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So, you want to know about horses?

© Renee Landkamer

So, you want to know all about horses? I don't know all there is to know about horses, or even all the simple stuff. But I can tell you what I do know. I think I should start this topic where I began, finding out where someone who doesn't have a horse can learn to ride.

I wanted to learn about horses, so I read all the books I could find. I wanted to know more. Going by my mothers advice, I was going to learn to ride by actually riding. I called the local University Extension office to find out about 4-H. There was a club in our town that was based around horses. I contacted the club leader to find out when the next meeting was, and joined the club. A few months later, we had the first trail ride. It might have helped if the person had said that the horse I got didn't respond to a certain type of reining, which happened to be the only type I knew. I learned my first lesson in riding: always ask if the horse responds to the type of reining you know. I could have been hurt, had this person not realized she had left out this valuable piece of information.

About a week before this trail ride, my mom called from work saying that one of her co-workers, Phyllis, was wondering if I'd like to come ride out at her place that weekend. No doubt, I said, "Yes!" I went out there that Saturday with my mom and had an excellent time. I've been going out there about every other week ever since.

Between trips to Phyllis', there were 4-H trail rides. I went to one, and the group leader had an extra horse. She clipped the lead rope onto one horse's halter, and put a bridle onto the horse she was going to be riding. We both got on a horse, and she took my horse's lead rope and told me she was going to be "ponying" us. (I found out that ponying is leading one horse while on another.) We started on the trail ride. A minute or two later, I heard her say that this horse had never been ponied before. I felt like I was going to be sick. Here was an experienced rider leading an Arabian, which are known for unpredictability, with a beginning rider on it, and the horse has no idea what she's doing?!? I thought, "Oh well. I can deal with this." I went home