This week marked three years since I returned to riding. How did I know? Facebook reminded me of the milestone. Despite the passage of time, it feels like just yesterday when a friend suggested I visit her at the barn. Back then, I was balancing the care of my grandmother in a nursing home and managing her estate, working a full-time job, and trying to launch my own business. Returning to riding wasn’t on my radar. However, after one brief visit to the barn, which resulted in me hopping on a horse, I was officially bitten by the equestrian bug—again.
From that moment on, I began riding for the barn owner, helping exercise sale horses as needed. I was grateful for every opportunity to get back in the saddle. Although riding different horses each time wasn’t part of my initial plan, it helped me quickly regain my confidence. Eventually, a boarder asked if I would ride her two horses in her absence, and just like that, I was officially a horse girl.
However, my return wasn’t without challenges. I could write an entire blog post about the recovery time between my rides, which felt much longer and more intense, given that I was now in my thirties. Then there was the question of what to wear to the barn these days, prompting a trip to my local tack store and significant damage to my credit card. And, of course, there was my first fall—what we like to call an unplanned dismount—that occurred in November 2024, which shook my confidence.
Despite these challenges, my return to the riding ring as an adult has come with many rewards, primarily in the form of the equestrian community. Barns can be full of drama, which can detract from the experience. However, this quaint little oasis, located about an hour from my home, has been my slice of heaven. Throughout the challenges of losing my grandmother, launching my business, and becoming an entrepreneur, the connections I’ve made through riding have been a lifeline.
The true highlight for me has been riding the goofiest chestnut horse I could have ever asked for—think Clifford the Big Red Dog kind of energy, and you’ll understand his personality. He seems blissfully unaware of his size, acting as if his spirit animal is a Golden Retriever. Honestly, if he could find a way to sit in my lap, he would. In equestrian terms, his behavior can range from being as laid back as they come to more spooky than you’d like, making it hard to predict how quickly his mood can shift. Despite it all, he is the most loyal and lovable creature you could ever spend time with, and I am incredibly grateful to his owner for sharing him with me. I had my first lesson with him in the summer of 2024, which was a jumping lesson—something I hadn’t done in years. He was a total saint, steady as could be, almost as if he knew he needed to take special care of me. Horses like him are rare, and we cherish them.
Finding my way back to the barn after all those years felt as natural as a toddler taking their first step. Despite the equestrian world changing during my absence, one thing remained the same: my passion for the sport. The best part for me will always be spending time with horses. Whether I’m grooming, grazing, or riding, my excitement level never wavers.
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