There’s More to Horses Than Just Riding

Like many horsewomen, I started as a young girl obsessed with horses. Nights would bring dreams of riding across fields with a galloping horse underneath me. Growing up in the hunter/jumper world, that dream became reality, and for several years, I focused on fine-tuning my riding skills.

That was until trainers began to always assign me the “difficult” horses and I burned out, abandoning horses completely.

Adult Re-Rider

When I returned to the horse world almost two decades later, it was because, once again, I dreamed of riding horses. I’d wake in the morning, remembering the feeling of freedom and connection and think, “I have to ride again.”

I took lessons, finding that muscle memory quickly kicked in. I remembered diagonals, how to cue the trot, and how to pick up the correct canter lead.

It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once, because as an adult returning to the barn after time off, I had a completely different mindset than when I was a teenager.

When someone asked me to tack up my lesson horse myself, I couldn’t. Growing up at a performance barn in the 1980s taught me to ride, but none of the accompanying horsemanship skills. We had grooms to tack our horses.

I felt embarrassed at my lack of knowledge and ability on the ground. While I still loved riding, I changed my focus to becoming a horsewoman, not just a rider. I took a job as a working student at age 35 in exchange for riding time at my barn. I learned basic horse handling and care, and the reward was time in the saddle.

The Love for Riding

One of the most wonderful perks of working with horses is the ability to mount up and spend time together in the arena or on the trail. There is no better feeling when you are on a horse, communicating without words.

I spent some of the best times of my life in the saddle. For years, I tried to find something that could replace that euphoria, but I drifted back to the mounting block each time.

My trainer is always after me to ride more often, but as a working mom, my barn time is limited. As a result, my trainer is always asking me to get on my pony and give him some exercise.

“He’s bored,” or “He wants a job” are common refrains. I constantly feel guilty if I don’t tack him up and get on for 30 minutes. After all, it’s healthy for him, and no one wants a spicy pony who has been sitting too long.

Getting proper exercise is important for both horse and rider. My pony has lived with EPM for almost 10 years, and keeping him ridden and properly muscled has been a huge part of his wellness program. He has less inflammation, more stability, and a healthier life when he is ridden regularly. For us, riding is one of the most important things we can do together.

Time Out of the Saddle is Important

Riding is only one aspect of horses, and one that perhaps has overshadowed all the others. As a timid rider, I found that the more time I spent working with my horses on the ground or even just hanging out in the paddock, the more my confidence improved.

My Thoroughbred, Delight, was diagnosed with kissing spine. Despite being only 11 years old, I retired him from riding after trying many therapies and discussing it with my wellness team. In fact, his dangerous and aggressive behavior under saddle with a previous owner was how he came into my life.

I dedicated all my time with him to groundwork, earning his trust again and keeping his brain and body busy, all without being on his back. Turns out there’s a lot we can do to have fun and give them a wonderful quality of life that doesn’t involve putting a saddle on their backs.

The Most Important Goal with Horses

One day, I may be too arthritic to ride comfortably. My horses may all be too old to carry a rider successfully. They will still be valuable in my eyes and worthy of my attention.

For me, learning to tack, longe, and do liberty and groundwork helped improve my communication with my horses and gave me a more enjoyable experience in the saddle. The focus on riding was the reason for my burnout so many years ago. Incorporating other methods of connecting and spending time with horses taught me how to listen better, be a more effective communicator, and enjoy the time spent with these animals.

Now with one riding horse and another retired, I can enjoy both animals equally because they require different things for exercise. Whether you choose to focus on riding or unmounted time with your horse, remember that showing up for your horse and spending time with them is the most important goal.

This article about there being more to horses than riding appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!