Every time I tell someone that I ride horses, without fail, I get a weird look. Horse girls have a bad reputation—many think it’s our whole personality. While that may be true for some, the reality is that horseback riding has changed my life for the better: the people, the skills and the lessons I have learned have made me who I am, and I am not ashamed of my horse girl status.

When you think of a stereotypical horse girl, you think of the girls who know all the horse facts that exist, who dress in barn clothes and play horse during recess. The reality is, these are girls trying to share the joy they find within their passion — something we should cherish, not shun.

I’ve been riding for five years, a shorter period of time compared to many horse girls my age, but long enough to have been a major influence on my life.

Many of the people I met have helped me gain confidence and connection. Sam and Kelly, my first riding instructors who helped me gain my initial confidence and skill in the seat; Olive, a fellow student who helped me learn my way around the barn; Addy, my most recent instructor, took me to the next level; Mariam and the other girls at my barn taught me what healthy, supportive competition should look like. Some of these were recent, others at the very beginning of my journey, but I remember them all because of what they gifted me: knowledge, skill and memories I’ll never forget.

Since my first interaction with horses as a kid, I noticed how they improved my mood, mental health and confidence. (Tammi Haddleton)

Horseback riding has made me stronger, both mentally and physically. I’m not a naturally athletic person, but horseback riding showed me I didn’t need to be in order to become strong. Even maintaining your balance in the saddle requires strength and balance, and every time you ride, you become physically stronger.

Additionally, horseback riding has vastly improved my mental health. Having stopped lessons for a time due to health reasons, I noticed how much I’ve had to compensate to take care of my mental health since — my lesson was the part of my week I’d always look forward to, and that I knew I’d have fun at. Equine therapy is a thing for a reason.

Being a horse girl has also made me more confident. In the last year of my lessons, I began to learn barrel racing and pole bending — two rodeo events that require focus, precision and trust.

My heart was racing — from both excitement and nervousness. It was a completely foreign concept to me, as I’d only ever ridden horsemanship events. My instructor, Addy, encouraged me, walked me through it all.

The more I did it, the more confident I became. I knew the motions, I knew the technique, and I knew my horse. Slowly but surely, I became faster and faster.

My confidence boost applied to other areas of my life too — I was confident in my abilities there, so I learned I could be in different situations as well. Presentations, relationships and even my writing. Rodeo events require you to trust your horse, but even more importantly yourself. No room for hesitation.

So I’m proud of being a horse girl; I refuse to be ashamed of the passion that’s made me who I am, and no looks or comments will change that. Horseback riding takes an extreme amount of work, dedication and time at any level of commitment, more so than most hobbies or interests. It should be treated with at least the same respect as any other extracurricular activity.