At 08:21:54 on 19.04.11, Flicka wrote:
I read this article in the newspaper at the weekend about how taking up riding changed a woman's life-it's well worth reading-and made me wonder if anyone else has any good stories. I definitely relate to it as re-kindling my passion for riding made me move out of London, leave behind a very successful career, and begin a very different life-but do I regret it NO WAY!!!! Funny how we always come back to our childhood dreams :D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/8438144/Riding-lessons-changed-my-life.html

At 00:09:48 on 20.04.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Well riding lessons definately changed me but i can't see me stopping, i will always fit my life around horses, grenville always comes first haha and as for boys i havn't got time for them haha i was talking about one of my friends bradley at the farm today and june (grandma june as we call her :D) was like "oooh you got a man in your life" i was like no june i don't have the time or patience for boys haha :)... My dad thinks it is great mind ;) and it gets me out and keeps me away from drugs and drinking on street corners unlike lots of my non horsey friends. I don't know what i would be like now if i hadn't started riding

At 00:41:12 on 20.04.11, kibby wrote:
I am in the same boat as Jess. Had I not had horses to take up my entire life I think I would have been one of those binge drinking teenagers. Who gets themselves into a mountain of trouble.

At 06:46:25 on 20.04.11, crazycowgirl99 wrote:
My parents had the same theory - if they bought me a horse at least they knew where I was... & it stopped me nagging! My boy has been with me thru the good times & the extremely low times, he is my world. I can honestly say there were (& still are) times that I wouldnt have gotten out of bed if it hadnt have been for my horses. I wouldnt survive without them :)

At 09:14:56 on 20.04.11, Em28 wrote:
Loved the article, thanks for finding it!! It's great isnt it how unless we live our lives for ourselves and do what our subconscious is telling us we wont be truly happy and content. It seems people that have been most successful in their lives have done exactly what they dream of doing and everything else falls into place. I'm glad she found horses back in her life. Have to say I have never known a life without horses, funny as horses have been the only constant and whenever I have taken a new path and direction I often seem to find myself in front of a new horse that needs riding as well! I definitely feel that horses have shaped who I am as an individual and I would probably be more selfish, less empathetic and have less patience as well as being lazy, without having spent most of my childhood at the stables working my socks off!

At 20:18:19 on 20.04.11, sophieandcallum wrote:
What a fantastic story, I lost touch with horses for a while at I moved up to secondary school and after my parents horrible divorce, my mum just couldn't afford it and I had a bad fall and that was cut out of my life. Through that few teenage years I rebelled, smoked, drank, and was just generally a complete idiot and always in trouble. I then decided with my savings I wanted a horse again, back to my real love. Without having Callum to deal with my ridiculous ways I'm not sure where I'd be now, he has taught me patience, respect, confidence, and has generally 'fixed' me. When life gets tough I go see him and everything just seems that little bit brighter. Having to be dedicated has given me the structure I needed, and having that little whinny to greet me makes my day, everyday without fail.

At 23:32:00 on 20.04.11, AnnMurray wrote:
I, so agree, because I, myself have made a full circle in ife changes back to nature and horses. Love it every minute.

At 20:19:01 on 22.04.11, GalwayGirl wrote:
horses have changed my life so much .. i will always have them to thank for my confidence and pretty much everything . i will always have my life around horses , i cant imagine it any other way really . in college i even hope to study equine science :) i just love them so much its crazy !

At 23:09:46 on 22.04.11, chrisatcassis wrote:
Horses have kept me sane when left widowed younge and loosing my baby son only a few years before. When the day finally came for my youngest to go off to school I new I needed something to keep me going through the day as the emptiness and grief would over take. My thoughts went immediately back to my riding days and I bought myself a horse after some 10 years without. So during the day I was occupied with my riding and of course when my lovely girls came back from school I was kept busy with them. I had managed to get through some of the worst days ever with my much loved four legged companion and friend. My girls are now grown and I am still riding and believe me you can share so much with your amazing four legged friend.

At 07:38:58 on 04.08.11, Am14 wrote:
I started riding when I was 8. When I was 10 my dad got a better job and we had to move, well I started school halfway through the year so all year I was made fun of for being the new kid. I went through a period of serious depression. I didn't do anything but eat sleep and go to school. One day my family and I went to a county preserve and my mom and I did a trail ride, it reminded me of how much I loved horses. So I Begged for lessons and my parents agreed, think it would help me out of my depression and it did. It even ended up saving my life. If I didn't go on that trail ride I most likely wouldn't be here right now. So not only did it change my life it saved my life. :) And I am forever grateful.