Lauren's+Journal+2

Back to 7B Yellow Group An Experience of a Lifetime by:Lauren B. A memory that I will never forget is one when I swam in the ocean with horses; it has changed my feeling towards horses. A little history will help explain better. For the past seven years, I have been afraid of horses because of a bad experience that I had at the age of six. I was on a horse that began to rear and buck; I felt that I had to hold on for dear life. This experience made me fearful of horses ever since. I continued to ride even though I was still afraid. I just couldn’t trust the horses.

This all changed when I swam with the horses. In the middle of a trail ride, we stopped at the beach. We took off our jeans, with our bathing suites underneath. When our horses were attached to our guides’ horses, we entered the ocean. The smell of horses and salt water filled the air. The clear blue water was cold but I didn’t mind and my horse didn’t seem to either. We went deeper into the wild ocean with the aqua blue waves hitting us. When the horses were swimming and no longer walking, my instructor told me to lie on my stomach. I reached up to hold on to the horse’s wet, black mane. My stomach touched the horse’s wet body with my feet dangling off the end. I held on tight to the horse’s mane, afraid of falling off. The waves were getting stronger and I was being tossed everywhere but I still held on. At that precise moment, I trusted my horse; that was something I haven’t done since I was six. I had trusted her practically with my life. We came out of the ocean with my hands sore from holding on so tight to her mane. More than sore though, I emerged feeling proud. I was proud not only of myself, but of my horse.

Without this experience, I still do not think that I could trust a horse, an animal that I respect and admire. I love horses so much, with all their beauty and grace. This once in a life time experience might not have shaped my life but it certainly changed me. It made feel the way I’ve always wanted to towards horses. The smell, the feel of the horse and the cold waves, and the pride all come together to create a memory that I will always cherish.