Patience is crucial in the barn, regardless of whether it is in the wash rack or the saddle. One of the most important lessons that I have learned in my years of riding is that horses may be inclined to do what we ask, but they are not machines, they will not always be cooperative. Horses have bad days as well, there are days where they can not understand what …show more content…
After I tore my ACL, I had to earn back my strength before getting back to normal riding. I implored my trainer to let me ride a couple of her docile school ponies, luckily she was kind enough to allow me and I got back to myself in a few weeks. Nothing can squeeze the arrogance out of an experienced rider quite like posting on the wrong diagonal on a horse that teaches 7 year olds how to trot. At Medal Finals last year, I heard my horse lose a shoe mid-course. Given that he has hoof issues with special shoes, I made a split second decision to come to a halt and hop off to grab the shoe before I forgot where he lost it. I slid to the ground, timer still running, and hopped around idiotically on one leg pointing to my foot to try to convey the shoe was gone. Nobody understood and I looked hysterical. I know I did what was best for my horse, but being mocked for doing the chicken dance on course enforced a new sense of modesty that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Horses have taken away my bombastic sense of self pride, and through the many trials and tribulations, they have taught me to be able to laugh at