Sweat dripping down my face, dirt on my jeans with the wind blowing in my hair is what I love the most. Horseback riding is a very magical experience.

When I’m on my horse I feel so connected with him that it’s unbelievable—changing my breathing just so it matches up with his. Reading his body movements like they are my own.

At first I was very afraid of horses, but with one of the most important people in my life, my grandfather, encouraging me to do my best, I got over that fear pretty quickly.

I’ve always wanted to be like my grandfather, ever since I was little. He was and still is the one I look up to. Talking about horses is something my grandfather and I now have in common; before I never really knew what to talk about with him, but horses are now a bond we share.

While learning, there were times that I just wanted to cry and give up, but I knew that my grandfather would not let me. Riding horses and having my grandfather teach me honestly made me a better person. Never giving up is something my grandfather always taught me.

There’s a lot more to riding than just physically riding. Putting my whole entire life into the “hands” of a 1,200 pound animal is honestly nerve wracking. You have to have a lot of trust in the horse you’re riding otherwise you’re going to be nervous. Horses feed off of your negative energy, which means you have a better chance of getting hurt if you’re nervous, so you should just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. You must also take care of your horse. This is my favorite part of the whole horse experience because this is where I bond with my horse. The horse depends on me to feed him and take care of him. If I treat him well, he will return the favor.  He will give me many years of sweat dripping down my face, dirt on my jeans with the wind blowing in my hair.