Hello everyone!

This past week I had the pleasure of crossing horseback riding off my bucket list. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I went into it expecting one thing and left with an entirely different but even better outlook. There are things in life that we always want to do but rarely find the time for or are too scared to make happen. One of my resolutions for the year was to stop waiting to make things happen and live life to the fullest, and I truly believe I have stuck to it. Horseback riding is the perfect example. I encourage you to do the same in whatever ventures you want to pursue. We have one life, and we need to spend more time living it!

In this post, I am going to go through my horseback riding experience with you all. I am going to go into detail about where I went, the process and if I recommend it overall.

WHERE DID WE GO?

We went to The Ranch, a small ranch located in Oakville, Ontario. They have been open since 1980 and offer adventures and lessons to everyone from beginners to experts. The Ranch takes you through the scenic trails of the escarpment, making it the perfect activity to do in the fall with the beautiful foliage.

THE PROCESS

Upon embarking on my horseback riding adventure I am not sure I was entirely sure what I was getting into. I had never ridden a horse before therefore I was completely unaware of all the rules and regulations to follow when riding a horse. There are little things to keep in mind to keep both you and the horse safe. Some of these things include holding the reigns at just the right point to ensure that you have enough control of the horse but are not causing the horse to feel restricted or like it needs to stop moving. Additionally, you have to keep a close eye on high grassy patches! Horses LOVE to eat grass at any point; if they have even the slightest access to it. To avoid this you need to hold the reigns tight to avoid the horse from dipping its head down. Also, if you want your horse to move you have to give them a good “boop” on the belly or they can’t feel it. The Ranch instructors go over this in detail to make you feel knowledgeable and safe upon riding your horse.

MEET ‘DOLLY’

In the line of riders waiting to be paired with their horse for our adventure I was selected first. I know right! It was not until that moment that I realized how terrified I was. You truly do not realize how big horses are until you are standing right next to them…or better yet sitting on top of them. I mustered up the courage, climbed the step ladder, and swang onto the saddle. I was introduced to “Dolly”, my best friend for the next hour and a half. Dolly was a stunning brown and white horse with white hair. Once I was settled and took a deep breath I began to realize that Dolly and I were in this together. As long as I respected and took care of her, she would do the same for me.

HORSIE SEE, HORSIE DO

Once the entire group got paired with their horses, the instructor led the pack toward the trail. At this point, I was so scared I wasn’t going to be able to control or get Dolly to move and follow the rest of the group. But my was I wrong. Horsie see, horsie do! As soon as the instructor led his horse down the trail, the rest instinctively followed in a nice orderly line. When my horse started moving I was shocked at first because there is nothing to compare the feeling to. I took a moment and thought, “I am on a horse, in cowboy boots, in a line with 8 other horses, being led on horseback through the stunning trails of the escarpment”. Someone pinch me!

GIDDIE UP HORSIE

Upon embarking on this horseback riding journey I had no idea that we would be speeding up to what is called a “trot” in the horseback riding world. For context, the normal walking pace of a horse is 4km an hour. A horse “trot” takes you up to 11km an hour. Doesn’t seem too the crazy right? Well, the instructor stated that although 4km to 11km in a car seems like a snail’s pace, on a horse it feels like you’re going 100km an hour at first. He could not have been more accurate. On various sections of the trail, the horses are instructed to increase their speed to a trot, once again following suit of the horse in front of them. I was definitely taken off guard at first, holding on to the rains and saddle for dear life. As soon as the initial shock wore off the whole experience was amazing. You feel so free and in the moment. I could not wait to go again!

AM I A COWGIRL NOW?

I have always had a love for all things country a.k.a country music, cowboy boots and the countryside. It is a connection I have always had. Going horseback riding lit that love and fire in me even more. I felt so calm, happy and comfortable in those moments of riding Dolly. I could not recommend the experience enough to anyone. It is one of those experiences that you look back on and can only smile. Get a group together or go with your significant other on a date. It is so exciting, allowing you to experience new things and overcome some fears.

WHAT TO WEAR

I love fashion, so little me put fashion before function in this scenario. I wore jeans, cowboy boots and a large scarf. Although this looked super cute and still did allow me to ride the horse comfortably, if I could go back I would have worn something different. The fact of the matter is that sitting on a horse means your legs are spread wide and you need easy access to things around you. I would wear leggings or loose-fitting pants, boots or sneakers of any kind as well as a simple sweater or jacket. The simpler the better in this case. Comfort and function are key!