Some people enjoy hockey.

Some enjoy basketball.

Some enjoy another sports entirely.

What about a sport that most people don’t know a lot about?

Students all over the district take part in the sport of horseback riding.

Some may think that this is a very easy sport to master, but looks are deceiving.

According to buzzle.com, horseback riding is all about achieving the right balance with the horse and the movements they make.

A horse can turn in a direction that the rider may not want them to go or may speed up at anytime.

When the horse makes a certain reaction, then the rider can indicate what is wrong with their balance.

One must become in sync with the horse.

Nicole Arabia, sophomore at Franklin, said that she started riding when she was eight years old.

“I have always loved animals, and I tried a lot of sports but I didn’t get attached to them like I did when I rode for the first time,” said Arabia.

Arabia said that she currently has one horse named Dakota, and she goes to see him at the stables every other day.

The stables are “clean...not what people expect,” said Arabia.

Arabia has also been competing in horseback riding for three years now.

“[The competitions] are crowded, loud, but quiet when riding, and a lot of stress,” said Arabia.

Arabia has won two first place ribbons, a third place ribbon, and a fifth place ribbon.

Another student that takes part in horseback riding is Faith Miller, sophomore at Franklin.

With eight and a half years of experience, Miller has loved the sport from the moment she started.  

“I always liked horses and my mom found this place where I could take lessons,” said Miller.

Wimborne Stables is where Miller first took her horseback riding lessons, but now she takes lessons from her trainer named Christy Nealer at her barn.

Miller currently has three horses named Millie, Lola, and Ebony, although she added that Millie is also her sister’s horse and does not compete in shows.

Miller said that she tries to go to the stables as much as she can around her schedule.

According to Miller who has been competing in horseback riding for five to six years, the competitions have a lot of different groups, but consist of mostly friends at competitions.

“In a way, it’s like school,” said Miller.

According to Miller, before a competition starts, the person goes into practice.

Then, the competitor waits for their turn to show their horse in the ring.

But you can’t just show up in tennis shoes and a t-shirt.

One has to wear tall thin socks, breeches, a dickey or a shirt, a helmet with fleece cover, gloves, and a show saddle bag for the horse.

Miller said that over the years she has made many friends through the sport, and this year she won a trophy for horseback riding.

According to Miller, she got the trophy for four classes.

Three are reserve champion for hunter hack pony, equitation over fences, and working hunter ponies.

The last one she got was for second runner up in large pony pleasure.

Another student who also partakes in the sport is sophomore Maria Manno who got into the sport due to her mother having horses during her life.

Manno has her own stables right at the comfort of her house with four of her horses named Blue, Romeo, Mikey, and Betsy at her side, and can see them at least twice a day.

While she has been riding horses for thirteen years, but she has also competed  for eight years.

Over the years of competing, Manno has won various trophies for riding, and jumping with her horses.

“[My favorite memory of horseback riding] is falling off!” said Manno.

It might not be a sport that has practice after school every day.

It doesn’t earn someone a letter on a jacket.

But it does involve hard work, strength, and endurance which are captured in the equestrians at Franklin Regional.