Call me crabby (I am), but I am SO TIRED of people asking me to take them trail riding or to come ride my horses. First lets break this request down into 3 categories.
#1 - Please take me trail riding. I don’t know how to ride but I’ve always wanted to gallop a horse through the woods. You have two so you can ride with friends - it’s not like you can ride two at once- why can’t you take me?
#2 - My kids are just CRAZY about horses. Would it really hurt to just “pop” them on when you’re at the barn next? I know you’re there a lot and it would really mean the world to them.
#3 - I have horses and know how to ride. But I can’t ride them because (insert excuse for shite behavior here) and I need confidence. You have two horses anyways can I please ride yours?
Backstory here. Yes I have 2 horses.
I am very active on social media with my horsey adventures. Most of my riding is riding out, riding on crazy terrain, mounted views from mountain lookouts, crossing rivers, swimming, galloping on river beaches. Sometimes it’s bareback riding, sometimes even bridleless. With the odd show or XC clinic sprinkled in for reminding myself to be civilized.
One of the highlight posts I made this year was a picture, where I was riding my horse into a big crystal clear river from the white sand beach, bareback, wearing nothing but my birthday suit. Photo was from the side rear, couldn’t see anything offensive except my long hair and a bum cheek… and some very loud tan lines LOL. And yes, I swam my horse down the river like that. Experience of a lifetime. And a serious social media reaction!
People see this and they want to do it too. They assume that my horses are dead broke, safe, and that just anyone can hop on and do this.
Not the case. My horses are actually quite hot , because I DO ride like a maniac across varied terrain, down hills, and over downfall. They want to move out. If you put your leg on them you will absolutely get a reaction because they don’t ask questions - they just DO IT. Quickly if you’ll allow it. And they expect a confident and capable rider to be up top to guide them. Also they are both mares - 'nuff said. No, they are not beginner friendly.
I do not keep two horses so that other people can ride with me. My horses are my PERSONAL JOURNEY in life. The social media posts are me sharing that journey, in the hope that it can encourage others to do the same. On their own dime. With their own hard work.
I immerse myself deeply into equestrianism and successfully keep 2 horses going due to the extreme amount of time and work invested.
And last but not least: my horses were not purchased this way. They either came unbroke, or were purchased off the racetrack. It took a lot of training, experience, time, and risk to create these animals. So I do not want people riding them who have allowed their own horses to become unsafe, unruly and unrideable to come sit on mine.
The problem is YOU!! Go get lessons! Get a trainer!
And at the end of the day this all bothers me because I’m a people pleaser. I do not like saying no! It makes me feel very guilty and very pressured. Which in turn makes me cranky.
And I don’t know how to explain these concepts to people who don’t understand. Or that will be offended by my explanation.
How do you guys deal with it?
I just laughed it off and kept moving. No strange lady who I’ve never met or seen before in my life, you are not going to invite yourself to ride my horses.