I know it is slightly cliche, (okay really cliche)but I had to share. :]
We had to write about a challenge in our lives that we either faced or ran away from and the repercussions of those actions.
• • •
Throughout my life horses have been that constant. No matter what was going on or where I was going there would always be horses. I could be in the middle of a jungle or in the outskirts of a desert for all I cared. As long as I had horses, I knew I would be okay. Throughout the ages horses have been there for man. Whether as a beast of burden or as a friend, they were always there. As a little girl I knew that horses were not like playing dolls or dress up. Horses were something that would endure the test of time, and follow me throughout my lifetime-at least I thought so.
Perhaps I had selfish and inconceivable goals. After riding consistently since I was four, at age eight it got to be too much. The barn was three hours away, I no longer felt safe on the horses I was riding, and I was getting frustrated because I felt that I was not improving as a rider. I began to dread going out to the barn, and that little girl who would rather muck a horse’s stall than her own room began to disappear. I had had my fair share of scary experiences before, but had always been able to brush them off. Now each little thing shook me. I knew that horseback riding was a special sport. It is something that requires a connection between two beings. It requires a whole new level of respect and true understanding. It was hard, especially being so young, to work so hard at something and feel like at the end of the day you were in the exact same place as when you started. Eventually it seemed that I had moved on, and I stopped riding.
Years went by and then one day I knew I wanted to get back in to riding. I realized that riding was something that was so unique, and so special, that I simply could not get away from it. I recognized that dull ache in my heart for something I did not have- a horse. My parents were very supportive as I called different barns nearby to see if I could schedule a lesson. Within a week I was back on a horse. It was astounding how different my views were. It was difficult to get back on that horse, and as I did, all of the years of frustration and tears flashed before my eyes. However, more than that, I saw something that I had not seen when I was younger. I saw all of the joy, memories, and bonds I had created with these magnificent creatures.
What most people never realize is all of the lessons that horses can teach you. Horses are that other part of me. They are as necessary to my being as food and a place to sleep. They are the very essence of my being. Horses have taught me so many life lessons that I do not believe can ever be learned from a book. They taught me that determination is the best remedy for success, and that nothing in life comes easy. They have taught me that in order to make your way in the world, you must first believe in yourself. They taught me to live without regrets, and to live each moment like it was my last. Perhaps most important of all, they taught me to never lose sight of the little girl who had dreams and aspirations for the future. I was not forced to take the challenge of riding. However, I realized after far too long that every frustrated sigh, tear shed, bone broken, heart torn, and friendship tested was well worth it in the end.
We had to write about a challenge in our lives that we either faced or ran away from and the repercussions of those actions.
• • •
Throughout my life horses have been that constant. No matter what was going on or where I was going there would always be horses. I could be in the middle of a jungle or in the outskirts of a desert for all I cared. As long as I had horses, I knew I would be okay. Throughout the ages horses have been there for man. Whether as a beast of burden or as a friend, they were always there. As a little girl I knew that horses were not like playing dolls or dress up. Horses were something that would endure the test of time, and follow me throughout my lifetime-at least I thought so.
Perhaps I had selfish and inconceivable goals. After riding consistently since I was four, at age eight it got to be too much. The barn was three hours away, I no longer felt safe on the horses I was riding, and I was getting frustrated because I felt that I was not improving as a rider. I began to dread going out to the barn, and that little girl who would rather muck a horse’s stall than her own room began to disappear. I had had my fair share of scary experiences before, but had always been able to brush them off. Now each little thing shook me. I knew that horseback riding was a special sport. It is something that requires a connection between two beings. It requires a whole new level of respect and true understanding. It was hard, especially being so young, to work so hard at something and feel like at the end of the day you were in the exact same place as when you started. Eventually it seemed that I had moved on, and I stopped riding.
Years went by and then one day I knew I wanted to get back in to riding. I realized that riding was something that was so unique, and so special, that I simply could not get away from it. I recognized that dull ache in my heart for something I did not have- a horse. My parents were very supportive as I called different barns nearby to see if I could schedule a lesson. Within a week I was back on a horse. It was astounding how different my views were. It was difficult to get back on that horse, and as I did, all of the years of frustration and tears flashed before my eyes. However, more than that, I saw something that I had not seen when I was younger. I saw all of the joy, memories, and bonds I had created with these magnificent creatures.
What most people never realize is all of the lessons that horses can teach you. Horses are that other part of me. They are as necessary to my being as food and a place to sleep. They are the very essence of my being. Horses have taught me so many life lessons that I do not believe can ever be learned from a book. They taught me that determination is the best remedy for success, and that nothing in life comes easy. They have taught me that in order to make your way in the world, you must first believe in yourself. They taught me to live without regrets, and to live each moment like it was my last. Perhaps most important of all, they taught me to never lose sight of the little girl who had dreams and aspirations for the future. I was not forced to take the challenge of riding. However, I realized after far too long that every frustrated sigh, tear shed, bone broken, heart torn, and friendship tested was well worth it in the end.
