At Barstow, we have horse riders, otherwise known as equestrians. There are many people like this and we need to acknowledge them more often.
“Horse riding sparked my interest when I was 2-3,” says Evelyn Benson ’30. Most people have been doing horse riding lessons for the first 2-3 years into horse riding, and got competitive at 5-11 years into horse riding. This creates a strong connection between rider, horse, and the community.
“I just think horse riding is a fun experience and it gets my mind off things, and I’m very competitive. It also gives you opportunities to make a bunch of new friends. It’s also a great way to connect with new friends and people,” says Dorothy Buckner ’29.
Benson echoes this sentiment, saying, “I like horse riding because it’s a space where I can enjoy being around my horses.”
There are disciplines in competitive horse riding and each horse rider has a certain discipline. Some people do saddle seats, which is a style of English riding that differs considerably from other styles such as hunt seat and dressage. The rider sits well back in the saddle, carrying his or her hands higher than in other disciplines.
Some people do hunter jumpers which highlights the elegance of horse and rider. It’s judged in a way that is influenced by or based on personal beliefs or feelings, rather than based on facts like movement and form, while jumper classes are judged in a way that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions. It is based on speed and precision in clearing obstacles.
Equestrians will tell you that all horses also have their own personality and look. “My main horse, Reggie, has a big white star on the side of his head,” muses Benson.
“My horse was the silliest, sassiest horse ever,” laughed Buckner.
Horse riding also comes with a price, that is time. Horse riding is in fact a fun sport, however, it takes up many people’s time. “It actually takes up most of my schedule,” says Buckner.
“I leave school early and skip P.E. and Choir so I can do my lessons,” adds Benson.
We all love horses and equestrians. They do make a major impact on our community. It’s really great to enjoy all the fun things that our equestrians shared with us. We are so excited to learn more about equestrians soon!
