Trauma in the Saddle

Horseback riding is a very dangerous sport by nature. We are riding thousand-pound animals who can very easily hurt us if either of us makes the wrong move. A lot of people know the risk that is associated with horseback riding, but the positives outweigh the risk of something dangerous happening for most people. I have had my fair share of sports-related injuries, but that hasn’t stopped me from moving forward and getting back on the horse.

What happened to me

In the summer before my sophomore of high school, I was competing at a State finals horse show with my pony Charlie. He was very spooky and looked at almost every jump. I remember this day like it was yesterday. I was so nervous when I was schooling him before my class because he kept refusing. We moved into a bigger schooling ring to let him run around and do a couple more jumps before I did my course. I was cantering to the jump and felt something was off but my trainer was screaming at me to keep going, so out of fear of getting him mad, I went. A stride away from the jump Charlie tripped but also tried to jump, which sent me flying 10 feet away from the jump and him on the floor. I landed on my stomach, grabbing the sand and fighting to catch my breath. I thought that was the end for me. I was crying through my labored breath and couldn’t move. The EMT ran over and put me on a stretcher and took me directly to the Trenton Trauma Hospital in an ambulance. I remember every bump in the road sending a shock through my back. My mom was with me and my dad and sister met me there, where I had to have an MRI and a ct scan to make sure there wasn’t any internal bleeding. The results came back and I had fractured several vertebrae in my back. It was too painful to even move so I was given crutches and told to stay off my feet. I had to go to a doctor for my back and get a back brace, which I thought was very embarrassing as a new high schooler. When I was in the hospital I surprisingly felt grateful. I hadn’t broken my back, I didn’t have any internal bleeding, I just fractured a couple of bones. There were people all around me with serious injuries, and it made me realize how lucky I was in that situation. The moment I left the hospital I was ready to get back on the horse.

What happened to me part 2

So fast forward 2 years to winter of senior year. I was leasing the best horse I have ever had, Mark. We had a lesson on a cold night, where he was feeling a little frisky. I hadn’t fallen off since my last traumatic fall and was dreading when it was going to happen next. I wasn’t constantly fearing it, but I knew when the day came it would not be fun. Mark and I were going to a jump and as he was leaving the ground, he took another step before the jump, causing me to lose my balance. I was hanging on by the side of his neck but eventually just realized it would be safer to fall. I pushed off of his neck and fell, but he ended up stepping on my thigh. That was one of the most painful things I have ever gone through. A thousand-pound animal stepping on my thigh. I was crying on the floor as my trainers ran over. I was on the swim team so I had to take off from that because it felt like my muscles were being pulled apart every time I swam. I had a massive bruise on my leg and I still have muscle issues on my leg to this day. I got it checked out but they said the only thing that could make it better was physical therapy.

How I came back from it

I didn’t go near a horse for three months, which was the longest I took off from horseback riding. I went back and just did flatwork until I had a lesson with my friend who jumps the same height as me. She was jumping around and my trainers kept egging me on and I got to a point where it was now or never. If I kept being nervous I know I wouldn’t have jumped again, so I just did it and it went better than I could’ve imagined. My leg would hurt after each ride but I kept going and challenging myself to get ready for Marshal & Sterling Finals. September rolled around and it was time to shine at the show. I was anxious but also so determined to show myself I could do it and win. I ended up getting first place at my last horseshow before college. That alone left me with the boost of confidence I needed before becoming a real adult.

Overall

It might take you a week to get back into the saddle or it might take you a year. It really depends on your situation and how comfortable you feel getting back on. Don’t get mad at yourself for taking too long or allow anyone to guilt you into riding sooner. If you are not comfortable to start jumping again after a fall, then wait. The horse and trainer are almost always going to be there. Put you and your safety first. You don’t want to make such a therapeutic and fun sport stressful. The first ride is going to be really scary and hard, but remember how fearless and strong you were before!

August 29, 2019 1

Friendship in Numbers

I have been talking about the negatives of the horse world a lot but there are a lot of positives that come along with it. You can find lifelong friends and the networking that could take place can really take you far in life. I have found best friends and family at the barns I have been at and so much confidence from all of the horses I have ridden. I also want to talk about the connection you can have with your horse and your trainer.

Friendships and Bonds

I have been very lucky with the barn I ride at. The girls are down to earth, friendly and have turned into my sisters for life. You are with these people for long horse show days, through the frustration and happiness, basically everything. According to Share the Benefits of Horseback Riding , “Horses are great for a social life,” said Carmoney. “They have allowed me to travel all over the nation and network and build friendships based on the mutual love of horses. If you are the ‘crazy horse girl,’ there is never a shortage of non-horse people who have an interest, so sharing my passion with others has led to great friendships in my life!” Solene Lesegratain from Someday Stables said, “Friendships made from horse riding are practically free from drama and because most people ride as a de-stressor it’s a very layer back environment.” This sport allows you to forget everything else going on in your life, once you are on the horse that is all you are thinking about. Riding and interacting with a horse is so freeing and therapeutic, I would recommend it to anyone who is financially stable and wants a relaxing yet structuring hobby. According to The Bond Between Horse & Rider , “Horses are quite intelligent creatures and they can pick up on a lot of the non-verbal cues that humans give, allowing them to understand your mood and emotions. Your horse knows when you are nervous and when you are calm. He knows when you are feeling sad or when you are happy or confident.” This goes to show that horses can really read our moods, so if we are understanding and happy, they will be more forgiving of our mistakes.

Relationships with Trainers

Trainer-rider relationships are very special. I have been close to both of my trainers and it has helped me improve as a rider and a person. It is hard to not be close to a trainer when you spend as much time with them as people normally do. You have 8+ hour show days on the weekends, three 1 hour lessons a week and whenever else you are at the barn. Trainers can be harsh and rude, but it is just because they are being honest and trying to help you improve. It is common to have falling outs with your trainer(s), but it almost always goes back to normal by the end of your lesson or the next time you see them. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the equestrian field then becoming close with your trainer is a must. A lot of trainers need extra help around the barn, whether it be feeding the horses to riding them. This can help make you a stronger rider, you learn more when you ride more horses. Tagging along with them to horse shows and being apart of their inner circle might take some time, but it will help you network and meet new trainers and riders. Once you get really good and have enough money, you can start your own barn and recruit people who you know from their inner circle to ride with you.

Networking

If you don’t want to pursue riding as a job, there are other options for networking. You meet a lot of people throughout your time as an equestrian. You usually spend the most time with the people at your barn, especially parents. If you are with a good and strong barn, you can find parents that are involved and form relationships with them. The moms at my barn are strong, successful and independent women. At any barn, you can find parents who have a job in any field that can help you out with your future. I know a mother who is very high up in a marketing firm who will be able to help me out with a job once I graduate.

Overall

There are a lot of pros that come along with horseback riding. You can come out of it with lifelong friends and connections that never really fade. You share a connection with these people and spend so much time with them, it is hard to really ever say goodbye. The friendships and relationships I have formed will be with me forever and I can not thank the sport enough for giving me the life I have right now. Tune in next week to read my article about the injuries I have had from riding and how horseback riding has made me the person I am today!

August 28, 2019 0

Trot, Canter, Wealth and Power

My opinion on the industry

I have always had an underlying issue with horseback riding, no matter how much I love it. The second barn I rode at, we rode horses who were way cheaper than most and did a lot of local shows. I was unaware of the wealth and the world that was out there until I moved to the barn I am currently at. I realized how wealthy one had to be to even be competitive in the show circle. You have to be ready to drop a good chunk of money if you ever want to be competitive or move up into these highly competitive classes.

Wealth in the higher levels

The higher levels of show jumping actually allow you to win millions of dollars in prize money and fame, but you have to spend so much money to even get to that point and the chance of you winning is so slight. According to Business Insider, Equestrian jumping has long been associated with royalty. Really only the wealthiest families can afford to participate in this sport, especially at such competitive levels. Good horses can cost anything from mid-five figures to high six figures.

Issues that arise from this wealth

There are many issues that come from having this much money in the sport. A lot of kids just get thee nice horses handed to them, without having to do anything in return. They don’t have to take care of these animals so they don’t have the connection that most people have with their animals. This causes a disconnect between the animal and the rider. Most of the time, they aren’t the best riders, their horses are just trained and know what to do so they don’t have to put in much work. This is where the privilege comes in and how I said in my previous article the rich keep getting richer. A lot of these young riders don’t need the extra money they are winning as much a someone who doesn’t come from a family of wealth.

History of the relation of wealth and horseback riding

The first 1% were the first people to ride horses so long ago. According to Slate, horse domestication happened before written history, dating back to the Bronze Age. “Modern horses have as many as 77 ancestral mothers.” The wealthiest people have always had access to horses and that has stayed the same, both signifying wealth.

Overall

There is a lot of wealth in the horse world, you can go to any horse show and know who the wealthiest people are by looking at them. I have been talking about the negatives and why the horse world has so many problems, but there are many positives. Tune in next week to see my article on why I am so passionate about the sport! I will be talking about all of the friendship and relationships I have formed. I have met people who I consider family and have become a better person from it.

August 22, 2019 0

Here are 7 Pros and Cons to the Horseback Riding Industry

Horseback riding is rarely talked about outside of the equestrian world. Most people don’t believe it is a sport, but it is a very intense sport that you have to dedicate a lot of time and energy into. There are a lot of issues within the horse world and it is a very privileged sport, but here are my seven pros and cons of horseback riding as a sport. First the pros:

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August 16, 2019 0