Ride a Horse

Benefits

Environmental Benefit: ★★★★★
Vehicals use air polluting energy. They pollute water with runoff of oil, dirt, brake dust, deposited vehicle exhaust, road particles, automotive fluids, and deicing chemicals from roadways and parking lots. They're the largest source of urban noise pollution. They create solid waste when they are scrapped (25% can't be recycled). They kill wildlife in collisions. The mining of resources to make them pollutes the environment. Horses produce "natural" waste that is a benefit to the landscape, and the basically operate on "solar" energy (used to grow their food).

Money Saved: ★★☆☆☆
Horses "can be" cheaper to own and operate than vehicals (depending on how you go about it, and if you have the land for them). And insurance isn't required!

Lifestyle Benefit: ★★☆☆☆
How much lifestyle benefit there is really depends on your outlook on riding horses! Well, OK it also depends on how far you have to go, what the weather is like, and how much of a hurry you're in! I have to say from experience that horses are also great when you need someone with a listening ear to talk to. They don't interrupt, and they'll look up at you every now and then with those big, dark eyes (in between mouthfulls of hay) and appear very understanding and sympathetic to your problems. And it can be very therapeutic to rub their soft noses.

What We’re "Not" Doing
Several of our girls have begged us to get a horse, donkey, and/or rideable pteranodons to replace our cars. My mom bought a pony while I was a kid, and we ended up having to move because our suburban neighbors complained about the "horse" in our backyard (imagine that!). So got to ride horses growing up, and I kind of wish our kids could more often too (other than at the annual rodeo). But I also remember what a pain it was trying to melt the ice in the horse trough during the winter. At least that wouldn't be an issue here in Texas! I have to admire the Amish for sticking to the old ways of transportation, this is a great step in reducing your harm to the environment! But for now, this is one that we're "not" doing at this point. But here's a photo of one of our girls on a horse at a ranch.

A Little Humor
Glossary of Horse Terms
Hock: Financial condition of all horse owners.
A Bit: What you have left in your pocket after you've been to your favorite tack shop.
Fence: Decorative structure built to provide your horse with something to chew on.
Horse Auction: What you think of having after your horse bucks you off.
Pinto: Green coat pattern found on freshly washed light colored horses left unattended for 2 minutes.
Well Mannered: Hasn't stepped on, bitten, or kicked anyone for a week.
Rasp: Abrasive metal tool used to remove excess skin from ones knuckles.
Lunging: Popular training method in which a horse exercises their owner by spinning them in circles until dizzy.
Gallop: Customary gait a horse chooses when returning back to the barn.
Nicely Started: Lunges, but not enough health insurance to even think about riding him.
Colic: Gastrointestinal result of eating at horse fair food stands.
Colt: What your mare gives you when you want a filly.
Easy to Load: Only takes 3 hours, 4 men, a 50lb bag of oats, and a tractor with loader.
Easy to Catch: In a 10x10 stall.
Easy Rider: Rides good in a trailer; not to be confused with "ride-able".
Endurance Ride: End result when your horse spooks and runs away with you.
Hobbles: Walking gait of a horse owner after their foot has been stepped on by their horse.
Feed: Expensive substance used to manufacture manure.
Dog House: What you are in when you spend too much money on grooming supplies and pretty halters.
Three Gaited Horse: A horse that. 1) trips, 2) stumbles, 3) falls.


Pull, Buddy
An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse, named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move.
Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond.
Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.
Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.
The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try."