Letter to my Rookie Self: Michelle Eames

Equestrian Advice: This is part of our Letter to My Rookie Self series, an open letter equestrian reflection project. Learn more and/or submit your own letter here.

From: Michelle Eames at 61

To: Michelle at 14

Michelle, this is a letter from the future, from your older retired self. You’d think by now in 2024 I’d be flying around in a spaceship car, like the Jetsons. Yet, I still have a regular gas-powered car, and I still love and ride horses.

Except for a small series of unplanned dismounts recently, horses have been good for me (and for you).

It turns out, horses were some of your best teachers in life.

They taught you important things like patience, breaking large tasks into small subsets of tasks, and calmness: whether the calm was in the saddle, or just standing beside your horses and grooming them. And the scent of a horse’s fur on a warm day… nothing smells better.

The horses brought you to a wonderful group of people.

Horse people rock.

Horse people can also be strange and opinionated. Pick the right group.

Speaking of picking the right people, when that first serious boyfriend shows up, dump him and ride your horse instead. Go be a working student at the barn where you take lessons.

The boys will wait, and the ones you meet later will be better.

The horses are good teachers, but you still need to take lessons with trainers and coaches that improve your riding and horsemanship.

At my current age, I find I am still sitting crooked. Find instructors that work on your straightness. And also soft hands, I’m still working on that. Yoga was a good thing for my strength and flexibility, too.

When you come to that time in your late twenties when you are mulling over getting a horse again: Do it!

It will seem expensive, but that horse will give you joy and sanity. Also, don’t worry so much about money. You’ll be fine and will have enough to live on.

Except for the money spent trying to breed your Appaloosa mare to a gorgeous warmblood—you should not spend that money.

It becomes a deep sucking hole of expenses and you don’t succeed in getting a foal on the ground anyhow. At that time, you should follow that one friend’s advice and just buy a yearling.

Or better yet, just ride your mare.

Show the dressage queens on their warmbloods what a cute little Appaloosa can do.

Appaloosas rock!

In the end though, my advice to you is to just “keep on keeping on” with your horse hobby.

Whether it’s grooming or shoveling manure or just walking with your horse down the road, being outside with your equine friends always brings you joy, and improves your attitude so you can tackle other life challenges.