Being a horse girl is so much more than just “girl riding horse”; it’s a way of life. It’s about being so full of love for horses that you choose to commit a huge amount of your time to caring for and appreciating them. It’s about bonding with your horse, learning to be a better rider, and basically becoming their partner.
Horse girls let reins roughen up their hands because it’s the most direct connection they’ve got with their favorite animals. They’ve always got a little bit of dust in their hair, kicked up by their steeds while horse riding. Their skin is always sun-kissed, and their shoes always have a bit of mud on their soles. On a good day, they’ll walk into the room with the faint smell of horses stuck on their clothes and the biggest smile you’ve ever seen.
They choose to make horses such a big part of their lives that many of them become equestrians, trainers, vets, and stable workers, because any job that lets them spend more time with these wondrous creatures is nothing short of a dream job.
But don’t just take our word for it. These ten quotes from real-life horse girls—including a few names you might find familiar—do a great job of capturing how deep their love of horses really goes:
"I would only travel by horse, if I had the chance." - Linda McCartney
Horse riding is already a special feeling for most folks, but it’s genuine bliss for horse girls. Feeling the weight of the horse underneath you, being carried by each graceful stride, the wind whipping around you as you race towards the horizon—it’s a taste of paradise.
So if you would ask a horse girl what her preferred mode of transportation is, the answer is always going to be by horseback. You can show her the fanciest sports cars in the world, but the only Mustang she’ll pick is the one with legs instead of wheels.
"A pony is a childhood dream. A horse is an adult treasure." - Rebecca Carroll
For most horse girls, having an equine best friend is a lifelong obsession. We fall in love with ponies and horses from the very first moment we see one, and that love only grows stronger as we age. By the time we’re full-grown adults caring for a horse of our very own, it’s become one of the main ingredients to our happiness.
There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do to give our horses the very best life we can give them, because they give us back so much more. They are a horse girl’s greatest treasure, and one she’ll keep in her heart until she’s old and gray.
"Horses make a landscape look beautiful." - Alice Walker
It might seem a little shallow on the surface, but one of the biggest reasons equestrian girls love horses is because they’re just absolutely gorgeous. Their dignified stance, their flowing manes, their powerful muscles that move with the grace of waves kissing the shore—all these and more make horses just so much fun to look at.
On a deeper level, though, seeing horses in wide-open fields reminds us how these beautiful spirits are wonders of the natural world. Being able to saddle up helps us connect more closely to nature, and riding in the pristine wilderness lets us feel like we’re one with the environment.
"Horses lend us the wings we lack." - Pam Brown
Anybody who’s felt the exhilaration of horse riding knows exactly what this means. There’s a sense of weightlessness once your four-legged buddy hits their stride, as if they’re taking you far away from all your worries.
When you’re gliding across the plains with the wind blasting through your hair, it really does feel like you’re flying. The moment you get into that zone where you and your horse are a single wild breeze blowing past the rest of the world is sheer heaven.
"A woman never looks better than on horseback." - Jane Austen
It might be because owning a horse is the fulfillment of a childhood dream, but equestrian girls on horseback are some of the most confident women you’ll ever see. A horse girl’s smile is wider, her eyes are brighter, and her body language is more sure when she’s in the saddle.
It’s one of those cases where you look better because you feel better—and when you’re on your horse, you feel your absolute best. You feel just as strong, capable, and elegant as your steed, and it shows in how you carry yourself during a ride. There’s no greater glow on a horse girl’s face than when she’s atop her horse.
"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and freedom." - Sharon Ralls Lemon
It sometimes gets hard to explain why we love horses so much, and one of the biggest reasons is because there are just so many different feelings involved. Most horse girls you meet could probably talk your ear off about their personal horse stories, but you’ll notice that they all share these four same qualities about horses—and probably dozens more.
We love the grace in a horse’s movement and the beauty of their form. We love the unique spirit of every horse we meet. Last but not least, we love how bonding with your horse makes you feel free of all your troubles.
"When riding a horse, we borrow freedom."- Helen Thomson
For many of us, horses represent the truest version of freedom we know. Our powerful, majestic friends show us what it’s like to run free with every stride they take. When we get on the saddle, they share that experience with us, and it’s something we just can’t get enough of.
Getting on horseback isn’t just about riding a horse; it’s about how horses communicate with humans, too. You’re engaging with your horse rather than controlling it. It’s this connection that allows a rider and her horse to work together as a seamless unit. In doing so, both partners share their strengths with each other, giving horse girls a chance to experience freedom the way horses do.
"There is no better place to heal a broken heart than on the back of a horse." - Missy Lyons
It’s hard to admit, but some of the best horse movies and horse books ever made tend to tell the same kind of story. A girl undergoes some sort of trauma or heartbreak, and then finds healing through her relationship with a horse. Horse riding tales can be a little clichéd, if you really think about it.
The reason the cliché exists, however, is because it’s true: living with and caring for a horse can be therapeutic. Horses don’t judge you, and they can be strong for you when you need them to be. Being able to forge a deep bond with one of these beautiful creatures can really make you feel whole again.
"There is much we can learn from a friend who happens to be a horse." - Aleksandra Layland
Sometimes, the best lessons we can ever learn are those we spend with our boots in the dirt, bonding with our horses. Equestrians often say that horses mirror who we are to them; they’re warm when we’re gentle, and wary when we’re afraid. “How to befriend a horse” becomes less a question of making them love us, and more about us becoming someone they want to bond with.
Spending oodles of quality time with horses teaches us to be more aware of ourselves, and gives us a reason to be our very best selves. We also learn just how deeply we can love someone the more we care for our horses. All the horse bonding do’s and don’ts you’ll encounter as an owner actually help you grow as a person.
"Sometimes a wild horse needs to feel that his rider is just a little bit wilder." - Francesca Lia Block
We’ve talked about the feeling of freedom earlier, and how horses embody it. It takes on a whole new meaning, however, for horse girls. A lot of girls are raised to be prim and proper, to make good little wives, and to avoid becoming “too emotional.”
None of that matters when you’re horse riding. There’s no need to keep your hair perfectly data-styled, no pressure to maintain a ladylike posture. You’re free to let your inner wildness out, and more often than not, your horse rewards you for cutting loose with the ride of your life.
While there are countless reasons why horse girls love horses, these ten quotes capture a lot of the feelings involved. Equestrian girls live for the magical bonds they share with their horses, feel like their best selves when they’re with equines, and experience a sense of freedom and wonder whenever they go on rides.
Of course, those rides are at their best with a happy and healthy partner. The joy that horse girls feel with their four-legged buddies also comes from the experience of caring for these strong, gentle animals. If any of these quotes inspired you to bring some joy to your own horse partner, make sure you check out our collection of expert-designed, horse-approved products.