Have you ever worked on a farm? My uncle had a pretty big one with many farm critters. As a kid I would spend summers working and having great fun there. I've been pooped on, peed on, bitten by all sorts of critters, puked on, stepped on, fell in some interesting things. Sometimes helped with birthing animals and also learned how to give animals shots as a kid. And it was ALL a blast!!!
He used to train horses too. You could say he was something of a horse whisperer. He trained many problem horses. That's where, as a kid, my uncle taught me how to ride bareback. We would wait until my Mom and aunt left to go shopping and then my uncle would teach me all sorts of cool things that my Mom would not have been happy with. Riding bareback as a young kid was one of those things.
When she first saw me riding bareback ...WOW... she was livid. But my uncle, her brother, quelled her fears. She never said anything after that. I could hop off and jump back on with the horse at an ambling gait. Once in a while in a canter. My uncle also taught me how to properly fall off a horse so I wouldn't get hurt.
Dang, I cried when pigs, horses, cows, chickens, cats, and yes, dogs had to put down. Still do for my own cats and dogs. It's healthy. And they do give you all that unconditional love. Value.
Every now and then I go out to a good buddy's place where they raise and board horses. I go to ride. I'm too old for riding bareback these days but I sure do love hopping on a horse and getting lost in nature. A horse, my dog along side and I. Perfect, peaceful and awesome.
