Traditions

I absolutely love traditions. Be they with family or friends or otherwise. When I used to work for a ranch it was tradition that the owner prayed with us before our first rides of the season, when the horses were fresh. It is one of my favorite memories working there.

Another favorite tradition is my friends' hunters' widows' weekend. It started off about six or seven years ago and all we really had was one hunter's widow and even a couple of guys that would come. Now it's just the girls, more widows and we have kids too! We get together for a night and eat and chat and play cards. Usually it's a "sleepover" at someone's house. I will bet we will continue this for a very long time.

In some cultures it is traditional for aged parents to move in to their children's homes. This is not as typical in the US however I think it's a very sweet tradition, in theory.

In some Native American cultures, it was traditional to take the tail from a good horse that passed away and hang it in the home. While I am not native, this is quite possibly one of my favorite traditions I have learned. In keeping the tail, it is said you keep the parts of the horse that can't be touched. Personality, trust, and heart are the ones that I think of. The hope is those parts will transcend into your next horse.

Some traditions are not good traditions. While I love tradition, I can't help but despise some. The Running of the Bulls is one that comes to mind. Along with Fire Bull which is where balls of flammable material are placed on the bulls horns and set on fire.

Of course the "circumcision" of women and girls is another one.

To the a little less disturbing, I am becoming more and more perplexed at some ideas and "traditions" still held in Western riding. "Bronc Busting" is still something people believe is necessary and do. Of course, we are talking about less informed people.

I recently met a woman who truly believes that western riding is all about riding fast and managing broncs. It was SO DISAPPOINTING. Just as we have English Equitation we also have WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP.

Hey, I didn't make this up! Horsemanship is the foundation to Western riding just as Equitation is to English.

Not only that, if a horse is actually bucking, it has been my experience the problem is usually physical...not that they want to hurt people. Horses don't want to hurt people and the ones that act like they do, if they were in a field with you, they would separate themselves.

I could say a lot more about my experience but I'll stop here.

Ending on a good note, another favorite tradition of mine is holidays at my grandma's where she makes her chocolate pie!