I don’t remember who I was talking to or where I was, but her statement stuck with me. She said, “You should try riding horses. If you’re not 100 percent in the moment, you’ll risk killing yourself.” Ding ding ding! This is what I needed: a true ultimatum to disconnect.

I was a 32-year-old, career-obsessed woman who could not disconnect from my job. I had been a devoted yogi for 10 years at this point but could no longer savasana without mentally compiling at least four to-do lists in those five minutes.

My search led me to try other outlets as well: running, painting, and all the newest trends, such as mediation, but nothing was cutting off my job. Enter horses.

Getting Started Riding

At the time, my husband and I were spending a lot of time on our Wisconsin farm. A quick Google search pulled up multiple small- to mid-sized barns with riding instructors. Knowing absolutely nothing about the sport or what it entailed, I started my calls with general, somewhat ignorant questions for these instructors, such as:

• How long have you been riding?
• What type of lessons do you offer?
• How much do they cost?
• How many do you recommend before we know if this is something I could actually do?

I settled on a 20-something girl in a neighboring town who focused on barrel racing, a sport I didn’t even know existed before that call. I took five lessons from her in total. First impressions were along the lines of: How can someone post for more than 30 seconds? Will I ever stop bouncing? How in the world do you keep your hands quiet when you need to actually steer?

Those first lessons were brutal for the ego. Previously, I had always excelled at most any sport I took up, but now I had the element of a 1,000-pound, sentient animal to maintain.

First Horse

Very quickly, I learned the only way to get better was to practice, and the easiest way to practice is to get your own horse. I’ve made a lot of mistakes with horses over the years, but none compare to the first horse I bought off Craigslist.

I had absolutely no business picking out a horse for myself to ride after five lessons. The price seemed right, the horse wasn’t “jumpy” or “excitable,” and the current owner said he was used for trail riding. Why wouldn’t this make a great starter horse?

No pre-purchase exam was done because it never even crossed my mind that someone would bamboozle you to offload a horse. I found a boarding facility close to the farm and signed the contract to enlist me and my new steed in training.

It turned out he was calm because he was sick and full of worms; he didn’t eat a lot because his teeth were bad. Once we got him feeling better, his anger due to years of probable poor training and care come down upon me. Now I was too scared to ride my own horse.

Words can’t express my disappointment in my decision making. The only good that came out of this situation was where we ended up for boarding and training: a small, family-owned facility that was exceptionally well-run and the owners beyond friendly.

Their daughter and the trainer took this poor horse and turned him around. In the meantime, she taught me to ride on her lesson horses and occasionally on my own Craigslist mistake.

Pushing Through

Little by little, the bouncing decreased and my ability to post properly increased. I got comfortable at different speeds. While I tried to learn to use my legs, but to this day I still hear my trainers shout, “Use more leg!” I worked on staying off the horse’s mouth and guiding my mount with my body.

This took about a solid six months of weekly lessons, four days a week of saddle time, endless bottles of Advil, and countless massage therapy sessions. It was an incredibly slow but rewarding journey in hindsight. At the time, it was humbling and frustrating.

Around this time, my husband and I moved to Southern California. My Craigslist horse just wasn’t the ride I needed, and moving him didn’t make sense. He was sold to a company that did horse yoga. It was a good fit for him, so I was all right with letting him go.

With a better understanding of my riding ability and comfort zone around horses, I started to look for a partner that I could enjoy. At the same time, my wonderful young trainer back in Wisconsin was selling her Paint show horse.

Kirby

I rode him and loved him immediately. I remember sitting at the dining room table in our California home and my husband saying, “If you don’t buy that horse, I’ll buy him for you.” So I did. Three weeks later Kirby arrived in California, and I was officially in love.

For the next three years or so, Kirby was my escape from reality. He taught me gratitude for a good and safe ride. He taught me to challenge myself and about dedication for learning this new sport. I learned I cannot excel at everything, even if I try really, really hard.

A horse has a personality, and every day you saddle him up, you get a slightly different outcome. Some days it’s really positive, others it’s really frustrating. This is what keeps me coming back to the sport—the unknown factor of a new day and the challenge it brings.

We moved into a Southern California stable with well over 100 horses. Some days I would just sit with Kirby and watch the young kids take their lessons, envying how easily their bodies adjusted to the shift of the horse beneath them. Or worse, how they seemed to bounce right off the ground and jump back up after a fall, whereas I tend to lie in the arena like a dead person’s chalk outline, mentally checking to make sure I’m still alive while the horse looks on.

I’ve probably come off a horse more times that any human needs to. Most of the time, it’s just me bailing on the inevitable and not wanting to risk injury.

Wakeup Call

After two years with Kirby and weekly lessons, I admit I started to slack on ground manners and small things since I knew Kirby’s personality so well and trusted him.

It was January 2015 and I wanted a break from work, so around lunchtime I drove to the barn and planned to just walk with him for an hour or so before I tackled the afternoon work schedule. The company I worked for had just been sold and we were going through a restructuring. Everyone was stressed and apprehensive about their future, myself included.

Kirby and I were walking down a trail outside the boarding facility, a trail we walked often. My mind absently went directly to work, and the next thing I remember was flying through the air and landing on my knees.

Somehow Kirby got in front of me, spooked and kicked me. I was hit in the chest, off to the right side, about diaphragm level. Luckily we were walking in sand, so landing on my knees was soft. I looked up saw him run away as I gasped for air alone.

I remember thinking, “Stay calm breathe slowly.” I was struggling. At the same time, my horse galloped back to the barn at full speed. A friend caught him, put him in the cross-ties and immediately started looking for me.

Noting the general direction Kirby came from, one of the trainers, mounted, directed his horse down the trails and ran to find me still on my knees gasping for air. It’s a blur how I got off the trail and into the ambulance. I remember very little of lying on the gurney while the trauma team cut off my clothes and yelled things over me like I wasn’t even there.

I remember seeing my husband’s face while I was being wheeled down a hospital hallway. It still pains me to have seen the look of fear in his eyes that day.

My lack of attention to the task at hand cost me four broken ribs, a lacerated liver, ICU time, months of pain, and ribs that permanently stick out. Wearing a two-piece bathing suit is no longer emotionally viable. Whomever originally told me to be present or die was right on the money.

New Mindset

My first stop after being discharged from the hospital was to go to the barn and see Kirby. I didn’t blame him for what happened; it wasn’t his fault that I didn’t pay attention. Had I been, he probably just would have needed a little bump with the lead rope to knock off whatever he was doing.

I remember the ICU nurses asking me if I was going to “put him down,” as if he were expendable. He wasn’t, this wasn’t his fault—it was mine. I was supposed to be his leader and I failed. By nature he isn’t a mean horse or even a difficult horse. I am his owner, protector and leader. It’s what we sign up for when we make them part of our life.

I was back in the saddle well before I should have been, now outfitted with the latest and greatest chest protector, thanks to my loving and supportive husband who had every right to ask I leave the sport but never uttered a word.

Jane Smiley said it best when she stated, “I discovered that the horse is life itself, a metaphor but also an example of life’s mystery and unpredictability, of life’s generosity and beauty, a worthy object of repeated and ever-changing contemplation.”

I’ve been riding for seven years now. I’m an “old” beginner, but I’m OK with that. I still watch those little girls riding ponies for the first time with total bliss on their faces. I’m still jealous of the teenagers who post beautifully and stay in a two-point for eternity, thinking about how they will never know the struggles of picking up this sport later in life.

My love for these animals and the sport continues to grow with each day and each challenge. When I see a picture of myself riding, I see perfect happiness on my face. I see myself in the moment and the teamwork Kirby and I have built over the last six years. I am grateful I gave this lifestyle a chance and never gave up trying.

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Explaining to people who aren’t horse lovers that riding is a real sport can be hard. How many times have you heard “the horse does all the work” or “riding doesn’t LOOK hard.” Comments like that are so frustrating!

Here are some thoughts on how you can combat the “neigh”-sayers.

Remind them that riding is in the Olympics.

Sports that are represented in the Olympics are notoriously difficult to perfect. Riding wouldn’t be included if you just sat there and looked pretty, would it?

Compare the riding discipline you do to a more mainstream sport.

For example, if you ride dressage, compare it to figure skating. Running hurdles in track is similar to jumping, and running barrels is just like a sprint.

Invite them to watch a competition with you.

Whether they watch with you in person, on TV or even some short YouTube videos on your phone, showing them what a good high-caliber rider looks like can convince them that it really is a sport.

Explain to them how riding involves your entire body.

Walk them through a daily ride, explaining how you have to walk to catch your horse, then use your arms to groom and saddle; you use your legs and core to stay steady while your horse moves underneath you. What other sport requires you to ride a moving target?

Tell them that some colleges offer scholarship money to riders.

Equestrian athletes are valuable assets to a school, so much so that some schools offer them scholarship money. Teams at some colleges are NCAA sanctioned—the same as basketball!

And the best comeback yet: Offer to bring them to your barn for a lesson.

While most of your friends won’t take you up on the offer, those who do will be believers as soon as they try to mount.

At the end of the day, you will never convince some people that riding really is a sport. Just remember that you know something they never will: horses are the most fun exercise there is!

This article riding being a real sport originally appeared in the January/February 2018 issue of Young Rider Magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Endurance riding can be an intimidating equine sport. After all, the shortest distance offered is 25 miles long. But a grassroots effort for a “Green Bean” program has been growing for the past few years to help the newest riders to learn the sport, meet other new riders, and compete for fun awards just for their group of “newbies.”

Named after the green ribbons new members often tie into their horse’s tails, the group came to be known as the Green Beans. With a clever sense of humor, they further divide themselves into “on the vine” (less than 100 miles completed), “picked” (100-499 miles) and “cooked” (500-999 miles). Riders with more than 1,000 AERC miles can support the organization as mentors but are considered to have “miled out.”

There are individual and team competitions as well as prize drawings. Green Bean participation is an optional add-in for AERC members, with a nominal fee to cover prizes. “It’s not always easy being ‘green,’” said Deb Moe, one of the program administrators. She noted that sometimes just making a connection to another rider makes a huge difference in being successful.

The mainstay of the Green Beans is their educational support and social networking. There are a multitude of Facebook “Green Bean Endurance” pages specific to local areas or regions, with people willing to share their knowledge and create welcoming places where there are no silly questions.

Erin Hurley-Rosser of Texas, participates in the One Horse One Rider (individual) competition: “The Green Bean group keeps me motivated, even when my ride and ride season plans fall apart. I cheer on other teams and riders because this movement is about our combined successes. We learn and grow together, from the person who has yet to begin to conditioning, to the Green Bean who ‘miles out’, we all have something useful to share.”

Lindsay Waddell of South Carolina is on the team called High Voltage Horses: “Knowledge, encouragement, and competition all in one place—it’s a great way to start!”

Audrey Hager of Texas (team: May the Horse Be With You): “The team camaraderie is great, we share knowledge and stories and help each other out, even if we’re in different regions!”

Jaime McArdle of Virginia (team: Rockin Mountain Monstas): “I love the Green Bean program because it takes a pretty individual sport and gives you a ‘team’ to help encourage and support each other, especially because we are new. At the rides I’ve begun to meet friends and create an endurance family but the Green Bean team is my first family!”

Find more about the Green Bean Endurance program at www.greenbeanendurance.org. To find out more about AERC, which has been sanctioning endurance rides across the U.S. and Canada since 1972, visit aerc.org. AERC’s educational program, aside from the Green Bean program, includes mentoring with longtime endurance riders, an extensive rider handbook and educational materials sent to every new AERC member.

More information on endurance riding is available by visiting www.aerc.org or by calling the American Endurance Ride Conference office at 866-271-2372. By request, the office will send out a free copy of the 16-page Discover Endurance Riding booklet to prospective members.

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When you think of endurance riding, you may conjure up images of 100-mile rides across rocky terrain or multi-day rides across the high desert. In reality, endurance riding careers can begin with a relatively easy 10-mile introductory ride or a 25-mile limited distance ride—not so forbidding for those new to distance riding.

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) is making those first steps to endurance riding a little easier with their 2017 Fall Special promotion.

Beginning now, new members can join for the remainder of the 2017 ride season and all of the 2018 ride season, which runs through November 30, 2018, for the discounted price of $88.75. Additional adult family members are $57.50; those 17 or younger are $27.

“Autumn is a great time to get started in endurance riding, with cooler weather and spectacular fall foliage,” said AERC Executive Director Kathleen Henkel, from AERC’s national office in Auburn, California. “If you’ve been riding regularly, your trail horse may already be ready for a 25-mile ride.”

Many endurance rides also offer 10 to 15 mile “intro” rides, just for equine and rider teams to get acquainted with ride procedures and etiquette. Each equine, even at fun rides, will be checked by a veterinarian before and after the ride, with a check that includes heart rate, limb soundness, hydration and gut sounds, to ensure the horse is deemed “fit to continue.”

“Our Fall Special has been very popular each year,” said Henkel. “During the summer, there is a lot of publicity about some of AERC’s big rides, like the Tevis Cup in California, the National Championships (this year in Colorado), the Biltmore ride in North Carolina and multi-day rides across the U.S. The Fall Special gives people a chance to get their new member educational packet and get the ‘lay of the land’ before the next ride season begins.”

AERC members receive a monthly magazine, Endurance News, in the mail every month, as well as an endurance riding handbook, rule book and educational materials that come along with their membership card. Fall Special members will receive both 2017 and 2018 AERC ID cards.

To receive more information about AERC and endurance riding, tap here to request a copy of AERC’s Discover Endurance Riding booklet. The booklet shares the adventure and camaraderie experienced by members of the nonprofit organization.

The post Now’s the Time to Get Started in Endurance Riding appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

National Park Week is being recognized this year from April 15 through 23, celebrating the more than 400 parks that are part of the National Park System. Some of America’s National Parks allow visitors to bring their horses and ride on designated trails. We’ve compiled a few of them below.

This is just a partial list of horse-friendly parks, so your favorite may not be featured here. To find your closest National Parks, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm. Each park’s individual website will provide information on whether horses are allowed and what the fees and regulations are for riders.

Always confirm that your chosen trails are available before embarking on your National Park trail riding trip. Because these parks offer a wide array of outdoor activities and because they are often protected habitats and ecosystems, trail closures do occur during certain times to preserve the land.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

There are 260 miles of trails available for equestrians, and ample accommodations for horses and their people. Two stables within the park and several area stables give horses a place to stay safely overnight, and there are designated backcountry campsites for adventurers with horses and/or pack animals.

Acadia National Park, Maine

The coastal playground on Mt. Desert Island offers 45 miles of carriage roads open to horses along with several other trails and paths. Horse owners can stable at the park’s Wildwood Stables. Wildwood Stables is also home to a carriage company that provides tours of the park’s carriage roads so you can enjoy an equestrian outing around the park even if you don’t have your own horse with you.

Horse riding in the Shenandoah National Park by david_jones on flickr/CC BY 2.0

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Bring your own horse and explore more than 180 miles of horse-permitted trails that range from relatively easy to challenging and technical. There is also an official concessionaire that will provide horses and guides for rides that go up to two and a half hours.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina

The most-visited National Park in the country allows horses on approximately 550 miles of its vast network of hiking trails. There are five drive-in horse camps that offer access to backcountry horse trails. Guided rides, hayrides and carriage rides are also available through official concessioners within the park.

Yosemite National Park, California

Horses are allowed on most of this massive park’s trails, although the NPS website notes that some of the conditions in Yosemite’s mountains are challenging for horses and riders unaccustomed to the elevation and sometimes tricky footing. Nevertheless, there are a lot of options for riding and for accommodation. There are stock camps available as well as overnight boarding facilities within the park.

Trail Ride by Yellowstone National Park on flickr/Public Domain

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana

This iconic western park allows horses on some trails and certain backcountry campsites. If you need some guidance, there are stock outfitters who can guide your group in the backcountry. Yellowstone also has a trail riding concession through Xanterra Parks & Resorts which provides one- or two-hour trail rides on their horses.

Olympic National Park, Washington

This largely unspoiled wilderness does offer trails that are open to horses and pack animals, although it may be better suited to more experienced trail riders. There are corrals and barns available for overnight use as well as stock camps and existing hitchracks and highlines.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Horses and stock animals are allowed on most of the trails and dirt roads within the park, though horseback riding may be limited during the late spring/early summer when the snow melts and the trails are wet. Corrals and camping facilities are available. Guided rides are also available through a concession service.

Leslie Potter is a writer and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky. www.lesliepotterphoto.com

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If you’re in the market for a horse, there’s one breed you’ll see frequently on sale websites—Thoroughbreds. Why? Because thousands of them are bred each year for the racing industry, but very few of them are successful on the track. What happens to the unsuccessful ones? Lucky ones end up with young riders like you. Unlucky ones end up at horse sales and face uncertain futures.

Not every Thoroughbred will make a good horse for a young rider, but with proper handling and training, many Thoroughbreds can become wonderful riding horses. They just need special handling when they first come off the track.

If you’re considering buying or adopting an ex-racehorse, it’s important to have a great trainer to help you in the first year or two with your new horse. It’s essential to have someone on the ground who is experienced with ex-racers and who can give you advice every step of the way. Here are a few tips to make training and riding your off-the-track-Thoroughbred a safe and happy experience for both of you.

Right Off the Track

If your horse is right off the track, it’s best to give him a few weeks vacation so he can get used to his new surroundings. It can take around 30 days for high-powered vitamins and drugs to work their way out of his body. Let him “chill out” for a while and get used to your barn’s routine before you hop on him.

If he’s been living at an equine charity for a few months (or longer), give him at least a week to get used to you and his new home before you ride him. You’ll be glad you did, because he’ll probably be more relaxed when you eventually jump on board.

First Ride

During your newbie’s vacation, lead him around the farm so he can look at his surroundings. Walk him around the arena so he learns that jumps, poles and gates aren’t scary monsters. Stay relaxed so he stays relaxed. Taking the time to introduce your Thoroughbred to the farm should make your first few rides less stressful for both of you.
When you ride your horse for the first time, ask an experienced horsey friend or your trainer to hang out with you in case you need help. Grab a body protector (borrow one if you don’t have one) for your first few rides, and always wear a safety helmet.

Mounting

Jockeys at the track are given a leg up by a person on the ground when they mount, so your horse will not be used to someone putting her foot in the stirrup and pulling herself up. He will probably not stand still for that.

Your friend on the ground should fasten a lunge line to your horse’s bit and hold on to him when you mount. Use a mounting block for the first few weeks until your horse understands what’s going on. If he fidgets, hop off immediately and have the person on the ground back him up and then line him up again next to the mounting block.

Get on your horse quietly and sit down gently in the saddle so you don’t startle him.

Moving Forward

Once you’re safely in the saddle, ask your horse to walk forward by putting a little pressure on his sides with your lower legs. At the same time, your trainer should lead him forward. Racehorses are used to be being led, so this should be easy for him. You may want him to be led for several rides—it just depends on his behavior. Your trainer should lead you round the arena several times keeping a loose hold on the lunge line, but you should steer your horse. Your trainer is only hanging on in case there’s a problem. Walk around jumps and over poles. Ask your horse to halt and stand still several times.

If your horse is doing great, your trainer can set you free!

On Your Own

It’s a good idea to stick to the walk for your first few rides on your new ex-racer. You can do many things at the walk. Ride lots of circles. Spiral in and out. Walk over poles. Do serpentines. Encourage your horse to bend. When Thoroughbreds come off the track, they are usually stiff as boards. They don’t bend! It will take time to help your horse be suppler.

Once your newbie is comfortable in the arena, you can think about trotting and cantering.
Remember that many ex-racers go faster when you shorten your reins, so for the first few months of riding your horse try to keep the reins slightly loopy. Do your best to avoid pulling on his mouth. Keep your hands light as a feather.

Cantering an ex-racer can often be an “exciting” experience. Your horse may be very unbalanced at first and he may speed up. Trot on a 20-meter circle in the corner of the arena, and when he’s calm and fairly balanced give him the cues to canter. Try your best to keep your reins looped and your hands soft. You don’t want to yank him in the mouth as he jumps forward. Sit slightly forward, off his back, and canter him two or three times around the circle and then bring him back to a trot. Don’t overdo it.

Wrong Lead!

It’s critical to remember that most racehorses rarely canter to the right. Why? Because they race to the left on the track. Very few racehorses are schooled like riding horses in an arena, so cantering to the right will feel strange to them. It may take a while to get your horse to take the right lead, so be patient. You may need your trainer to give you some tips about how to get him to take the correct lead.

Passing By

Nori Scheffel, a Paris, Ky., trainer who has worked with lots of off-the-track- Thoroughbreds says that teaching an ex-racer how to pass other horses right from the start is very important.

“They must learn how to walk, trot and canter by other horses calmly, because they’ll need to do this in lessons and at shows,” says Nori.

Ask a pal to ride her horse in front of you, behind you and next to you. Then ride in different directions and pass each other several times. Do this whenever someone else is in the arena. Do your best to keep your horse focused on working—not on the other horse.

Hit the Trails

When you feel totally comfortable on your ex-racer in the arena, you can try going on a trail ride. It’s so important to get your horse out of the arena. Too much schooling can make him sour.

Before you head out on your first trail ride, ride your horse for a while in the arena to get rid of excess energy. Then ask a friend with a super-quiet horse to accompany you on the ride. Stick to walking in an enclosed field on your farm for the first few rides to see how your horse behaves. If he’s good, you can try trotting and cantering in the field.

If he continues to be quiet, take him on a real trail ride.

When you’re on the trail, ride your horse both behind and in front of your friend’s horse. From the very beginning, your horse should learn that he can go in front of his pals or behind. If he jigs or acts silly, walk him in a 10-meter circle until he gets bored and calms down.

Wait a few months or until you completely trust your ex-racer before you gallop alone or with other horses out on the trail. If he doesn’t have enough training, your horse might think he’s back on the track and take you for a wild ride!

Looking for an OTTB? These charities always have plenty of Thoroughbreds that need good homes.

Kentucky Equine Humane Center
www.kyehc.org

New Vocations
www.horseadoption.com

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
www.thoroughbredadoption.com

United Pegasus Foundation
www.unitedpegasus.com

CANTER
www.canterusa.com

Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue
www.midatlantichorserescue.org

LOPE
www.lopetx.org

The Exceller Fund
www.excellerfund.org

The post Riding Your Off-The-Track Thoroughbred appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Want to experience the holiday season by dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh? How about riding through a pine forest in a winter wonderland? If this sounds glorious to you, the Vista Verde Guest Ranch in the majestic Rocky Mountains should be your next destination.

Located in Steamboat Springs, Colo., in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Vista Verde is a quaint ranch originally homesteaded in 1916. Surrounded by mountain summits, vast meadows and forests of pine, Vista Verde stays open throughout the winter, offering guests a chance to experience the Rockies during this very special time of year.

“Imagine a snow globe; that’s what it looks like here in the winter,” says Stephanie Wilson, director of hospitality for Vista Verde. “A blanket of snow covering the valley and surrounding hillsides, and snow falling around you as you ride on the trails around the ranch property.”

The Activities

While trail rides at Vista Verde vary from winter to spring—the winter rides are shorter because of the cold—they are just as picturesque.

“It’s worth it to hear the sound of snow crunching under the horses’ feet,” says Wilson. “You feel the warmth of their furry coats, and watch their breath as it comes out of their noses like steam.”

Besides snowy trail rides, Vista Verde also offers sleigh rides, pulled by one horse or two.

Getting out of the cold at the ranch doesn’t mean giving up being around horses. Horsemanship clinics held in the ranch’s heated indoor arena allow guests to hone their riding skills. Private lessons and clinics are offered for both novice and intermediate riders, with western and ranch horse instruction provided by the ranch’s teachers.

“The instruction applies to any sort of riding since much of it is really focused on understanding the horse and how to communicate with him,” says Wilson.

The Horses

The horses used for trail riding and lessons are carefully chosen by the ranch, adds Wilson.

“Many of our horses came to us as adults, but we also have a portion of the herd that is bred here, trained here, and prepared for our guests with the sole intention of being good riding horses,” she says.

Most of the Vista Verde herd is made up of registered Quarter Horses; other guest mounts are grade horses, draft horses and few other breeds.

“We look for kind-hearted, even-tempered horses with a solid build; good, big feet; and good conformation,” she says.

Other Activities

While the Vista Verde horses are a big attraction for guests, the ranch also offers a variety of other activities in the winter. Skiing, snow tubing and snowshoeing take place outdoors at the ranch. Inside activities include yoga, photography and culinary classes, along with a variety of massage treatments.

Accommodations for guests include private cabins and deluxe lodge rooms, plus a fitness center. Gourmet meals and wine tasting area also part of the ranch’s offerings.

If You Go

What to Bring

Pack lots of moisture-wicking layers to stay warm and dry while having fun in the snow. Winter riding boots or good winter socks are a must. Don’t forget about those ears and fingers, too!

Off-Ranch Adventures in Steamboat Springs

Skiing, snowboarding, helicopter sightseeing, hot air ballooning, ice fishing, snowmobiling and even dog sledding are all options for winter visitors.

For more information on Vista Verde Ranch, go to www.vistaverde.com

AUDREY PAVIA is a freelance writer and the author of Horses for Dummies. She lives in Norco, Calif., with her two registered Spanish Mustangs, Milagro and Rio.

This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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This state of being, one of deep peaceful relaxation along with inspired motivation, permeates not only the riding lessons here at Il Paretaio Classical Riding Center in Tuscany. During their week-long stays here, students find new feelings for everything from sitting trot to half-pass to the type of mindfulness and contentment that makes us all better humans for our horses. During one morning lesson aboard Tempo, an agile Lusitano gelding, Giovanni’s wife Cristina offered the advice, half-kidding, that after a few more weeks of enjoying elaborate Italian dinners and the leisurely pace of each day my half- halts would become more effective. By that, she meant I would be melting down in the saddle, remaining firm—but at ease—with my posture. In fact, a frequent prompt during lessons, which are conducted in multiple languages, is for riders to find “calm energy” in their bodies.

With several young instructors and over twenty high quality school horses Il Paretaio caters to new or novice riders as well as advanced dressage students. Lessons run throughout the day beginning at 7:30am with a large pause in the middle to reprieve from the heat. Students ride together in small groups of two to three or can opt for a private lesson when the schedule allows. Each 50-minute lesson follows the progression riders envision of European riding schools, complete with castle views from the arena. Throughout, riders remain mostly in single file formation, which puts riders in a constant state of adjusting their horse’s rhythm, another reminder of staying firmly rooted in every moment.

Later in the evening, we are able to expand on some of these philosophies and the classical tenets that Il Paretaio preserves. Seated around the massive dining room table with the sun long disappeared, students relaxed for bountiful and leisurely Tuscan dinners with free-flowing wine from the local Chianti region. Giovanni and Cristina, along with their son Pietro happily shared their love and wisdom of training horses and riders. Above all, lightness of a rider’s aids and harmony with her horse remain uncompromised foundations here, in addition to memorable food and beautiful surroundings.

Most nights ten to twenty students are gathered for dinner, coming from all over the globe and joined by the common bond of horses. During our week at Il Paretaio, we shared arena time and meals with couples from Germany, China, a few families from France, Belgium. As we cleaned every morsel of Tirimasu from our plates, we shared stories of home and talked in the language that united us: horses. During dinner, the following day’s riding schedule and horse assignments appeared on the mantle. This daily spreadsheet logged the rotation of twenty guests, five instructors, nearly 30 horses, and two arenas. Impressively, everything ran like clockwork.

On our final afternoon at the school, we headed out through the countryside for a two-hour trail ride to the private wine cellar of Riccardo Casamonti. We rode through slanting afternoon sun washing over butter colored hillsides, clip-clopped through the cobbled piazza of ancient stone villages, and meandered through verdant wine farmsteads. As our horses nibbled grass nearby, we snacked on homemade olive oil drizzled over flatbread and learned about the evolution of well-known wines like Chianti Classico. Tasting the exquisite flavors of Casamonti’s three different red wines, we detected characteristics that might only be described as passion, or commitment to history. Traveling home on horseback later, we nearly lost track of what century we were in.

I had arrived at this classical riding school intending to dissect and hone the minutia of dressage aids. Or at least that was what I thought I needed. Turns out, I needed the kind of revamp to my riding that comes in the form of improving oneself from the inside out, taking time to settle down and breathe. With quiet elegance, life at Il Paretaio improves riders in ways they did not anticipate, ways they will quickly fall in love with. This just might explain how classical dressage has survived so long.

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Gray horses are beautiful. Their eyes contrast with their coats in a captivating way. Many grays change colors as they age, from dappled to flea-bitten, and it’s fascinating to see the way they mature.

Gray horses are also high maintenance if you want them to stay a whiter shade of pale—as opposed to green, yellow or the color of dirt.

I don’t think I pick gray horses; somehow they find me. The pony I grew up riding is a gray; the horse I showed when I lived in Kentucky is a gray off-the-track Thoroughbred, and the horse I now lease and show in Texas is also a gray Thoroughbred.

I love all horses, but the special ones who make a deep, permanent mark on my heart happen to be gray. I’m reminded of this constantly. Not just because I look forward to riding and spending time with my amazing grays, but because their hairs come with me.
Everywhere.

When I take a gray horse to a show, I’m likely one of the first riders at the showgrounds, especially if my class is early in the day. I need to bathe my horse, and the bath I gave her before we left the barn has likely become obsolete. One bath might not even get out those darn green stains. I’m prepared to scrub.

My current partner in crime, Q, has a habit of rubbing her head on anyone who isn’t paying attention. And those short, white forehead hairs don’t easily brush off.

If I’ve been with a gray horse, you can tell by the white hairs on my shirt. There’s a slight chance that a white shirt will camouflage the hairs, but I’ve likely allowed slime from a horse or paws from a barn dog to dirty my white shirt anyway.

Gray horse hair has this magic ability to transcend borders. Despite my best efforts to keep my horsey belongings (breeches, jackets, saddle pads, et cetera) in a corner of the laundry room, there are white hairs everywhere. In my washer, on my coffee table, next to my jewelry box … no place is safe.

My car suffers the worst. It’s the buffer between the barn and my house, meaning any hair I didn’t manage to remove before leaving the barn and getting into the car may end up floating around the car. If I offer to drive my work colleagues to lunch, I end up awkwardly apologizing when their black and navy slacks have white horse hairs on them. I promise I’m a clean person. I just ride a gray!

In the winter, my gray horsey partner is not gray, white, or a mixture of gray and white, but is of a yellowish hue. And it’s too cold for a full bath. So sometimes in the colder months, I ride a yellow horse.

And while it might seem that I’m complaining about grays, I promise it’s the opposite.

I absolutely love grays, and I think the evidence is obvious. I wear my gray horse hairs with pride, and if anyone asks, I welcome the opportunity to explain my horsey habit.

Allison Griest is a freelance writer based in Texas. Follow Allison on Twitter: @allisongriest.

This article originally appeared in the September 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Riding Lessons

For most urban and suburban riders, formal riding lessons are the most obvious choice when it comes to getting saddle time. Lessons go beyond the superficial experience of a pony ride or tourist trail excursion by teaching you the hows and whys of communicating with a horse under saddle. Typically, students ride once per week, but many instructors will allow you to take more lessons if you’re eager to progress, or fewer if you need to stretch your budget.

Some programs offer several different disciplines so that you can learn the basics before deciding which equestrian sport interests you most. But if you’ve already got a discipline in mind, look for a barn that specializes in your sport.

Pros:

While it’s possible to learn to ride without formal instruction, a qualified instructor will be able to guide you through the process and help you avoid newbie mistakes that could be dangerous to you or the horse you ride.

You’ll also have the opportunity to ride different lesson horses, and that will make you a more well-rounded, adaptable rider. As you get better, you’ll be able to move from the beginner horses to more advanced mounts so that you continue to improve your skills. Riding lessons aren’t just for beginners; even Olympic-level riders have coaches. Although many riders aspire to own a horse one day, you could spend your entire career from beginner to advanced riding school horses without ever really missing out.

Once you’ve learned the basics in a one-on-one setting, group lessons are a fun way to get to know other riders. You can learn by watching one another, and riding classmates may ask questions you didn’t even know you had. If your barn participates in schooling shows, having your fellow riders around can add a feeling of camaraderie to what is usually a solo sport.

From a practical standpoint, lessons are the ideal option for horse lovers who are on a budget. The costs are much lower than those required to own or lease a horse, and they’re consistent. You’ll pay the same from week to week with no surprise vet expenses to worry about. And if your lesson horse has to take a break due to injury or illness, your instructor will have another horse for you to ride. Making the commitment to ride once a week is more realistic than going out to the barn to tend to your own horse every day. If you have a busy work schedule or home life, or have other hobbies that you don’t want to give up, a weekly riding lesson offers horse time without much sacrifice.

Cons:

Typically, your time with a lesson horse will be spent grooming, tacking up, riding and untacking. While this is enough to improve your riding skills, you rarely get the opportunity to spend leisurely time with your equine friend because he’s got other students to attend to. When you arrive at the barn for your lesson, you will be expected to adhere to whatever your instructor has planned; you can’t decide to skip your schooling time in favor of a gallop across the fields on a whim.

As a riding lesson student, you also have to be selective in your choice of an instructor. In every state in the U.S. except for Massachusetts, there is no certification process for riding instructors, which means anyone can advertise themselves as a qualified trainer. It’s up to you to do some research to make sure the one you choose will be able to help you reach your goals, even if those goals are just to have fun with horses. Ask for recommendations from other equestrians, and call to see if you can observe a few lessons before signing up.

A great instructor can make your entrance into the horse world a joyous one, but a bad one can sour you on the entire equestrian experience. In order to make the most of your time as a riding student, you’ll need the courage to graciously move on if you find that you’re incompatible with your instructor.

To find a certified instructor, try the Certified Horsemanship Association or American Riding Instructors Association, or your particular breed or sport’s association; the American Quarter Horse Association, United States Hunter Jumper Association, United States Eventing Association, and United States Dressage Federation all certify instructors.

Leasing a Horse

Lease arrangements provide an experience similar to horse ownership without the initial cost or lifelong obligation. Typically, the lessee will be responsible for all or most of the horse’s routine expenses, such as board and farrier bills, in exchange for the ability to ride as much as they want. In a partial lease, the lessee covers part of the regular expenses in exchange for the opportunity to ride a few days a week. Some lesson programs will offer partial leases of lesson horses for students.

Pros:

Leasing is truly a best-of-both-worlds situation for riders who have graduated from basic horsemanship and riding lessons. You have the chance to ride more frequently and in an unstructured environment. You get more time to bond with a horse, and you may be able to take him to shows or other events. A full or partial lease provides the opportunity to experience horse ownership without committing to it until you’re sure you are able to devote the time, energy and money required.

If you find that you’re not able to get out to the barn as much as you thought you would when you signed up for a lease, you can back out (often with a pre-determined notice period). You don’t have to worry about financially supporting the horse and going through the process of finding him a more suitable home because he already has an owner.

Cons:

Most of the potential pitfalls in leasing are the result of poor communication or mismatched expectations between lessor and lessee. It’s imperative to make the lease terms clear, put them in writing and have both parties sign and keep a copy. As the lessee, are you allowed to ride as much as you want, or is there a limit? Can you transport the horse off the property? Who will be responsible for the vet bills if he injures himself in the pasture? What if he injures himself while you’re riding him? Make sure all of this is in the lease agreement.

Although leasing offers a close approximation of the horse-ownership experience, there are limits. You may not be able to take the horse to an out-of-state show or an overnight camping trip. If you want to move him to a different boarding stable, you’ll have to sell the horse’s owner on the idea. In the case of a lesson-horse lease, you may have to schedule your time around your mount’s lesson obligations.

Horse Ownership

Having a horse of your own seems like the ultimate goal when you begin your riding career. The concept is simple: You find a horse to buy or adopt, sign a purchase contract, write a big check, and then live happily ever after with your new equine best friend. At least, that’s the plan.

Pros:

You don’t need to own a horse to develop a deep bond, but it certainly helps. You’ll be the one who spends the most time with him, both in and out of the saddle. You’ll get to know your horse in a way other arrangements don’t always permit. When ownership is at its best, there’s nothing like it.

With your own horse, you have complete freedom of choice when it comes to his care and keeping. Want to move to a new barn, follow the regional show circuit all summer, or dye his mane and tail blue in honor of your favorite sports team? You get to make those decisions. And while a horse’s owner may terminate a lease agreement for any reason and your instructor could move you off your favorite lesson horse or sell him out of the barn, your horse is yours. You are together for life if you choose to be.

Cons:

All of the pros listed above are dependent on your ability to afford them, and that’s the big roadblock to horse ownership for many would-be owners. The initial purchase price doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find horses for free if you look for them, although the wider your price range, the more likely you are to find a horse that suits your needs. Regardless of what you pay to bring your new horse home, the real financial question is whether you are equipped to handle the commitment you’ve just made. As a horse owner, you’re on the hook for board, feed, farrier and vet bills, and more. Unlike a lease situation, you can’t back out when money gets tight. Even if you make the decision to sell your horse, he might remain on the market for months or even years, and he’s on your payroll during that time.

By the same token, you may find that your equestrian interests change or your abilities as a rider improve and the horse you’ve purchased no longer meets your needs. For example, you may have started out thinking the show-ring was your destiny but later discovered that trail riding was your true passion. If your horse proves to be unsuitable for your new activity, are you willing to pay his costs until you can match him up with a new rider?

In addition to financial resources, horses consume a lot of time. Between work, family and other activities, it can be a challenge to find adequate time to devote to your horse. As an owner, there isn’t automatically someone else in your horse’s life to pick up the slack when you simply can’t spend a lot of time at the barn.

There are a variety of ways to bring horses into your life. Take an honest assessment of your riding skills, finances and schedule, and you’ll find the right arrangement for you.

This article originally appeared in the 2015 edition of Your New Horse

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