Horseback Riding / Equestrian
March 5, 2011 by ABDada · Leave a Comment
A Primal Man strives to be a polymath, or as Wiktionary defines it, “a person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.” Knowledge is king in a world of weak chickens whose sole intellectual ability is knowing what order to press buttons in order to beat the latest video game, or can only compare a few sports actors abilities on the playing field. The Primal Man, the hawk, strives to actually acquire knowledge that makes him a better man for himself, and a better man for those in his life, be it business, friends or lovers.
While knowledge gained from books or school can be useful and even attractive, it doesn’t endear a significantly noticeable difference from other males who had read the same book or studied the same topic. Surely there are opinions that differ, but the overall prowess a man gains from organized education doesn’t generally offer a profit over time spent doing something that can bring a unique quality to the man’s knowledge of what he’s learned.
I prefer striving to learn by both physical labor as well as intellectual. I love reading, but I prefer putting my body into my hunger for learning. One area that I absolutely love is equestrian, or horseback riding.
The equine is a marvelous creature, going back thousands of years in man’s history as a companion, a defender and a hunter’s aid. The large athletic animal is almost designed to be led by humans. I look at the horse as the true pet and sidekick of a man, sort of a complete version of the generally lazy and lacking dog that most males think are the perfect pet. Anyone can buy a dog and train it in 6 weeks — few males have the energy, time and financial capacity to maintain a horse. Which group would you rather be in?
Horses are intense animals, but also peaceful. They’re individualistic, but they’re hungry for the command and control of a leader. If a weak rider engages a horse, the horse is not likely to follow directions specifically. Riding horses has been one of the best activities I’ve done in my life that continues to keep me determined, giving me better insight into my leadership abilities and roles. If you aren’t a natural leader, riding a horse will give you a quick lesson in what you need to change.
Equestrian also is a physically dominating activity. If you’re out of shape, riding a horse once or twice a week for an hour at a time will help your core strength as well as your posture. There can be no half attempts here — a solid ride requires a sharp mind, a strong attitude, a desire to dominate and direct, and good physical health.
I’ve had a few male friends in my life scoff at the idea of owning all or part of a horse. When I’ve broken down the overall costs, it’s come down to less money and less time than having a dog at home — that means there is no excuse for not leading an animal of stature versus an animal that will bring you your slippers in the morning. I pay less than $400 a month for a magnificent horse that I get to ride 2-3 days per week. I don’t have to buy food, pay for health care or insurance, I don’t have to rent a stable or worry about the horse’s care.
By sharing my equine with 2-3 others at the same stable, we’re able to divvy up the costs equitably and still get more than enough riding time in. I can not imagine not having access to my riding companion, which gives me a jolt of mental and physical strength on each training visit. In the summer months, I am able to ride through hundreds (if not thousands) of acres of natural forest and prairie, a form of individual meditation that I can not get from yoga or running or napping.
The 2-3 hours a week I invest is also equivalent to what I’d need to do with a canine (including walking one twice a day, feeding it, and exercise). In my opinion, riding horses is actually less time consuming than owning a dog, and brings much more excitement to my life. If I want to spend a day in nature with a lovely lady I’m dating, I can rent another horse for her for the cost of a small lunch. Going for walks with a dog and a lady might be nice, but it’s not very unique.
If you don’t have any experience in equestrian, just use Google Maps to find the closest stables to your home or office. You’d be surprised at how many exist all over the country, and a little bit of determined negotiation skills can usually get you into basic training for less than $200 a month initially (even cheaper at smaller stables).
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