What Matters? Lessons Matter.

What are we learning? We’re learning lessons of patience. We’re learning lessons in finance. We’re learning lessons of gratitude. We’re learning lessons of community and charitable spirit. Lessons to be learned. Lessons being taught, some of them the really hard way.

Our entire industry is based on lessons—lesson programs and lesson horses. You first met them at a little girl’s birthday party. Or, you first met them at a school carnival where your daughter first rode around on a lead line. Or, you first met them at a holiday parade where you could pet the nose of this majestic American Saddlebred. Everyone has a “where you first met them” story. Even the greatest trainer in our industry, the very best riders, took lessons first. Someone walked them through their “up-down” lessons. Someone consoled them when they inevitably fell off for the first time.

It is to all of these wonderful instructors and wonderful lesson horse teachers that this column is dedicated this week. During these difficult times, one of the keys is helping out these barns, instructors, lesson programs. And those fabulous lesson horses. So kind and so generous. They go by people’s names—Lance, Chuck, Sam. They go by animal names—Rabbit, Bunny, Gator. They go by silly names and funny names. They’re named for their quirks and their personalities. But all of them help some little girl or boy; or some grown woman or man learn and grow and experience success and more learning. Whether it’s in saddle seat, show jumping, dressage, hunter- jumper, western, parade, trail riding, or any of the innumerable things this majestic breed can do, they do it for you—to learn and to grow.

Let’s also give praise to those patient riding instructors. Without them, we have very few riders. They laugh and cry with their students. They push and they prod. They support and they teach. They explain and they explain again. They are the lifeblood of the equine industry.

In these days of uncertainty, we must be certain about this. We must protect our lesson barns and our lesson horses. To that end, take a look at this inspirational message from well-known trainer Melissa Moore available here. 

And please consider sponsoring a lesson horse from a bona fide lesson program. Reach out to your barn today and make a contribution to go towards the care, feed or supplies needed to provide your favorite lesson horse the best care while barns are closed. A list of lesson programs seeking sponsorships available here. If you need the name of a good lesson barn to sponsor a lesson horse, reach out to the ASHA and we can help you to find one.

Invest in the future; everyone’s future.

What matters? #lessonhorselove Matters.