The barn is my happy place, and I am able to fill my figurative cup just by being there. I would rather spend my day at the hot (or freezing), dirty, smelly barn, mucking out stalls, cleaning water buckets.
I have been told over the years, by non-riders, that riding is “easy” and that “you just sit there,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The best attributes of all sports can be gained on the back of a horse: strength, balance, coordination, flexibility. mental toughness, endurance, cardiovascular fitness, a clear mind, and trust.
These benefits align with what I feel on a horse, too. I get so much more out of riding for an hour than I do at the gym, both physically and mentally.
I feel this in my bones when I ride my horse. When I’m riding, I feel truly free and truly my own. I get lost in my thoughts while cleaning out a stall.