15/08/2025
🌸What I learned by not riding my horses🌸
For most of my horse life, riding was *the* goal.
If I wasn’t in the saddle, I felt like I wasn’t really doing anything with my horses.
Then Immy came into my life.
She was a bright, gentle mare with a big heart—but due to her physical issues, riding wasn’t an option for her. I knew that our relationship would have to be built entirely on groundwork, connection, and shared time.
Over the years, I had stretches where my other horses were rehabbing from various injuries or physical setbacks. There were (and still are) long periods where none of them were in regular ridden work. At first, it was hard to adjust. I missed it. I worried I’d lose my sense of partnership with them without riding.
But it turned out to be the exact opposite.
Those seasons of not riding taught me more about my horses—and about myself—than I ever could have learned in the saddle.
It's impossible to distill into a Facebook post, but I'll try:
🌻Groundwork is not a consolation prize
What I used to think of as “warm-up before the real work” turned into a language all its own. Liberty work, leading with tiny body cues, obstacle play—suddenly, I saw how much we could accomplish without ever swinging a leg over. My horses started checking in with me more, mirroring me, sharing their own ideas... we began trusting each other in new ways.
🌻I learned how to play
Not just train, not just work—truly play.
A goofy game of follow-the-leader, or Immy's favorite "kill the pool noodle", sometimes just seeing what new object or place they wanted to explore. I started laughing during training - I let go of “getting it right" and found a pure kind of joy I'd never experienced before.
🌻I began to see the depth of their value as individuals
Without the focus on riding, I could slow down and see who they really are.
One is thoughtful and deliberate. One is curious and creative. One quietly watches from the periphery until the moment is right to step in. They each process the world a little differently, learn a little differently, relate to others a little differently, and those differences are beautiful.
🌻Time is the greatest gift
When there’s no rush to “get a ride in,” you find a different kind of connection. Grooming becomes an unhurried ritual. Hand-grazing turns into a shared moment of peace. Sometimes, the best thing we did all day was simply stand together in the pasture and breathe the same air.
I know so many of my clients go through seasons where riding just isn’t possible—whether because of their horse’s health, their own physical limitations, or simply the realities of life.
I'm often the bad guy saying - you need to press pause on riding for a while...
In those moments, it can feel scary, like you’re losing the very thing you love most about horses. I want you to know you’re not losing everything—you’re gaining an opportunity to discover a whole new side of your partnership. There is so much joy, depth, and connection to be found without ever putting a foot in the stirrup.
I still love riding. But I no longer see it as the only way to connect.
Groundwork, play, quiet observation—they’ve given me a deeper relationship with my horses than I ever thought possible. And now, when I do ride, it’s not just about the ride. It’s about the trust we’ve built, the understanding we share, and the partnership we’ve grown—on the ground and in the saddle.
If you’re in one of those seasons right now, hold onto this truth: your bond doesn’t have to pause just because you aren’t riding. In fact, it might just grow stronger than ever before. 🩵🌸
