| My life is blessed. I have owned horses and been | | | | with horses. We tend to transfer our ways of |
| horse riding since I was a young girl. I can't imagine life | | | | reasoning and our emotions to the horses. This is the |
| without them. They make me laugh, they give me love, | | | | first great mistake many new horse riders do, and it is |
| and after a hard day at work, there is not a greater | | | | the worst thing a horseman can do. |
| stress relief than saddling up and going for a ride. | | | | Horses are not human. They do not think, see, smell, |
| Together we share a deep bond. | | | | hear, or reason like a human. This is the most important |
| While horses are second nature to me, many people | | | | concept for you to master; For your safety on and off |
| are mystified by horses and horse riding. They are big | | | | the ground, and for the horse's safety. |
| animals that look intimating, and the idea of getting on a | | | | Horse are herd animals. This means that they are |
| horse's back is frightening. To many, horseback riding is | | | | genetically hard-wired to live, think and react as a pack |
| intimidating, or worse, some are fearful of horses. It is | | | | animal. Nature has programed them to react, rather |
| not your fault. You are simply reacting to a lifetime of | | | | than to act. Ever seen a TV show of a herd of |
| what you have seen and been told. | | | | zebras spooked at a predator? It is no different with a |
| The very fundamental basis to mastering horse riding | | | | horse. But this should not deter you learning to horse |
| techniques starts on the ground long before you even | | | | ride. Rather it gives you an understanding that they are |
| think about getting on a horse... It begins with a good | | | | different and you must "think like a horse" to master |
| eduction about the horses mind and how they think. | | | | horse riding techniques. After that, the learning curve |
| We all like to humanize our pets, and it is no different | | | | comes easy. |