HORSES ARE BEAUTIFUL. I WANNA RIDE... :)

[Deleted User]Homesteader (deleted user)
in General

As a person who grew up in the city, I never had much contact with the living, breathing representatives of the Universe: HORSES!!!!! Crazily, though, I've ALWAYS LOVED THEM!!!

Their strength, their beauty, their power, their connectedness... I've always wanted to be near them! I've clicked through to a few profiles that featured horses, just to see the horses! I'm sorry! lol

Anyway, this summer, I've promised myself that I would give myself the gift of riding one!!! :) AMPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Horse Lovers/Owners/Keepers: What tips do you have for a novice rider? Do you have any stories to share? What do you love most about these amazing, powerful animals? I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT..

I've got it bad. I happily crossed paths with a farrier (affixes horseshoes); he willingly spent quite a while discussing his craft with me. I felt honored...and wanted to cuddle him, but thought better of it! lol

Horse stories, riding tips, herd dynamics...allllll of it... I'm HERE FOR IT?

You?

Comments

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod

    You and the horse are a team. Approach the entire thing the same way you would approach being in any other kind of team with one significant difference: always be very clear that you are the boss.

    So, for example, it pays to start off relatively polite and formal. Horses are prey animals, it takes time for them to get to know you and trust you, it can't be rushed.

  • TxTomTxTom

    Horses like beer and football... at least Clydesdales do.

    Hope that helps.

  • [Deleted User]gem7 (deleted user)

    Be careful about approaching a horse from the rear.

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

  • Katelyn_BKatelyn_B
    edited April 2025

    I used to ride my grandparent's draft horses (Belgians). My grandfather didn't really need them on the farm, he had a tractor, but he liked them and enjoyed competing in horse pulls at the county fair each year. The main ones I remember growing up were named Clyde and Daisy. Daisy was the one I used to ride a lot. As a child I really loved that horse and when she died I felt like a big piece of my childhood went with her and I lost some of my youthful innocence.

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    When my daughter was about 5, she fell in love with a horse named Waffles at a local farm. Even now, all these years later, if I take her back there, Waffles walks all the way across the pasture to say hello to her.

  • [Deleted User]Homesteader (deleted user)

    @CuddleDuncan ~ You just poured melted honey into my soul!!! THANK YOU.. :) Thank you, again, for the idea of being a team with the horse! Years ago, I got to ride one WHO DIDN'T TRUST ME AS A TEAM MEMBER!!! He turned ALL THE WAY AROUND, on the trail, AND JUST STOOD THERE!! lolol The other riders were looking at me like, "Um...you wanna turn him around, please, so we can get on with our ride?" I was like, "HE'S DECIDED HE DOESN'T FEEL I'M WORTH PAYING ATTENTION TO!!!" lololol!!! It was terrible and funny at the same time!!! Hopefully, it'll go a little better this next time! lol

    @TxTom ~ You tickle me with your posts! :) I saw a video where a Belgian was rescued. The doc told them to give him one beer a day, to help with his recovery!!! Gotta love a boozy horse!! lol

    @gem7 ~ You're soooo right about that one!!! Although I wish body language cues between humans were as clear as they are among horses. There have been a FEW FOLKS I straight wanted to lay my ears back and turn my back to... knowing what those cues mean with horses!! lol Good warning!! lol

    The utterly TERRIFYING gif with the horse tumbling back on its rider is a serious cautionary pictorial. Riders must NEVER forget they are riding a living being with its own fears--- they ARE "prey animals," after all..

    @Katelyn_B ~ I FELT that. Thank you for sharing it. I'm just glad that you got to share life with those magnificent animals, even if for a short time! Belgians are AWESOME..POWERFUL.. NO-NONSENSE... Just being NEAR one is like shaking hands with the Heavenly Host! I'm grateful you got to have Daisy for as long as you did. You carry some of her with you.. I hope you know that! :)

    Oh, @WriterGF ~ I always love when you share about your Precious Daughter! :) Thank you for giving her the chance to love and feel the unwavering loyalty of Waffles!!! I totally believe you that Waffles comes to say "Hi!" WHENEVER she comes back to visit...

    I SOOOO love them... their loyalty, their majesty, their power... I LOVE the way they, as a herd, seem to move as one large animal... Wish we humans could figure that out... :)

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