What I’ve learned with my first pony

Article written by Sofia, BBSH student and her pony Toy Soldier

When I got my first pony I was super excited and also didn't know what was coming. I didn't know that owning a horse wasn't just sunshine and rainbows. 

Here are a few things that I have learned from having a pony:

It has taught me that you can't give up when times get tough. When you  can't do something you need to keep trying after the first time or else you won't learn! 

For example, once I was riding Toy Soldier (my pony) out in the field and he refused to go near some people standing by watching. They weren't doing anything, he just didn't wanna go near them! So Ms. Holly, our trainer, made me circle and circle and circle around until I was dizzy and he finally went by them! We never gave up and got him to go by the people.  

Owning a horse has also taught me to not be afraid to speak out, when you are riding in the arena with others you need to make sure that you don't run into them, you also need to be confident in your plan! I have also learned that you always need to have a plan and make sure that it is doable. 

You also need to be patient with your horse because it has a mind of its own and sometimes your plan doesn't work out as planned. Another thing I have learned that you need to commit and take responsibility. When you care for any kind of animal, especially horses, you need to take care of them. For horses you need to keep them in a stall which you need to clean, you need to ride them, groom them and much more. This teaches you to take responsibility. 

I have also learned that you have to keep going and persevere because if you don’t you might not reach or accomplish your goal.  

I have also learned how to manage time. I am going to school and also riding five days a week. This requires me to make sure I am on task with school and also still will be able to do my favorite thing in the whole world at the end of the day. Riding teaches you skills that you will use for life, riding teaches you so much other than how to ride, it teaches you so many life skills that you can use in other than riding. For example, being patient with your pony, you need to do that with people too! Having a plan, you use that in jobs, school and many other things too! Being confident, you always need to use that! 

Riding has taught me how to be a responsible, kind, patient, confident person.  I am grateful for what Becky Brown’s School of Horsemanship teaches me. I could never thank all of my riding instructors enough for how much they've taught me and how they have helped make me the person I am today.