You love horses; you love their beauty, the feel and smell of everything equine. Horses are your passion, and touching a horse might be a rare treat, while being able to go horse riding is a dream come true.
Dear horse lover, you are not alone. There are many horse-crazy people for whom regular horse interaction isn’t an option; maybe they can’t afford lessons or live too far away from a stable. I myself can’t always afford riding lessons, but I keep my passion for horses alive in any way I can.
1) Make a horse scrap book
Cut up old magazines, print pictures, buy some horse-themed scrapbooking paper and crafts, and buy a scrapbook or create a junk journal and let your creativity run free. You could do pages on different breeds, different colours foals, or your dream horse—just have fun creating!
2) Engage with online horse communities
There is so much you can learn from other people in the horse community. You can ask for advice about riding lessons, volunteering, or owning a horse, and you can also share your own advice with others. People are usually happy to share their experiences and stories because we all have the same thing in common: we love horses and want to see others reach their dreams.
3) Join A Pony Club
Joining a pony club offers you a structured, affordable way to learn horseback riding and horsemanship without owning a horse. You will also make new friends who are just as horse-crazy as you are.
4) Read Horse Magazine’s
You can gain expert-backed insights into horse care, training, and industry news that go beyond what you typically find while scrolling online. Plus, you can save them and use them later for your horse crafts.
5) Read Horse Books Both Fiction And Horse Manuals
My favourite book is *Black Beauty*. I read that book over and over again as a child and still do as an adult, and today there are so many more horse stories to choose from. The great thing about horses is that you are always learning, so read manuals and learn some theory such as anatomy, tack names and fittings, stable management, and grooming. Keep learning—you never know when you might need it.
6) Enjoy A Day Out At A Local Horse Show
You will have a fun day watching riders and horses compete and meeting people who love horses as much as you do. You never know who you will meet or what you will learn. And you might be lucky enough to stroke a horse or two.
7) Volunteer
If you have a nearby charity or riding school, ask if you can volunteer. You will probably start off with jobs like mucking out, cleaning food and water bowls, and cleaning tack. But that doesn’t matter; you have to start somewhere and work your way up. Plus, if you dream of owning a horse or working with horses, you have to do it all—from the not-so-glamorous jobs to the grooming and riding. If I’m honest, I actually enjoy mucking out stables; I find it a bit like therapy.
8) Collect Horse Models
No, this is not just for children— even as an adult I still have them. I personally like Schleich; they are just beautiful to look at and help me embrace my love of horses. So whatever your age, discover the joy of horse models.
9) Get Crafty
There are loads of crafty things you can do to help you embrace your love of horses from crochet to paint by numbers and horse themed mindful colouring. You could even make your own horse decorations or make stuff for your model horses. Just have fun, let your love shine and create.
10) Make A Vision Board
You have so many options here—you could even make a vision board about:
- Your love of horses
- What you want to learn next when you go horse riding
- Your dream horse
- Your pathway and plan to owning a horse
Vision boards are powerful visual tools that help clarify goals and boost daily motivation. Seeing your targets every day serves as a reminder of what you’re working toward.
11) Build Rider Core Strength
There is so much you can do to improve your fitness and balance in the saddle. To build strength, try exercises such as squats, lunges, and planks, and improve your balance by practicing yoga or Pilates. Horse riding is an amazing form of exercise, but you may be surprised by how much other types of exercise can help you in the saddle.
12) Learn How To Draw And Paint Horses
Bring out your inner artist and learn how to draw and paint horses—there are so many books and video tutorials available to help teach you. Buy a sketchbook and have some fun learning.
13) Write Your Own Horse Stories
You are only limited by your own imagination. So pick up a pen and write—it’s always fun to create a story where you are in control of every detail. I love writing horse stories; I have several notebooks full of them. I personally prefer keeping them in notebooks rather than on a computer. I can decorate the cover and turn it into a book cover for that story. Who knows—you may even have the next bestseller.
14) Watch Horse Movies and TV Shows
Thanks to streaming services, we can watch horse movies and TV shows whenever we like. So curl up on the sofa, turn on the TV, and enjoy an evening of watching nothing but horse movies and TV shows.
15) Take Photos Of Horses
We’re lucky to have a camera right in our pockets on modern phones, so grab yours and take loads of photos. You can sit back and look at them anytime you want, and you can also print them out to use in your horse crafts.
16) Journal
Get a new journal with horses on it and write in it every day about what you have learned, how you embraced your love for horses, and what you are grateful for. It will be fun to look back on it one day and see just how far you have come.
Summery
There you have it—sixteen ways to embrace and keep your love for horses alive. For those who already ride or own a horse, never take your blessing for granted, and for those who are still dreaming, keep dreaming and never give up. The day will come when you get lessons and stable time, and it will be worth every minute of waiting.
We are so blessed to have an amazing horse community that is full of support. We all share a love and passion for an animal that is so beautiful. So please, keep your love for horses alive and strong, and let me know: what do you do to keep your love of horses alive?
