Lets talk horse. Now, I’ve wanted to make a blog post about horseback riding for a long time now, but I never knew what to really talk about. But, today, I have some stuff to talk about.
When I tell people that I’m an equestrian, most of them either say “I used to ride but it got too expensive.” or “Horseback riding isn’t a sport, all you do is sit on the horse and the horse does all of the work.” I cannot begin to tell you how angry this makes me. How would you like it if I told you that your sport is stupid and it takes no athletic ability and anyone can do it? Yeah, I don’t think you’d like that very much.
Horseback riding is the most amazing sport in the entire world, in my opinion. Can you say that you trust a 1,000 pound animal with a brain of it’s own with your life. Every single time I ride I have to trust the horse I’m riding with my life. One little fall and I could be completely crushed and be paralyzed or even dead. I also ask you, have you ever fallen seven feet from a 35 mph machine… I’m going to guess not. I have fallen around seven times (yes I keep count). Another question, have you ever had a teammate five times your size? That's right, no.
Horseback riding is something that you can’t just give up, especially if you own a horse. Horseback riding a life sport, I don’t think anyone can say the same for soccer, football, or basketball. There are people that are 50 years old competing at Grand Prix jumper levels. (These jumps are set at around 5 feet 3 inches tall, that’s taller than me.)
Horses aren’t just tools you use for a sport either, they become your best friend, they become more than just a teammate. I hear a lot of people say how they hate the sport they do, they only do it because their parents force them to, or because they’re too far into it and it’s too late to change their mind. I’m so happy that I’m an equestrian, becoming one was the best decision of my entire life. And I hope who ever is reading this can say the same thing about something they are passionate about.
Horseback riding also takes so much patience, and I mean so much. You don’t only have yourself to improve but you have to improve your horse as well. Horseback riding is probably the sport that takes the most responsibility. You are responsible for the horse that you are riding. No matter if you own the horse, lease the horse, or just lesson on the horse, taking care of the horse is your number one priority, because it's a living animal, not a rubber soccer ball.
One more thing, horse back riding is expensive, and no I’m not a spoiled little girl who’s parents buy her everything. I work three days a week to pay for my horse back riding, I help to contribute in every way possible because horseback riding is my passion and my love, and I would do anything for it.
In all, horse back riding is hella cool, but also hella dangerous, so please, before you make a rude remark about my passion, please think back to what we, equestrians, have to do. Thank you and go ride a horse.
And this is a bad cross country fall...
Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia
I feel like a lot of that was directly targeted at me.
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