9/16/14

Blog Hop | Why The Heck Did You Start Riding?

I'm pretty sure this blog hop originated at Boots and Saddles, but I could be wrong so don't quote me. I'm seen it making it's rounds on the blogo-sphere and thought it would be a fun hop. I don't really have a set answer for this question. I've been asked it a lot, but I don't think my answer is quite like a lot of other bloggers or my other riding friends.

I started riding because I got a horse.

Maybe that's not the best way to do it, but it worked for me. We're not a very strict horse family. We don't compete and we really don't have a desire to, at least not yet for me. I've taken one lesson and that went downhill so fast it'd make your head spin. But, we make sure we get good horses that fit the rider well, so I wasn't in any danger (well, any horse is dangerous blah blah blah but y'all know what I mean) when I got on Red for the first, second, hundreth time, even though I had ridden twice before.

Riding is a perk to owning a horse, but it's something I could live without.

Being with horses, however..I couldn't live without them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very passionate with riding. Riding gives me a wonderful escape that I need a lot of the time. When I dreamt of horses when I was younger, I dreamed of riding with my hair in the wind and galloping around. But most of all, I just wanted a horse.

All of you guys know my story of how I got Red (hopefully) so you will all know that I didn't get Red in the typical way. I didn't buy him off of some fancy website or Craigslist or whatever. I didn't ride other horses when I was "in the market" for one because I was never technically in the market. We had a place for him, yes. We could afford him, yes. But we weren't planning on buying a horse for multiple reasons, something that killed my little horsey loving heart. I had just quit playing basketball and basically had no other hobby and I needed something.

Who couldn't love this looker I mean come on.

Of course, it ended up working out and I got Red in September of 2012. When I first got him, riding wasn't even on my to-do list. Was I excited to be back on a horse? Duh. But if I had of been told that he had some kind of disease preventing me from riding him, I wouldn't have loved him any less than I do now. I love riding. Riding is a huge part of me and I can't imagine going without it, but I would. I started riding because I got a sound horse that could be ridden and enjoyed it. I didn't start to compete and win ribbons or buckles. I didn't start because riding is my top priority. I love my horse and I love riding him. Even with all of his stubborness sometimes and his rough gaits, Red is my favorite horse to ride. And as long as my butt is working properly, I'm sure I'll always find a saddle to sit on.

But the most important thing to me is the horses, not the riding. :)

4 comments:

  1. Yep I started the hop over at boots and saddles :). Thanks for participating, ive never visited before! (Which is my favorite part of these things -finding new blogs)

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    1. I love blog-hops for the same reason! So cool getting to find new blogs!

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  2. Hi! Just added you to my feedly :) I totally agree that one of the best parts of having horses is just BEING around them! I couldn't live without it either! My first horses was mini, so riding wasn't really an option, but I just loved (and still do love) spending time with her

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    1. Thanks for the follow! :)

      My first horse was a mini as well. We rescued her and trained her. I loved her to death!

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