Male Teen Equestrians

By: Luke

My passion for horses started about 3 years ago.  It started innocently enough when my neighbor brought her Friesian to her home barn. I started going over there, learning to groom, muck stalls, scrub buckets and anything else to further my horsey knowledge.

But now… I eat, sleep and dream of horses.  There is NO GOING BACK!!  I am very blessed for all of the opportunities that I have been given with horses. I absolutely love working at a local barn and am currently leasing my best friend Danny. Danny is a 15 year-old quarter horse pony.

Did you know only 22.6% of equestrians are males? Does this pose certain challenges for males? Yes, but nonetheless, being an equestrian is truly one of the best sports and I would not trade it for anything.

For you parents who have a son that wants to ride but are a bit hesitant, here are some pointers that helped me! 

Try to find a barn with at least one other male – although being the only male does have its perks!

Secondly,  find a barn that offers a work to ride program or a work for a cheaper lesson fee, as it teaches kids responsibility and also shows them how much hard work goes into riding horses.  It instills management skills and respect into your child.

Many doors have opened because of the people I have met at the barn, and I can honestly say I am comfortable talking to anyone now, kids, adults, male or female.  As I continue to work with horses, my love for the sport continues to grow.

I’ll keep you up to date on other topics from my point of view in the near future, so watch this space!