Horseback riding consists of various events and activities. Riders can focus on hunter jumping, Western, dressage or trail riding, with each style demanding a different skillset.

This is part of what makes horseback riding activities worth more attention. They are physical and mental activities that demand patience, responsibility and courage from the riders who care deeply about their practice.

Riding and working with horses has positive impacts on student lives. Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) sophomore, Zofia Kulpinski, said, “[Horseback riding] definitely made me more confident in myself.” As for the responsibilities of a rider, Kulpinski said, “Before my lessons I would brush my own horse [and] put my own tack on… it was definitely a time management thing for me.”

This added responsibility makes horseback riding feel more like a lifestyle rather than just a hobby. That deeper connection and responsibility left a lasting impact on riders like Huntington Beach (HB) senior resident and retired nurse, Lorana Dudley. She said, “The fact that I could get on and have a beautiful creature like that and be able to ride them made me feel good and strong about myself.” Dudley explained how riding helped motivate her in her future nursing career. She said, “It gave me the responsibility to learn how to take care of something.”

Riding also forces people to face fear in a way that regular work seldom does. Horses are thousands of pounds and sometimes unpredictable animals, so riders have to stay calm even when something goes wrong. HB resident, Elizabeth Stinson, said, “One of the things that [riding] taught me was if you really want to do something, do it.”

Horseback riding also creates a kind of community that is different from what many people find in their day-to-day life. Stinson said, “It was a friendship building experience to be able to go horseback riding.”

Riding not only helps build responsibility, it can also give riders a place to disconnect from the stresses of daily life. HBHS sophomore, Alexandra Perkins, said, “I think it’s important for any person to have a place where they can disconnect from their responsibilities and tasks.” Despite the challenges, Perkins said, “Horseback riding changed my life, and as hard as it can be sometimes, it’s so worth it.” Even with the work and pressure, many riders say the experience is worth it because of the positive impact it has on their lives. Perkins said, “Riding has taught me responsibility, empathy, kindness [and] trust.”

Unlike a lot of school activities, horseback riding doesn’t end when practice ends. Riders have to handle tack (the essential gear required for a safe ride), grooming, preparation and horse care itself. A rider must balance their time carefully to ensure their beloved horse remains happy and healthy.

That confidence and strength does not come from sitting back and watching, it comes from doing something hard over and over again. Horseback riders improve through repetition and perseverance, even when it gets hard. That’s why riding is something any capable person should try at least once.

Horseback riding activities aren’t easy, and they’re not meant to be. They teach riders how to keep going when they are frustrated, how to stay calm when a horse is difficult and how to take care of an animal that depends on them.

School gives students a lot of useful experiences, but horseback riding gives them something different: a chance to grow through responsibility, discipline and trust. That is why if one has the opportunity to give riding a shot, they should take it.