My first encounter with a horse ended up in tears. The animal was too big and the ground was too far off for my comfort.
Many years later I had another chance to try my luck at horse riding. I was on a trip with some friends’ children and we had a wonderful buckboard ride. The owner of the horses allowed the children to take a ride around the yard. I said to myself ‘Here’s your chance. It’s now or never!’ But again the experience wasn’t to my liking. Horses are hard to predict and for a person with no previous experience even coming up to these animals can be dangerous.
Several years passed before I approached another horse. My niece wanted to go horse riding and I went with her. Just to watch and give her courage. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself finding guts to ride myself. The instructor asked a simple question ‘Two horses or just one?’ and I immediately said ‘Two.’ I held the reins and squeezed the horse with my legs, afraid to fall off the saddle. But the ride was extremely enjoyable and I wanted more. The positive feeling towards riding held until the evening when I discovered excruciating pain in my adductors. Now I knew how to walk in a cowboy style.
I must have been crazy to go back to the stables the next day. But I did. And I do not regret it. It was one of the best decisions in my life. I am not a great rider but I make small progress with each lesson. And my expectations are not high – I ride for fun, not for glory. And for positive feelings that horses give me when I’m around them. I can be dead tired and have tons of worries but when I enter the stables everything goes away. Just one look into the horses’ gentle and trusting eyes and I forget the world outside. They are great stress relievers.
I am so pleased for you that you overcame your initial reservations about horses. They are incredible animals and riding one is like nothing else on earth.
You can’t be indifferent towards horses. You either love them or hate them. For me they are like big babies on hoofs. 🙂
That’s amazing. I would kill to ride horses in Seoul!
Horses are amaxing creatures. Glad you finally got to enjoy a ride.
I am glad, too. If I hadn’t tried I wouldn’t have learnt how gentle and patient horses are.
Great that you overcame your fear and still went back 🙂
I am glad, too. It is important to fight with one’s fears and face them right away. 🙂
I have always wanted to ride a horse.Always thought it’s this cool thing well as i normally see on tv shows.Pretty boots and a cool hat.
It’s nice to read that you were able to overcome your fear.
Oh, riding boots are amazing and sexy. I am guilty of wearing them outside the stables 😉
How awesome that you overcame your fear, I had a few horses growing up and they are amazing animals!
How lucky for You to grow up with horses. I didn’t even have a rocking horse. But I finally got one four years ago – my niece gave away hers because she was too big for it. I use my rocking horse when no-one’s around. What fun!!! 😉