I started taking horseback riding lessons at 40. I have loved horses ever since I can remember but life, reluctant parents, and all of the details that can distract some of us from pursuing our dreams got in the way, and I got a late start. I started lessons at a hunter/ jumper barn outside of Los Angeles. With no horse of my own, my lessons were on “school horses.” These were horses owned by the stable and used solely for lessons. The younger riders seemed enchanted by the more expensive, privately owned horses that lived in the barn. They talked of “graduating” to those horses. The school horses lived in a herd in a small pasture out back, and I take my hat off to them!
Before each lesson, students would go out into the little herd and halter a horse suggested by the trainer. Culling one of the horses out of the herd was slightly daunting for a nervous beginner like myself, but I managed to do it, groom the horse, saddle up and get out into the arena for a lesson.
The horses who lived in the barn were beautiful, well bred, and many competed in horse shows around the state. But to my way of thinking, the school horses had the really tough job. I wish I could have hopped on, gracefully trotted around the arena (or heaven forbid cantered!) and focussed on the finer points of riding, but that was not to be. I bounced around, pulled at my horses’ mouth, and just tried to stay on. Thanks to the wonderful patient school horses I usually did! (and when I didn’t it was all on me!) I wonder what they were thinking when they saw me approaching, halter in hand, knowing they had their work cut out for them?!
Dottie was a big boned Appaloosa who carried me faithfully and even put up with my fitful attempts to try some dressage patterns. Rosie was a small, white horse who was intelligent, athletic, and received compliments from the instructor even when she was the only school horse in the arena. She moved with ease and carried me along. There were so many more, and I’m sad to say I can’t recall their names.
I’m sure there are many of you out there who spent time on a school horse. I hope that by remembering, we honor them.