Welcome to the HorseDrivenSite
A friend recently sent me a video of a 101 year old cowgirl. I felt inspired and had a sense of belonging to a sisterhood of women whose love of horses had carried them through so many of life's challenges. These are women who have been comforted during losses of loved ones, changes in health, the stresses and strains of everyday living. When they are riding or are working with their horses, the rest of the world slips away, because to be with a horse one must attend only to the horse. After all, here is at least 1000 lbs. of strength, beauty, generosity, enthusiasm, and forgiveness with a mind of its own. Our horses reflect who we are at any given moment in time. They are a barometer of the human soul.
This video reminded me of how horse owners love to share stories and suggestions about horses. I plan to talk about what I have learned along the way in my journey with horses. Having always loved horses, I did not become a horse owner until my late midlife crisis at 48 years old. When my youngest daughter asked how I would cope with her going off to college I blurted out, "I'm getting a horse". I assured her it was not an even swap.
Since I fall into the category of a "mature" rider" (code for being a grandma), I hope to speak from this unique perspective as well. I had thought that my manure shoveling, hay loading, hoof picking, riding days were over because of back problems. After two separate visits to the Cleveland Clinic Spine Center and two separate rounds of physical therapy, I can finally say that I know how to care for my back. My past attitude had been that there was no furniture too heavy to move. I've hung up my Superwoman cape I've learned to be realistic about my capabilities.
The back problem journey led me to sell a horse, change to my "orthopedic" gaited horse. Life is good when you don't hurt. My gaited saddle allows me to ride on trail for several hours without craving a bucket load of Advil.
Before I figured all of this out, I was planning another strategy which was to switch to driving. My family and I were at a local Christmas tree farm tree shopping when I was delighted to meet a local gentleman driving his team of Haflingers for tree shoppers. It was love at first sight, plus he convinced me that I could learn to drive quite readily. Here was my plan B for working with horses into my Golden Oldie years. Months later with my own Haflinger and Meadowbrook cart and some lessons from my neighbor who was also a Haflinger owner, I was off and running. My neighbor generously gave me basic driving lessons and convinced me that if I could drive a team of four horses raking hay, one would be a piece of cake ( the horses took good care of me that day).
Now I have one boot in the riding world and one boot in the driving world. Driving enticed my husband into the horse world. (It was partially due to the great meals Amish families provide when we drive with them). This then eventually led to my husband joining up with trail riders after he realized the fun and the adventure that he was missing. As an athletic guy, he was surprised at the strength and the stamina it takes to trail ride .
Whether you are a rider or a driver, we all have the horse bug in common. Let's compare notes, save time and money, energy and brain cells together.
Happy Trails, Kathy
P.S. Both of my horses are barefoot as well. Would love to hear about your experiences.