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Many horse owners in the U.S. are discouraged at not being able to find activities to do with their horses. This will hopefully shed some light on interesting things to do with your horse or horses.
1. Take your horse to the beach.
Take an outing to the nearest beach or seashore. This trip will require that you have a horse trailer to haul your horse or horses. You will need to pack a lunch, and have food and water in the trailer for your horse. You may want to be creative and have a picnic, or even let your horse play in the water. Please note that at some beaches you can rent horses for a few hours or so if you do not have a horse of your own.
2. Go for a trail ride.
Many people love to trail ride. There are many places that rent horses for guided and unguided tours. This is very nice if you do not have a horse of your own. In my area there is an outfitting company that rents horses for an all day mountain trail tour. This can be a wonderful way for horse owners to bond with their horse. The horses usually love trail rides since the atmosphere is so relaxing and the horse can go at its own pace. Be sure to travel in groups of at least two: that way if you or your horse get injured you will have a buddy to go for assistance.
3. Join a club.
Many people love to join a club with their horse. These clubs may include those for specific disciplines such as jumping, dressage, cutting, etc.
There are also breed organizations that have clubs for specific breeds of horses, such as Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, etc.
It is also a good idea to join a breed club if you are interested in a certain breed of horse. You will gain the knowledge of the breed you like, and also meet people who own this type of horse. You will be surprised at the input you receive!
4. Go to horse shows.
Select a discipline that you feel your horse is capable of.
For instance, if your horse is not a natural jumper, you wouldn't want to choose a discipline that requires jumping, such as eventing or show jumping.
Have fun. If your horse doesn't win every show, don't get discouraged. Your horse may not excel at this particular discipline, or may just need time to develop it's talent. It may also be that YOU need some time to learn!
Never yell or get mad at your horse if you lose. Horses are extremely sensitive and intuitive, and a bad experience may cause a horse to be afraid of the next show you attend!
5. Donate your time to a charitable organization.
Many horse owners donate theirs and their horses time to charity: maybe an organization that works with handicapped children needs a riding instructor. Many non-profit organizations will greatly appreciate your help. If your horse is well behaved it may be a valuable asset to a program such as I mentioned above. The children will love being around your horse, and you will benefit greatly from the experience as well.
Whatever you choose to do with your horse, the experiences you have will be wonderful and you will have lasting memories as well as gaining valuable experience and learning responsibility.
Have fun and happy trails!
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