As you may know after reading my last post, I have been out of the game for a while. It can be a little bit intimidating to re-enter the horse world after a long break. There are people who dedicate every minute of every day to horses; there are people who lease or take lessons to ride a few times a week; there are people who just ride as a hobby; then there are people who, like me, had to take an extended break for any number of reasons. The important thing to remember is that no matter which category you fall under, it’s ok! Life happens, and everyone has to prioritize differently and do what’s best for them.
For those of us trying to get back into the arena in one way or another, there generally is no right or wrong way to do this-it all depends on your personal situation and your level of comfortability. While it may work for some people to jump in with both feet right away, others may feel like they need to ease back into it. Fortunately for all of us, there are options for both! Here are some ways you can get back to horses no matter which category you fall under:
Lessons! This is the most standard way that people choose to initiate their return to the equine fold. There are a lot of lesson options out there for all disciplines of riding and no financial obligation besides paying for lessons and some safety equipment, depending on how far you want to go with it (there are a lot of great-looking riding clothes out there!). This is a great option for those who may need a refresher if you’re feeling a little rusty about riding again.
Leasing! This is a great option for those who want access to a specific horse as a lot of lesson barns will assign riders their horses when they arrive for the lesson. This is a great option for those who found a horse they like (or love) and want to be able to spend ground and riding time with them without the financial commitment of purchasing. There are a few different types of leasing, from free-leasing and half-leasing all the way to full-leasing. Sometimes, depending on the leasing agreement, this option might even come with a certain amount of lessons per month or per week. I’ll write about this in much more detail soon!
Work to ride! There are some people who will trade the opportunity to ride their horse or horses for working in their barns or on their properties. This is often something you’ll see posted on Facebook in area-specific horse groups but is also something that gets worked out through word of mouth contacts. You can also try reaching out to your local barns to see if this is something they would be willing to do, but I do recommend having at least one reference ready in this case. This would be a good option for those of you with some extra time on your hands and some solid barn experience under your belts!
Trail rides! This is a great option for those of you who want essentially no commitment to getting back into horses. There are stables, even some state recreation areas, that will hire out their horses for trail rides, most often guided. I have been to a few of them here in Michigan and can say that for the most part they’re fun, safe, and the horses are in good shape. This can also be a super fun family or friends activity when the weather is nice! I recommend reading the reviews and checking out their website (if they have one) before paying for your trail ride, just to make sure that you know what you’re getting and that you’ll be happy with the experience.
Buying! This is a huge step, no matter whether you’re a very experienced rider or a novice. Not only is there the purchase price to consider, horses require a big financial commitment to their care. Boarding prices range based on location, services, and a number of other factors. Then there is maintenance care like the farrier and veterinarian, as well as making sure you’re financially able to handle any medical emergencies or illnesses. If you’ve ever been around horses, you know that “healthy as a horse” is really just a saying. However, if you’re prepared to handle all of this on top of the time commitment, buying could be a suitable option for you, and an exciting one!
With all of these options it can be hard to know which one is right for you. The trick is to make sure you’re fully comfortable with the option you’ve chosen. If you have any major doubts, scale back and start with an option with less commitment involved. For the most part this should be fun and not stressful!
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