem to become evident as you grow into an adult. As a trainer, I am aiding in creating the fairytale for my young students. They tell me that their favorite lesson horse loves them and missed them. They tell me that they dream of owning their own horse. They tell me all of the things I used to tell my trainer when I was young.

The reality of horse owning has a sad but truthful side that I had to face. I thought when I bought Charlie that my inner child would somehow come out and I’d appreciate just being around the horse again. My young lesson girls don’t care if they’re cleaning stalls or not — they just want to be in the barn approximately three feet from a horse at all times. I wish that was still my reality.

But this is just part of becoming an adult — reality is obviously different in every way from childhood to adulthood. As I have come to terms with this, I have practiced some ways of becoming more appreciative of my life as an adult equestrian. Here they are:

1. Learn to appreciate every moment with your horse.
Obviously easier said than done, but each time you go out with your horse and you have to do groundwork, or clean his stall, or groom him, or feed him, remember that being around these animals is a blessing. Not everyone gets the opportunity to own a horse, and although they don’t face the hard realities of owning, they do not get to have the wonderful realities that go along with it. Owning your own horse is having a companion that you can shape and mold. Not everyone gets that opportunity.

2. Remember you’re also spending time outside.
Outdoor time is essential to our health. Regardless if you are in blistering heat or the frosty cold, you’re getting fresh air. Not only that, you’re interacting with animals. I remind myself every day to appreciate the weather. Since being with horses every day, I’ve noticed weather patterns and have become more connected to the Earth. I wouldn’t trade that for the world!

4. You’ve (hopefully) learned how to budget and manage your time.
Let’s face it: the horse world makes you feel like your money is tight 24/7. But, you learn how to manage your money and your time…I hope. The horse world is notorious for being late and unreliable. Please don’t be that person! You will be more successful in the equine industry if you always show up on time…and actually show up. As for the money, you’ve hopefully learned to prioritize necessities and wants and savings.

5. You’re constantly learning and being challenged.
We should always be learning in our lives. Especially in the horse world. Anytime I have felt like I understand or feel confident about knowing a lot about an equine subject, an experience always humbles me and reminds me I must stay diligent on continuous learning. It never stops. Appreciate your mistakes and experiences and learn from them. I believe a full life is a life that has been dedicated to never stop learning your craft.

Becoming an adult is difficult when you remain in the same craft you have practiced in the fantasy of childhood. However, reminding yourself to appreciate the horse life and show gratitude to your daily trials will lead you to become a better equestrian and person.