I met my husband the old fashioned way–in a bar, before the Internet was a thing. At some point he said he could ride. I was leery the first time we went out on horses together, before we were married. It was in Mammoth, CA, and it was the first time the horses had been out since winter. They let just the two of us go out, which is unheard of today at rental places. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised–this guy could ride! Neither of us have ever been more than adequate riders, with little formal instruction, but he had a decent seat and didn’t hang on the horse’s mouth.
He ended up taking care of our horses many, many years later. The horses loved him. Of course, he was the guy who fed them, so they would love him. But I also think they loved him for himself. He’s always had a way with animals, and that makes me very happy. He meets them where they are and doesn’t try to force them into his idea of what they should be. In return, they would do anything for him.
Rebecca