just as well. We made such a good team that every ride became a confi dence boost.
But confi dence was only one of the benefi ts of riding, I discovered. Aside from gaining the self-
assurance I needed and craved in other areas of my life, I became something of a ‘horse addict.’
After a while, riding became my peace of mind. I more than looked forward to it; I came to
depend on it.
In my opinion, everyone needs something to look forward to—something that will make
their day perfect, no matter how good or bad it was before that moment. Riding quickly became
my release. I could have the worst day of my life, but as soon as I’m in the saddle, every care
and worry escapes me and my only concern is the relationship between my horse and me.
To be honest, just knowing that I always had somewhere to go, someone to turn to who
would never judge me or cause me to feel bad about myself, made me feel beautiful. It didn’t
matter that my best friend was a horse; it only mattered that I had something in my life at which
I excelled, a presence in my life that gave me the self-esteem to see all of my own good quali-
ties—which is often a diffi cult task in and of itself. Riding horses made me feel beautiful.
And it still does, almost 2 decades after I began.
Yet still the benefi ts do not end there. As a child, I never got too into sports; my brother played
soccer, basketball, football—you name it, he excelled at it. I was always too concerned with rid-
ing horses to allow much time for sports, or even other such activities—but as far as keeping fi t,
I was set. I rode at least three horses a day, if not every day, then at least 5 times a week.
One of the most amazing benefi ts of riding horses, in my opinion, is that it forces you to use
just about every muscle in your body. Your legs have to be strong in order to stay tight on your
horse’s side; your arms have to be strong in order to keep a steady hold on the reins, allowing
your hands to remain fi rm yet still soft; your posture increases dramatically as a result of having
to keep your back straight; every core muscle in your body gets worked every minute of your
ride.
And that brings me to the fact that being an equestrian teaches you responsibility, teaches
you to appreciate commitment and to develop a healthy work ethic. Even as a young child, I
knew that riding horses meant hard work; if it meant that I would get to ride again, I would have
mucked out every stall in the barn. I got my fi rst job as an exercise rider when I was 11; by the
time I was 14, I had people hiring me to train their horses. Aside from my life at the barn, I had
excellent grades in school, as well, because I actually liked working hard—it gave me the same
sense of accomplishment that I got from riding.
After school, I’d take a lesson on Simon and then ride the 3 or 4 other horses that it was my job
to exercise or to train. I didn’t feel that my day was complete unless I arrived home completely
exhausted.
There has been little else in my life that has given me the confi dence, the self-esteem, the
physical and emotional benefi ts, nothing that has made me feel as comfortable in my own skin
as riding horses. Riding horses has made me stronger in every aspect of my life, and the more I
benefi t from it, the more benefi ts I discover. I believe wholeheartedly that, without riding, my
life would be forever incomplete.
Shanna Franklin originally from Southern California and has been a North Shoreian for a little
more than 2 years. She began riding horses at the age of 6, and has been working as a riding
instructor, horse trainer and barn manager for most of her adult life. Shanna is also a painter,
an author and a professional photographer. Shanna currently works as the barn manager for
Nassau Equestrian Center in Jericho, NY
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