The Adopt-a-Horse Program by Katie

The Adopt-a-Horse Program by Katie - September 2019 Scholarship Essay

I don’t own horses and I’d rarely had contact with them, so when my mom suggested volunteering at a local riding center, I was indifferent. The very first horse I ever groomed was a behemoth Thoroughbred in a small mood. He wouldn’t pick up his hooves, he stepped on the grooming bucket, and he refused to stand still. Naturally, I fell in love with him. And as I continued to volunteer over the course of several years, I enjoyed watching others do the same the first time they met a horse. An “Adopt-a-Horse” extracurricular program with a purpose of connecting students with horses through volunteer work or collective ownership, would provide huge benefits for everyone involved.
Taking care of a horse, for instance, is a huge responsibility. Horses must be regularly groomed, fed, watered, exercised, fed, bathed, fed…they are always hungry (where did you think the expression “eating like a horse” came from?). Caring for a horse is a lot of work, but the more you hang out with a horse, the deeper your relationship gets. The benefits outweigh the effort, plus it probably won’t even feel like you’re working! (Except if you are cleaning out stalls.)
Horses also develop confidence for their caretakers. It doesn’t matter if you are not the best with a hairbrush: your horse will simply be grateful that you got the tangles out of her mane, no matter what you do. Horses aren’t judgmental, and they have phenomenal patience. If you scrape too hard with a hoof pick or accidentally knock heads with your horse, you will be forgiven almost instantly (quicker if you happen to have a treat with you).
Lastly, a relationship with a horse will give you profound joy. A bond of trust between a person and a horse is a powerful thing, and once a horse knows your scent, he will never forget it. Natural horse instinct is to be part of a herd, and your friendship will fulfill a need for them: you’ll be a part of the herd, too. Like in all relationships, you will have bad days—horses will sense your moods and react accordingly—but the lasting pleasure of the good days will far outweigh the bad. You will have a special “thing” to do with your horse friend, such as braiding her mane or singing to her, and she’ll enjoy you as much as you enjoy her.
Time with horses makes people feel brave and loved, with the added plus of making students excited about working. What school wouldn’t want that?