Risky But Worth It

As I was waiting for a school program, I got talking to a friend and the topic got around to the kids and how busy they were. When I mentioned that my kids ride horses, she said, her daughter has always wanted to learn to ride one.

I told her she should look into it lessons for her daughter. She said, "I told my husband if we could afford it, we should get a horse, but he said it's too risky."

The cost, sure, I could relate to. It is an expensive hobby, owning horses.

As for risk. Sure, there's risk. Three years ago, my daughter, who was ten, got bucked off by her young horse and she had extensive nerve damage. And the other day, I was talking to a woman who was selling off their horses because she "did a Christopher Reeve" and broke her back and neck getting bucked off a horse.

But my daughter is fine today, and probably a stronger person for her experience. She got right back on the saddle when she could and has never looked back. She has learned how to stay on a horse. She has always worn a helmet and we stress safety on a horse all the time. Sometimes, riding a horse that decides to buck can be an adventure.

And what a rush of an adventure it has been.

Kids break bones from jumping off trampolines; heck, even just walking down a curb. To miss out on the joys of riding horses because of the possibility of injury is missing out on a great experience.

Thanks to horses, our family has become closer, we spend a lot more time outdoors, our kids have learned responsibility and have grown in confidence. I have grown as a person and as a mother as I have ridden horses and as I support my kids in 4-H.

I know not everyone has the opportunity to have horses, and I am grateful to have this. But best of all, I am grateful we can let our horse-crazy children live their dream now.