Horses are phenomenal teachers. From our very first ride to our very last, every time we swing our leg over that saddle they have something to tell us. Before we even get ON, they teach us so much by simply being around them. At first, you may think all you’re learning are skills related to horses, but the truth is, the scope of insight you learn from a horse goes far beyond the saddle and barn. I don’t take lightly how much the responsibility of owning/riding/showing/caring for horses has impacted my life and made me a better person- Inside the stable and out in everyday life. I’ve heard many great horsemen and women refer to horses as mirrors to our souls: they reflect what we put in. We would be wise to appreciate and take to heart all the wisdom we gain from having these incredible creatures in our lives. My list grows continually and I couldn’t write them all, but here are just a few of the innumerable things my horses have taught me:

  1. Sunshine and fresh air are good for the soul!
  2. The only way you can forgive is to let go of the past
  3. Appearances don’t matter but intentions do
  4. Sometimes you just have to have a good buck, snort, and roll!
  5. Hard work IS rewarded….even if it seems to take a long time
  6. Work ethic is important!
  7. Satisfaction comes from a job well done, not the recognition you receive for it
  8. Sometimes you have to be flexible!
  9. If you say you’re going to do something, you better do it
  10. Giving up is not an option
  11. Think less, feel more
  12. Happiness is a choice- be content and thankful
  13. Don’t expect the world before you’ve laid the foundation
  14. Getting kicked isn’t the end of the world
  15. We all hit the ground at some point, might as well have fun doing it!
  16. Helmets are good. There’s no shame in them!
  17. Be the different one
  18. Appreciate when things are easy but don’t worry when they’re hard
  19. Move. Forward.
  20. What you think might be the end of the world… it ISN’T
  21. Patience IS a virtue
  22. “Slow and steady” gets you farther than “hard and fast”
  23. Don’t be afraid to get dirty
  24. It isn’t just about you
  25. If you can navigate a horse show warm up ring, you can do anything!
  26. Have compassion
  27. Don’t think too much
  28. If there’s something blocking your path, hang on tight and find a way over it!
  29. Don’t stress about things you can’t change
  30. Be kind
Shiloh edited

PC: Merrick Miller Photography

See you around the barn,

-Rebekah Bukowski