Chapter 3: The Bucket List

We often forget to aknowledge the aspects of riding that do not involve training, competing, or stressing out about horse bills. We often overlook the simple joy of sharing a bond with a horse.

My perfectionist mindset, for instance, often fails to appreciate the journey and instead focuses on the results. And this shallow mindset that simply strives to achieve the short term, tangible goals fails me every time. My experience in the sport has made me realise that until I’m not fully present in my riding, I will achieve neither the happiness that this sport should be giving me, nor the short-term results that I’m aiming for.

And so, to get myself out of this endless loop of dreaming that I will someday, somehow reconnect with the sport, I decided to curate an actionable bucket list of the small things that I want to do with my horse or for my horse.

And what better way to ensure that I live up to it then to share it with you all.

So here’s the ultimate Bucket List for all horse people.

1. Truly gallop on the beach

2. Stand up on my horse

3. Watch a foal being born

4. Watch my horse and dog play in the paddock (ensuring that my dog isn’t trampled of course)

5. Ride my horse through a mountain trail

6. Dress up for Halloween with my horse

7. Train a green horse

8. Jump a 1.25 metre 4 bar

9. Ride an Arab horse

10. Do a photoshoot with my horse

11. Swim with a horse

12. Volunteer at a horse charity

13. Meet Charlotte Fry

14. Watch my best friend compete at the Olympics (Amairah, I’m rooting for my front-row tickets)

15. Picnic with my horse

16. Bake horse treats

17. Ride tackless

18. Teach my horse how to kiss

19. Make a sign for my horse’s stall

20. Ride at sunrise

I do hope that this bucket list inspires and encourages you to reconnect with the sport and make your equestrian journey a little more eventful, just like it did me!!

Also a little backstory for those of you who stayed till the end. The idea of the bucket list struck me when I was going through my riding diary and found the first bucket list I ever wrote with the ambition to ride every horse at my old yard.

Image: A checklist that started off as a bucket list to ride every horse at my old yard.

I am still quite shocked and pleased about the fact that I was able to check most of those names off:)

Until the next chapter,

Suhana