Finally able to ride later in life, a novice adult amateur learns life lessons – and gains confidence and resilience – through horses and dressage.
By Nancy Austin
When I was a child, I played with model horses, not Barbie dolls. My favorite was a black velvet horse with a mane and tail that I could brush. I would sit for hours in my bedroom, imagining that he and I were flying effortlessly across green pastures. He was my dream horse, my best friend, one that I could share all my girlhood secrets with. I fantasized about riding, horses, and someday having a special horse to call my own.
I’m not sure where my passion for these amazing animals started, as no one in my family rode or had anything to do with horses. To some extent, this made me feel like an outsider in my own family. I begged my parents for lessons, but the answer was always no, and they never gave in.
I had occasional encounters with horses. When I was 12, I visited a farm on the outskirts of our neighborhood that had ponies. In my early thirties, I took riding lessons for a brief time. Although these experiences were short-lived, they taught me that there is always hope and never to give up.
Growing up and into adulthood, I would tell the people I met about my love for horses. Some would listen; others, not so much. I met my second husband when I was in my late forties, and on our wedding day, he gave me the surprise of my life: an envelope containing vouchers for riding lessons. Tears of joy streamed down my face. He had listened, and this deeply touched my heart.
At the age of 49, after numerous lessons, I found my first horse. I remember excitedly telling my husband that I wanted to purchase Angel, a sturdy nine-year-old Quarter pony. Luckily for me, my husband was (and still is) very supportive, because I had no clue what it takes to own a horse.
Boy, did Angel teach me a thing or two and then some. She was my sassy, opinionated mare. Together, we made the leap from the hunter/jumper ring to dressage. It happened after we’d moved to our current barn, which is primarily a dressage facility. I didn’t know much about dressage, but I was fascinated by the riders and horses who seemed to be dancing effortlessly together. I approached the dressage instructor with trepidation: Would she be willing to convert a hunter/jumper rider to dressage? Thankfully, she was, and I took my first dressage lesson and fell in love.
Through dressage, I was able to build a special bond with Angel—one that we hadn’t had before. I truly believe that we finally understood each other. I tried my best to stay out of her way when I rode. She took such good care of me when I did; when I didn’t—well, that was another story.
Along the way, two other horses came into my life: Chester, an off-the-track Thoroughbred, and Captain, who formed an incredible partnership with my youngest daughter before tragically suffering an irreparable broken leg. When we said goodbye to Captain, I learned that life is precious, and around the corner, anything can happen.
In early 2022, I was preparing excitedly for my very first dressage show with Angel, now 24. One February day, I arrived at the barn and sensed that something wasn’t right with my girl, who wasn’t her usual sassy self. It turned out that Angel was having a horrible bout of colic. I walked her, talked to her, and did my best to soothe her while we waited for the veterinarian. It hurt so much to see my mare in excruciating pain.
When the vet arrived, I received the devastating news that there was little hope of recovery. Making the decision to let Angel go was the most difficult and gut-wrenching moment of my life. With my daughter and husband by my side, we said our goodbyes to another cherished family member.
I still have my sweet boy Chester, who’s now 17 and retired after a career-ending injury. We enjoy long grooming sessions together, but after he retired, I had no horse to ride and sorely missed the challenges of dressage and the confidence it was giving me as a rider.
My trainer encouraged me to take some lessons on Periwinkle, a sale horse at our barn. I was anxious because I knew the mare was trained for dressage, and I thought she was way too advanced for me. To my delight, our lessons went so well that I decided that Periwinkle and I had a wonderful future together. The lovely bay mare became mine in March 2023, and she is teaching me all about the amazing aspects of dressage. She is such a calming and patient horse, and I thank her after every ride. I learned from this experience that sometimes you just need to listen and trust others.
These animals give so much of themselves to us—trust, faithfulness, and most important, companionship. The bond we create with these beautiful beings is like no other. As my youngest daughter often says, horses teach us how to deal with the unexpected and that life is fragile.
Each of my horses has taught me so much. I know that, at the age of 66, my journey with horses and dressage isn’t over. This is only the beginning. I continue to find dressage to be both fascinating and a challenge—a challenge I am ready for. I will ride for as long as I can, and when that is no longer possible, my hope is that I will still be able to be in the presence of these magnificent animals.
