Riding Isn't Everything, Did Ya Know?

The Grown Up Saddle Club!

Back when I first started at my current stable, I thought riding was everything. I wanted to perfect the trot, rock the canter, and just spend my lesson hours in the saddle. When I first started riding Pepper and had to take things slowly (most lessons spent just practicing walk and stop), I wasn't a fan. And while barn lessons were interesting, there were definitely days when I wasn't exactly thrilled about missing riding due to rain.

Now, while I do enjoy riding and snatching snippets of trot when Pepper puts her mind to it, I have just as much (if not more) "fun" on the ground. If you've read my other blog posts, you know that I'm learning about groundwork and connection and really enjoying it. But today was another step towards true horsemanship and it was amazing - not just because of the horse aspect either but also because of the community aspect.

See, it was raining today. Like cats and dogs raining. I was scheduled to do a round pen session with Pepper before my actual lesson because I was curious to see what (if any) effect that would have on our lesson. But when I got to the barn and it was monsooning, I got to do groundwork in the barn aisles with Pepper instead. Did you know you can get a horse to turn on the forehand from the ground? I didn't until today and I'm not gonna lie - I got giddy when Pepper turned on her forehand and kept her front hooves in the same spot! How cool! 

The real incredible, wonderful moment today, though, came from my lesson hour. Three other women have their lesson at the same time as mine and so we had a barn lesson today. We sat and we talked.

That's it. 

Just talked. 

No horses in the lesson. Just some barn kittens. 

No riding. No lunging, no groundwork, nothing.

And it was amazing. It was profound. It was connecting with people through horses (and I'm totally here for that). Not only did I learn more about horse posture and how school horses compartmentalize but I also built community with my instructor and the other three ladies. We talked about our social anxiety (well, I did) and how the barn has helped us (ok, me, I won't put words in other people's mouths) with anxiety. We talked about how cute Chris Hemsworth is (okay, that was me too but I swear the others agreed) and how he was right in the movie 12 Strong when he said the horse moves where you look. 

One of the ladies talked about how she asks the horse she works with if she can ride him and they have such a bond that he answers and she understands. They communicate. How crazy awesome is that? Another lady talked about being assertive and confident at work and with her dogs but not at the barn (although after hearing her trail ride story, I'm immensely impressed she even rides!! Kudos to her!) and my instructor gave some tips for that.

Bottom line? It was wonderful. There was no riding. There was no grooming, no tacking up, nothing. Which don't get me wrong, I missed that but I'd also spent an hour with Pepper before my lesson so I still got my horse time. ;) Some people would have said that the lesson was a waste of $50. Some people wouldn't even have come out if they knew they wouldn't have been riding. Heck, I was that way 6 months ago. 

Now, though? Now, I can appreciate the beauty and wonderfulness that can be found in just communicating with my fellow riders and enjoying the community that is built at my barn. Riding is wonderful and learning about horses is amazing but the community? The people? 

That's priceless.