If you know me or you’ve spent any time at all on this website, then you know that two things are really important to me: horses and art. Some people would think that those things weren’t alike at all, but they have more in common than you’d think! In my opinion, they are very much alike, and here’s three reasons why I think so!
1. You’ll never know everything there is to know about either.
I get bored and lose interest in things pretty easily, unless there’s something more to learn about that thing. If I get interested in one subject and then run out of things to explore about it, I’ll stop being interested in it. But with art, you’re always learning something new and refining your skills and style. The day an artist stops learning is the day they stop growing and improving their craft.
I feel like it’s the same way with horses! Even after seven years of being around them nearly every day, I still learn new things about them, their care, and about riding. I absolutely love that! I’m always researching something new, learning something, and getting better at what I love.
2. Both are great forms of therapy.
Art has often been a form of therapy for me. When I’m feeling sad, or happy, or angry, I can channel that into a piece of art and work through those emotions. As long as I can remember, I’ve turned to art when I’m feeling bad.
Horses are also amazing therapy! There have been studies to prove it, but I don’t need a scientific study to tell me that horses have therapeutic properties. Horses make me laugh when I’m feeling down, they calm me when I have anxiety, and they are always there to listen when I need someone to talk to. Over the past few years I have cried into several furry necks when I just couldn’t handle things any more.
3. You can see the progress you’re making.
Looking back over the pieces I’ve created just in the past three years, it’s nice to see how my style and skills have evolved. As an artist, you evolve over time as you practice and hone your craft. I feel like the same is true when you ride horses (and even if you just care for them and do groundwork!)
When I first started being around horses, I was very timid around them. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t even know how to lead a horse, much less how to brush or tack up or care for one! Just a few years ago, I was too scared to canter my horse, who is notoriously difficult to get cantering because she rushes into it. But now I can canter around and around the arena until we both get tired, without fear of going too fast or losing control! Thinking about how far the two of us have come in the past years as a team is just crazy, and it gives me the confidence to keep on going forward and improving- in both my art and with my horse life!
In what way have horses taught you things about other areas of your life? Let me know in the comments!
