Riding and owning horses has impacted my life is so many ways. Horses are incredible teachers and have taught me so many life lessons. I will be forever grateful because they've truly shaped me into who I am today, and I still have so much to learn!

1. Respect

Just like in many aspects of life, the horse world is smaller than you would think and comes with a variety of opinions and experiences. One of the most important lessons I learned is to always respect others opinions and beliefs, just as I wish to earn the same respect. It not only applies to the horse world but in everyday life as well — being able to share experiences while still remaining respectful and kind. After none of us know all the answers!

2. How to trust that gut feeling

Horses are unpredictable in every way, not a single one is the same, and they all have different needs. Horses have undeniably taught me more than anything how to trust my instincts. It's hard to put into words, but I've learned sometimes you just have to go with it. Even if it sounds crazy, sometimes it's just right.

3. How to deal with chaos

Things can get tricky way too fast when you're dealing with a thousand pound beast, and sometimes they are just a ticking time bomb and just the right thing can set them off. Horses have definitely taught me how to react under pressure and diffuse chaotic situations. (It's not as easy as it looks).

4. Patience

Horses play on horse time, not on human time, which means they're going to do whatever the hell they want whenever the hell they want to do it. There is no forcing them. I've learned patience is the only way to survive. (Believe me, that was a hard one as I was not born a patient person).

5. That there is never a perfect answer

The more I've grown as a horse person, the more I've realized there is no one answer. When you are trying to figure something out, you'll see that there are tons of way to treat issues, and I have yet to think a single answer is absolutely perfect because let's be honest here, perfection doesn't exist not in horses and not in life and certainly not in research. I've found as my knowledge grows, and I find a new perspective, my answer changes and grows as I do. (The number of saddles I've bought and sold can attest to that).

6. How to listen

Horses taught me how to really really listen. You're probably thinking, "How do you listen to an animal that can't talk?", and you'd be right they can't verbally communicate but they can most definitely communicate if your willing to listen. Their body language, their energy will tell you what you need to know. Once you start listening, it seems to feel like they never stop talking.

7. How to be humble

To me, there is so much more to horses than competing and winning, and horses have humbled me because even the smallest of victories seem so sweet. They've taught me how much I don't know. They've completely changed my views and goals.

8. Responsibility

Horses are a lot of responsibility both financially and physically. Caring for them from a young age and now taking care of them 24/7 has taught me so much responsibility and diligence. There is never a dull moment when owning a horse (ask anyone)!

9. How to be more in touch with emotions

Owning a horse is sometimes like looking in the mirror. They can reflect so much of what you may need at that time in life. When I got my gelding, he was stubborn, depressed, detached and hated help of any kind and had zero self-preservation (hmm, who does that sound like... psstttt that wasn't me). We've have come a long way, but my horses have taught me more about myself than anyone ever could.

10. Gave me confidence

When I felt like I had nothing else, horses were always my go-to. They were about all I looked forward to every week when I was a kid. They kept me going. Horses have given me a purpose, they have given me drive. They untimely have led me to what I hope is a future career. I am so grateful,because all of the blood, sweat and tears opened so many doors for me and had given me an education that is priceless. Even if I don't pursue a career in horses, they will always be a part of my life, and they have already impacted it so greatly.