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!