What I learned from being bitten on the butt by a horse…

Getting ready for a trail ride with Snow White

Two years ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to ride a horse. I had done a few trail rides over the years but I wanted to properly learn how to ride. I bought all of the stuff to make me look official - riding pants, boots, helmet - and I was set. At least I thought I was. I looked the part but truly had no idea what I was doing. Most importantly, I didn’t Really know anything about horses.

I was so excited to start lessons. The barn that I signed up at put me in a group class. Hind sight - I should have not been put in a group class. The other ladies were so far ahead of me. One stating “I grew up with horses, I just haven’t ridden in a few years and am getting back into it.” This was my first clue that I was out of my league. I attended a few lessons and began learning how to lift the horses legs to clean out their hooves - put the saddle pad on and the saddle on top. We did all of the intro stuff like leading the horse out to the arena, mounting and sitting upright with good posture. I worked hard on trying to get the horse to listen to me - go when I wanted her to - stop when I asked. I struggled with getting her to listen to me feeling like I was doing everything wrong. Not truly having a connection with the horse. Which was really what I was looking for. I just didn’t know it at the time.

All of this eventually led up to one day when I arrived and the instructor was still out in the arena with another student. The other ladies were already there getting their horses tacked up. This required you to get your horse out of their stall - tie them in the barn and begin brushing them, cleaning out their hooves and putting all of their tack on. I went to the instructor and asked about waiting until she could be there with me but I could tell she was flustered. Her boss had scheduled riding sessions back to back with no time in between for the instructor to be fully present for us. My instructor told me “You’ve tacked up your horse several times now so go ahead and give it a try without me”. Something inside of me said don’t do that but being the “good” student, I was going to try.

I went into the stall and led my horse out. I got her tied up and started brushing her. I could tell she was agitated. She was stomping her hooves and breathing heavy. Everything inside of me was screaming to stop and wait for my instructor but I pressed on. I kept thinking “I can do this”, “Just do this”. I felt nervous and my heart was racing. I finally finished brushing her and began to pick her hooves. To do this, you stand next to the horse facing the direction of their tail. You run your hand down their leg and lean your body into them so they pick their leg up. I started with one of the back hooves. I got it cleaned out and moved up to her front. Again, I was facing toward her tail, leaned over, ran my hand down her leg and tried to pick up her hoof. It was in that instant that she whipped her head around and bit me on my butt. I jumped up - yelled and quickly moved away from her.

The other ladies were in the barn and immediately asked what had happened. They laughed when I told them and began telling stories of where on their bodies they had been bitten by horses. Soon after, my instructor came in. I let her know what had happened and told her I was not going to finish tacking the horse up. What I really wanted to do was leave. I didn’t want to ride at that point. I didn’t know if my nervous system could come down from this to be able to ride. The instructor finished the tack while trying to “get the horse under control”. (I did not agree with the way in which she did so - that’s a story for another time - let’s just say I didn’t go back to that barn for lessons anymore after that day)

My instructor rode my horse before my lesson to “make sure she would be ok to ride” and deemed it ok. I rode but didn’t feel right about it for so many reasons. I left feeling disappointed - in myself - in the instructor - but not in the horse. The horse was trying to tell me something was wrong using the only way she knew how. Before it ever got to the bite, she was giving me signs. Her body was stiff- she was snorting - throwing her head - stomping her hooves. I didn’t listen. I noticed all of the signs. I didn’t want to keep tacking her up but I did it anyway. I didn’t listen to my gut. I ignored it. Like so many times in my life. I ignored the one thing that is the most accurate. My gut - my intuition. It is ALWAYS right.

I learned so much that day. First was to truly learn about horses. Start from the ground up. I worked with someone for a long time to really learn about horses and what their body language means as well as getting myself centered to be able to work around them. I didn’t even ride for the longest time. I would just be in the presence of them. (This is also another story for another time - what horses have taught me) But the thing I learned most that day is that I already have everything inside of myself to know what I need to make the best decisions. Sometimes, like most of us I am sure, I learn lessons the hard way.

Riding Zippo at Lost Valley Ranch in Colorado