I started to write about riding horses if you really want to ride horses. Don't let anything stop you. I was going to give a pep talk on making it happen. But then I realized, the loss of confidence can turn into feeling like riding would be a chore, at least it did for me. So I changed course and decided to write about how to have fun riding again. I have had so much fun and thinking about it, helps me want to get on and ride!
First of all, riding a horse, is all about the connection to your very best friend. It is like going to the mall and shopping with your bestie, only riding a horse takes that connection one step further to actually feeling the rhythm between the two of you physically. Hearts connected and bodies connected. That feeling of pure joy as the two of you see the sights together.
With that in mind, riding can be fun for both of you. I spent most of my hours riding as a kid, riding trails and playing, almost no time in an arena. We would race each other and even race motorcycles. We would jump over anything and everything that we could find. I think my favorite was playing tag in the heat of summer. We would swim in the ponds and if our horses touched the ground, we were out and had to sit out in the heat until everyone was out. We would do this for 8 or 9 hours. I think back now to our poor horses swimming for hours but I think they enjoyed not being in the 100 degree heat.
As an adult, I love to play "I Spy", "Red Rover", and tag (having the horse touch all kinds of stuff while I am riding). I also love a good jumper competition but the arena work can feel too much like work! What are two or three things you can do to make riding more fun for you? Think about them, picture them, get excited about having that fun on your horse again. It will help overcome the confidence issues as you bring joy into your thoughts of riding, more and more.
Picture what that fun will look like. Develop that picture and share that picture with your horse. The more you can imagine that fun, the better you will feel about riding.
Why is horseback riding fun? I would love to hear the number one thing you would enjoy having fun with your horse! Whether it is riding or not riding, not everyone wants to ride.
If you enjoyed this and would like to see some fun ways to ground play with your horse, you can get my guide, 5 Fabulous Ground Play Challenges here!
