what made you start riding horses?

Hey :) Well, I lived in London, always busy and there never seemed time to actually think about horses. But I always had one dream: to ride... Originally, I was from a village in Poland, so there were always horses around and I would sometimes get on and ride them, but that happened maybe once or twice a year? But then we moved to London due to money problems in Poland and so I never rode!! For the next 10 years, I never rode a horse, yet I would go to my room and watch videos of riding lessons, horses and anything really that would have something to do with horses :) One day, I found out we were moving house with my family, moving house, moving to a village outside London. I was the happiest girl on the planet as I knew that there were definitely horses in the countryside. There was one thing I didn't know though, and that one thing changed my whole life... When we went to visit the house (my first time seeing it) I went to the garden and then I saw a livery yard right next to our house. There were stables right next to the house and then fields full of horses next to our garden. I was so amazed; I would see horses so often now, for the past ten years, the only time I saw those wonderful creatures was when we were on the motorway, and my dad would say, 'Look! There's horses in the fields over there!' and I would be so happy to see them. After about 2 months after we moved in, I started riding lessons on a horse called Catrin, she was such a nice horse to ride. Then one day, I rode on a horse called Pip, then Forrest, then Henry, and then Bertie. I was riding for about 3 months, when I fell off for the first time. I still couldn't canter, but Bertie bolted and I just fell off in a field. I then lost all my confidence and started riding on Catrin again. Then one lesson, my riding teacher, Lisa, said to me we were going to ride a horse called Echo. I was so nervous... I kept asking everyone what Echo was like, and if she was like Bertie, but everyone said I would love her and that all beginners do as she is the most laziest horse ever. So I thought: I will ride Echo, she is a beautiful horse, I WILL ride her. And so I did, and I fell in love with her straight away. I took me about 3 circuits around the school to get her to trot. I felt so safe on her though; I knew she wouldn't bolt and act like Bertie did. And so I started riding her every time I had a lesson which was three times a week, and then one day I was told she would be my share horse. I was so happy; a horse to care for and be responsible for- my dream... So, look at my profile picture, it's me and Echo. She is the most adorable horse ever. And the best thing I love about her: she is soo lazy.

So that's my story, and I'm sure it'll become even longer in some time. I love Echo, just like you love your horse, Dixie :) Don't you think the bond between you and your horse is just unbreakable? :)

Even when I was young, I knew there was something inside of me that yearned to ride. I never mentioned it to my parents, who knows why (although I see it as a blessing that I didn't get involved until later, more on that in a bit). I could feel the movement of a lope, the cadence of a smooth turnaround, the rhythm of a jog, before I had ever even ridden. It was meant for me, and I for it.

The reason I say that I'm glad I didn't get involved in horses until I was older, 13 to be exact, was because I feel that had I started riding at 5 years old, I wouldn't have been able to understand horsemanship that way I do today. I wouldn't have such an appreciation for the communication of horses and I would have simply accepted whatever was told to me because I wouldn't know any better. But getting involved later allowed me to explore and learn on my own quite a bit, develop my own horsemanship and learn to ride consciously, understanding the reasons for what I do past "My trainer told me so". I was at a questioning age, I still am and hope to always be, and I believe that that gave me such a huge advantage that I wouldn't change anything.

When I was 2 my dad took me to feed a horse a carrot and apparently I missed his mouth and the carrot went in the horses nose XD And I use to get down on my feet and hands and 'gallop' around the house rearing up and neighing lol. But ive always loved horses, I remember watching 'Black Beauty' "The Black Stallion' and 'Spirit' and spirit is still my favorite movie and im 15! I remember my room being done in horses. Also there's this restaurant 'Texas Road House' and it has saddles inside, so when I was little I would cry until my parents let me sit on them lol. so ive always been interested in horses:) There was no other choice for me then to start riding it was just common sense:)

I've always had a passion for animals, horses escpecially. Every animal I've came across sucked up to me.

I once went on a trail ride on one of our family trips over the summer a few years back. I rode a pretty white horse on a mountain trail ride. I loved her so much!

Then I went to horse camp! I loved my horse! He liked me, too! That increased my passion for riding even more.

I've wanted to ride since I knew what a horse was. But, my parents were poor and couldn't even afford to get me lessons. As soon as I was able to get a job, I started lessons. Few years later I got my horse.

I think I was born loving horses. Started riding rental horses on vacations, then my friends ponies, rented horses locally, leased horses, then got my first horse at 13.

I'm 13 years old and love horses and my role model was my boss she is really nice and I've always wanted to ride horses and know I know so much but I never got a horse yet:(