Learning How to Ride as an Adult: The Treasure I Found in the Saddle

Name: The Riding School
Address: Vista

Leslie Juvin-Acker
1 day ago
6 min read

I Thought Learning How to Ride as an Adult Would Teach Me About Horses—Then I Discovered the Treasure Hidden Inside Me

Article Summary

Learning how to ride as an adult brought Leslie Juvin-Acker into an unfamiliar world filled with horses, muddy stables, new terminology, and unexpected challenges. Guided by horsewoman Beth Boyer and a remarkable group of horses, Leslie discovered that becoming a rider was not simply about mastering reins, posture, and movement. It was about uncovering the confidence, calm, intuition, and wisdom that had been inside her all along.

Checkers will make learning how to rise as an adult fun for anyone

Learning how to ride as an adult can make even the most confident person feel like a beginner again. When I arrived at The Riding School in Vista, everything felt foreign, confusing, and overwhelming. Yet beneath the mud, straw, and horsehair, I sensed that I had found something precious. I thought the treasure was inside my instructor, Beth Boyer. I would soon discover that she was helping me uncover it within myself.

Learning how to ride as an adult

Come with me as I take you through my journey of finding the treasure of the horseman.

Hidden in the hills of Vista is a treasure. Many people come upon this treasure and don't even recognized what they've found. They see it with a veil of pre-occupation and keep going. They miss their opportunity to experience a treasure of a lifetime.

When I first got to The Riding School, I recognized the treasure right away. Covered in mud, straw, and fur - the treasure was right in front of me.

I found it hard to believe at first that I had gotten so lucky.

I had contemplated this moment for several years and this moment was not what I had expected.

I searched all over for months and months and couldn't find it.

But in this moment, I knew - I found it.

It was mine if I wanted it. But nobody was going to give it to me.

I had to earn the treasure.

My search merely brought me to it.

The next step of extracting it was entirely up to me.

The treasure before me?

It's in Beth Boyer.

How can this treasure be inside of Beth Boyer? One asks.

Allow me to tell the story of what happened next...

I came to Beth hungry to learn about horses and riding horses but completely ignorant as to where to start.

I came because my daughter wanted to learn for years. My best friend, a champion trainer/rider, encouraged me to give lessons a go.

Everything felt so foreign, overwhelming, and generally confusing.

Learning a new skill in a new world as an adult can be disorienting and psychologically stressful. I certainly felt out of my depth. Everything I had known didn't apply to the horse world I had just entered.

But Beth was there and I trusted her.

I kept it simple with one piece of self-instruction:

Just do what Beth told me to do.

Every time I showed up, I just did what Beth told me to do.

And, if I didn't understand why and what for I asked her.

Like a toddler asking why, why, why.

She answered every single why with a because...

Sitting on a horse, I didn't know how tense I was, I didn't realize what burdens I was holding on to.

Beth saw what I couldn't see and told me to sit loose.

How many adults can sit loose through life?

I'm too busy holding it all together!

But, no, she talked the resistance out of me so that I could become one with my horse.

And, every single horse taught me to become a great rider.

Dolly taught me to be easy on the reins by yanking my arms down so hard until I learned to get it right.

Burt taught me to sit properly with his long, bouncy trot.

Checkers taught me not to take my lessons so seriously by being silly.

Portia taught me how what a proper post feels like with her easy trot.

Gidget taught me that horses can anticipate what you're going to do by how you feel.

Skittles taught me how to remain calm even if things looks wrong.

All the horses I rode taught me how to get them to walk without kicking them a thousand times.

And - Like a shadow, I followed Beth around asking her thousands of questions.

Questions about stable management.

Questions about tack and gear.

Questions about horse psychology.

Questions about horse spirituality.

Questions about the horse business.

Questions about how Beth sees the world as a horseman.

I was hoping to extract the treasure from her.

And then, one day, I got the treasure.

I could keep it for myself.

But I was mistaken.

I couldn't take the treasure from inside Beth.

Beth was helping me extract the treasure from myself all along.

I just didn't see it.

I didn't even know it.

It happened like this...

I was in a group lesson with Beth, Meredith, and Burt.

I got in the saddle and I started to ride.

I didn't need a lunge line.

I didn't need Beth right by my side.

I just started to ride.

All by myself.

I knew what to do.

I didn't have to think about it.

It was all instinctual:

my posture,

my grip,

my legs,

my arms,

my movements.

I just rode.

And Burt moved with me.

It all made sense.

I got the treasure for myself. A treasure that nobody can take away. It was there inside of me but it was covered by the mud of the past, the straw of my fears, the fur of my ignorance.

Day by day, Beth helped me to get those things out of the way to reveal the treasure I had inside me:

The treasure of the horseman.

How to see things from the horse's perspective. I learned to get out of my mind and join with the mind of the horse.

She took away the voice inside my head and replaced it with one that thinks like a horse.

A quieter voice, a calmer voice, a focused voice, and happier voice.

A voice that knows what to do when others don't.

That voice was there, but it was drowned out by uncertainty.

It's this voice I listen to now.

Like the mythical heroes of history past, I was an explorer who found a guide in Beth.

She led me to the treasure, but it wasn't out there.

It was in me.

She'll help you find that treasure, too, when you are ready.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b844bf_faa17e5d31694fa7b0150caa2e863846/720p/mp4/file.mp4

My Question For You:

What fears, burdens, or limiting beliefs might you release by learning how to ride as an adult?

Learning how to ride as an adult inspires these affirmations:

I trust myself in motion.
I ride with calm confidence.
My body learns through practice.
I grow stronger every lesson.
I belong here with horses.

What would you most want to gain from learning how to ride as an adult?

Greater confidence
A calmer mind
A connection with horses
A challenging new skill

About the Author: Leslie Juvin-Acker, J.D.

Leslie Juvin-Acker, J.D., is an author and essayist whose writing explores courage, identity, transformation, intuition, and the wisdom hidden within everyday experiences. Drawing from her legal education, professional experience, international life, and deeply observant nature, Leslie transforms personal stories into meaningful reflections that encourage readers to recognize their own strength and potential.

Discover Leslie’s Books

Continue exploring Leslie Juvin-Acker’s stories, ideas, and transformative insights by purchasing her books through her official Amazon author store:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01M5HVIK3?ccs_id=c496f283-d7f8-4f94-9058-107b7edaeed9

Invite Leslie to Be a Guest

Podcasters, YouTubers, journalists, and television producers are invited to welcome Leslie Juvin-Acker, J.D. as a guest on their shows. Leslie offers a distinctive perspective shaped by law, writing, international living, personal transformation, leadership, culture, and the extraordinary lessons hidden within ordinary life. Contact Le Jardin d’Amour to discuss interviews, guest appearances, and media collaborations.

Join the VIP Community

Join The VIP Newsletter for exclusive essays, announcements, personal stories, and behind-the-scenes updates from Leslie Juvin-Acker. Like and subscribe to the YouTube channel @authorleslie at https://www.youtube.com/@Authorleslie, and follow the Le Jardin d’Amour boutique on Instagram at @universjardindamour for daily stories, inspiration, and glimpses into literature, creativity, and life in France.