Skill: Horseriding
Horseriding is by far the thing I am probably most passionate about as it holds a place close to my heart. I have always loved animal interaction from a very young age and where other kids would have been scared or intimidated I was always one to walk up to them with absolutely no fear. I was most happy when surrounded by animals but in particular horses. I would write poetry about horses and invent stories from the depths of my imagination about them too. As I was born in London, I started riding there at the age of 4 but shortly after, we moved to Singapore where I continued to ride, initially at Bukit Timah Saddle club but then shifted over to the Polo Club. I have learned so much from horseriding and found such immense happiness that I don’t know how to explain it. Horseriding as taught me about how riding interconnects supports and helps so much else such as gymnastics and Taekwondo, both of which I was doing at the time. I persued Taekwondo more until I reached black belt at the age of 9. The way that these sports that I enjoyed interconnected was fascinating and intrigued me even more. The way that the 3 sports complimented each other in seemingly non-obvious ways, for example, the way that they all help to build core muscle. However, horseriding was probably my favorite of the 3 and I have progressed most in the last 1 year of horseriding. In a seemingly bad week, I always have at least one thing to look forward too regularly as it has become part of my weekly routine. I await the Saturday when I can finally see, connect and bond with the horses. Ever since a young age my parents, as well as others, had noticed my particular connection to the horses and acted upon it. I love just spending time with them after my lesson too, feeding them, bathing them talking to them, grooming them; all these things have never seemed like a chore to me. On the contrary in fact, on the days I didn’t get to do that after the lesson I would feel sad and incomplete. I love being in the company of horses as they are so simple and they seem to get me. Horseriding is a skill that requires an acquired taste. When I ride I find that it feels almost as if you and the horse are one being and you develop coordination and collaboration with your horse, due to this it doesn’t feel like we are 2 separate beings. Horseriding also taught me to be openminded and this is a very important skill as it allows creativity and critical thinking it enables you to see other ways other than just your own. Being openminded only enhances your experience and makes you a better rider. It also teaches you compromisation and adaptation towards each horse. Something that I have never had trouble keeping in mind is that a horse is not a machine but rather a living breathing animal that has feelings just like us, and needs to be treated with respect. I have learned over time how to deal with a variety of horses personalities as just like humans they all have unique and different personalities and no horse is alike. Depending on the horser I am riding I adapt my style of riding and the strength and extent to which I used aids to communicate with them as I realise that they all respond differently. Being able to adapt to another method is a very important skill as it is used in the work place as well as in everyday life and social life.
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