Chapter 2: In the Reins of Time

The True Essence of Horse Riding which lies in Patience

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Jumping over a course, trotting through a serpentine, and galloping in an open arena- these are the images that first come to our mind when think about Horse Riding. But in its true essence, the sport is so much more than that. The experiences and learnings in Horse Riding extend beyond the boundaries of an arena, and instead can be seen in and applied to almost every aspect of our lives.

The next few blog posts will discuss the various life-lessons that have been instilled within me as horse rider, the first being the importance of patience.

The concept of instant results simply does not exist in this domain.

Yes, quick fixes and hacks may fix the situation, temporarily. But in order to achieve results that are sustainable over the long run- be it learning not to look down or developing the inside-rein to outside leg contact- patience is necessary.

And this patience goes hand in hand with the effort you are willing to put in.

• The number of hours you’re willing to commit- both on and off the saddle.

• The number of questions you’re willing to ask.

• The number of times you’re willing to say no to a night-out because you have an early morning at the stables the next day.

• And unfortunately, also the amount of money you’re willing to invest- which is probably the biggest commitment of them all with this sport😅.

The very second, we begin to expect instantaneous results, we are on the wrong track. Instead of getting yourself baffled at every step of the journey, you need to demonstrate patience.

In the saddle, impatience is not only counterproductive but readily mirrored by your horse. Horses being the most intuitive animals on this planet, notice and respond to the slightest changes in their rider’s emotions, energy and attitude. This is a thought that I keep in mind every day when I ride- any reaction that I have towards my horse’s behaviour will be mirrored by him- and this leads to the domino effect:

I react -> Horse reacts -> I react to horse reacting -> Horse reacts to me reacting -> ...

You get the gist of it, right?

What this has taught me is that channelling my frustration on my horse is never beneficial.

The essence thus lies in approaching life with tempered patience. Instead of reacting impulsively to adversity, taking a step back allows for the restoration of trust—be it with a four-legged companion or fellow humans.

Image: Restoring his trust and bonding with my horse, Loy, off the saddle after a few difficult rides

This has truly helped me in my own life.

I've realised that the reins of control are elusive when it comes to the actions and reactions of people, much like the unpredictable nature of your horse in certain situations. Rather than surrendering to the natural reflex of responding with distress, it is crucial to take a step back and allow everything to flow into place. It may take time, but after all patience is key.

In essence, riding instils the profound fact that not all strides need to be forceful.

Instead, what is required is allowing things to unfold organically.

Image: Celebrating both Loy's achievements and mood swings.

As riders, as students, as employees, as friends, as family members, the acknowledgement that progress may not always be immediate is beyond vital.

Horse riding truly underscores the importance of taking a step back and trusting that, with unwavering effort, commitment and diligence everything will align, just like I believe it will through my journey as a rider- as well as a human.

Until the next chapter, Suhana