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The Value of Riding Lessons The warm weather is rapidly approaching. We are all eager to ride without our fingers and toes freezing and to enjoy grooming our horses in the longer hours of daylight. Recently, I have read several articles which comment on teaching our youngsters and equine enthusiasts good sportsmanship in addition to keeping their heels down, back straight, and hands soft during a riding lesson. Learning to ride is certainly a journey and the lessons our young riders provide to us is equally important. Keeping a positive attitude and approach toward disappointments is something young riders can mirror back to us. Certainly the young competitor is less stressed when their mentors also have fun at competitions and accept the result when doing the best possible in a class. Young riders are not usually as vocal as we are nor as disappointed as we can be if we are focusing on being at the top or getting the reward or ribbon in the class. Winning is a product of success which is a result of overcoming obstacles. Working hard, targeting improvements and striving to reach goals are the elements which direct you toward success. Having respect for each other, and understanding each person or horse should be encouraged through example. By leading through example we can demonstrate how to take care of our horse’s needs first and foster cooperation by being sensitive to others. Horses offer phenomenal opportunities to develop greater understanding and perception of others because they are honest and directly communicate with us through their body language and reactions. By simply sharing in the responsibility of horsecare, children develop integrity which is a positive character asset. In addition, self-confidence is developed by overcoming obstacles and realizing that you can canter a horse, or you can get the horse to respect your leg. When you realize that you can influence your own life by positive attitudes, success and confidence move you forward. By achieving these positive traits we then possess the capability to give back to our horses, each other, and our community. As the 4H would say: “to make the best better.”
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