1. Horses teach responsibility to the owners. If you are buying for your children then they will have to learn to clean the stalls, groom the horse and give it plenty of exercise and affection.

2. With rising gas prices, horses can be a green alternative to the situation. Instead of trying to create a future vehicle for transportation, it might be time we looked to the past.

3. Children who ride regularly are not sitting around watching television. They will benefit from the air and the sunshine.

4. Riding is a great form of physical activity. Gripping the horse, getting up and down and other movements required when riding will work more muscles than most people might ever imagine.

5. Riding helps with balance, coordination and strength building (particularly in the legs).

6. Horses make great companions for children (and for the family). They have a way of sensing your emotions and helping bring peace and comfort to your day.

Not every home is able to accommodate a horse. They need a place to stay and they need room to run. But if your family can get a horse then there are some great benefits you will receive from the choice.

From an early age, I was drawn to horses.  As sad as it sounds, even the smell of the animals brings a sense of peace around me.  For several years, I was blessed to attend a local horse camp where I got first hand experience caring for and working with these amazing animals.  For my 12th birthday, my parent’s surprised me with my very own horse.

In high school, I took my love for horses to the next level by taking an apprenticeship at an Arabian horse farm.  I learned the intricacies involved with preparing these horses for show.  I was trained to be a junior show rider.  And I got the wonderful “privilege” of learning how the breeding program worked (not something for the weak in stomach).

By college, I was no longer in a position to be around horses all the time.  But the love and the longing is still strong.  Every chance I get, I ride or pet or care for horses.  Through my own love, a love for horses has grown in my own children.  Last year, I was able to set them up with their own horse riding lessons.  They learned to ride bareback (an amazing experience) so that they would know how to grip with their knees.  They learned to saddle the horses on their own.  And they learned to groom and care for the horses they were riding.

For me, riding is a chance to lose myself in the wind.  It’s no wonder that so many great stories have feature characters that own (or are) the great creature we call horse.