Personal Narrative: My Horse

Most people are all grown up when they finally figure out what they want to do with their life. I was 4. I realized what I wanted to be when I attended my very first Rodeo. Even though it was so long ago I can remember that day like it was yesturday. That day got me on the path to my future.

If you’ve ever owned an animal, you know that being around them can be extremely therapeutic. After a stressful day at work or school, it is always nice to come home to your pet and feel comforted by them. Many dog owners even claim that their dogs can feel their pain. However, if you speak to anyone who has been spent their life around horses, they’ll tell you that the connection between horse and rider is unlike any other. Norwegian researcher Anita Maurstad explains in a recent article, that over time horse and rider can become so attuned to each other that they develop a state of co-being. Maurstad also found, through research, that horses appear to learn to relate to humans in ways that provide them with a good quality of life. A recent study from Washington State university has concluded that kids who work with horses have significantly lower stress levels. In addition to these, there have been numerous other studies that show that working with horses decreases blood pressure, reduced feelings of anger, tension, and anxiety. Riding horses also allows you to gain feelings of self esteem, empowerment, patience, and trust. Because of the overwhelming positive effects that horses seem to have, horses are no longer being used just for recreational or agricultural

They can help the individual build confidence, trust,and social skills. Horses may also deal with some relating issues so it makes it easier to build a connection with the horse and their handler. Horses only react to the handler's behavior and emotional status. Horses aren't there to judge your appearance or what happened to the you in the past they are just there to help in the present. Most people like this option because some people believe that they will be judged by a human therapist doctor and most of the patients know that the horses won't judge them on what they look like or been through. This helps people build self esteem and self confidence. Through the years children and adults who participate riding programs improve in physical and social function. Studies have shown that therapeutic riding has shown positive outcomes that change people's lives for the better. Some have been able to gain the function to walk and talk better then before or even for the first time. This is because of the socializing, movement, and the need for balance on a horse. Through movement with the horse and the interaction with the people that work there, children and adults also have improved in other things such as physical function, emotional stability and social interactions. Challenging activities help gain more balance and control, and posture as the horses shows the motivation towards the

The horse (Equus ferus caballus)[2][3] is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus. It is an odd-toed ungulate mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature, Eohippus, into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC. Horses in the subspecies caballus are domesticated, although some domesticated populations live in the wild as feral horses. These feral populations are not true wild horses, as this term is used to describe horses that have never been domesticated, such as the endangered Przewalski's horse, a separate subspecies, and the only remaining true wild horse. There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior.

Throughout history, humans have depended on the horse. Horses have contributed to the growth of humankind as transportation, farm workers, and battle steeds. They have been trained to support humans in many ways. When did this relationship begin? At what point did the horse become a vital part of human society? Exploring the evolution of the horse can help to answer these questions.

Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t think you could do it? Well I have many times and I’m going to write about a time during Rodeo when I didn’t think I was going to be able to do well in goat tying.

Have you ever wanted something so badly, just to be left in pure disappointment? So have I. That something was the all-around buckle in the senior horse division at the 2015 Finney County Fair. Everything was going as planned until the third to last event. All of a sudden..I guess you will just have to keep reading to find out the rest.

The conference meet was upon us. I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The tension between the runners soared as we lined up at the starting line. I took a few deep breaths, anticipating the gun. I had a nerve racking deep inside. Bang! The gun went off and I took off stumbling over people, shoving, fighting for space. I was breathing hard already, pushing up the first hill. There was a straight away after the hill. I was afraid to get passed, so I kept my pace with the first pack. Michael, who had tripped over the back of my shoe before the first hill, had caught back up. As the first mile came around, I heard determined coaches exclaiming our mile splits.

Horses have been around for more than 50 million years. Once horses and humans came together they have been clicked since in many ways (Walter). Humans had made horses broken to do about anything for about 6,000 years (Walter). Over the time of breeding and cross-breeding we have made powerful horses from large Percheron to the little miniature ponies (Walter). Some examples are the things that horses had changed human history from battlefield to farming to packing out in the West (Walter). People nowadays had really relied on a horse to let them, let things go that is on their minds and they are most spirited and kind-minded companions anyone can have (Walter).

Horses have injured me, made me cry, made me swear, pissed me off until my breaking point, made me do stupid things, made me hate other people, made my heart break, put my heart back together, helped me when I was alone, been there when I did not need them, pushed me, made me work harder, faster and better than anyone else. They made me jealous, made me self-centered, made me happy, abused me, used me, tore me apart, healed me, helped me, loved me, protected me, made me laugh, helped me, put me down, made me a better person, made me want to help others. In every aspect of who I am, horses are there. They have made me the person I am today. If you like me, thank them, if you hate me well to

When I was twelve years old, I learned that horses do not like me. My friend Molly and I went to Camp Ernst the summer before seventh grade during Christmas in July week. We didn’t know anyone else there, so we got stuck in a cabin with a bunch of snobby Milford girls. Molly really wanted to do the horse camp, so I did it too because I didn’t want to be alone with the other girls. I wasn’t really into horses but Molly was so I decided to take one for the team.

Horses have been a part of man’s life for a very long time. The relationship between man and horse first began at the time of the horse’s domestication between 4000 and 3500 B.C. They have been by our side to help us complete agricultural tasks as well as recreational uses for thousands of years. While the USDA may classify the horse as livestock, many Americans consider the horse to be something more along the lines of a companion animal.

In November 2015, I finally walked up to Keeneland for the first time in my life to finally see a live horse race. But it wasn’t just any race – it was the 2015 Breeder’s Cup Championships and American Pharaoh would go on to win the Grand Slam. It was an awesome day, meeting people from all over the country who seemed just as passionate about a sport as I was. It was that experience that led me to move to Lexington, KY two months ago with a desire to work in the Thoroughbred industry.

Horses are incredible creatures that have shaped history around the globe. There are over 150 different breeds of horses that have countless skills. Between their extraordinary intelligence and obedience, horses have worked at the mercy of humans for many different reasons. Their expertise ranges from being one of the fastest modes of transportation on land, to helping fight in wars, herd cattle and even serve as a source of recreation or sport (Duren). Horses have been present throughout all of history up until present day specifically in religions or cultures, war, and their uses in modern times.

Think of your favorite thing in the world to do. Something that defines you. Something that you can only experience from your eyes. For me it is soccer, and through that came a rite of passage that will be with me forever.