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from Viking Magazine Volume XVI Issue 4

LEARNING TO UNICYCLE

by CLAIRE CHO, ASHTON CHOW, and TAKUMI WEIMANN

Before the world relied on cars, trains, and planes for transpor tation, the horse was the par amount form of travel. Horse back riding is thought to have originated around 3,500 BC in the Middle East. With above average power and stamina, hors es were the prime choice for warfare, transportation, and agricultural uses.

Since then, horseback riding has progressed and evolved significantly. The invention of equipment like the bridle and bit around 1000 BCE, which attached to the horse’s mouth, allowed for riders to have better control of the horse. Addition ally, the invention of the saddle around 800 BCE gave riders in creased support, comfort, and control over the horse in compari son to riding bareback, or without a saddle.

While horses are rarely used as a form of transportation today, the sport of horseback riding is still widely practiced, and our community is no exception.

Palo Alto High School sopho

Gonzalez-Bondolowski is one of the countless horseback riders who, over the years, has developed a love for the sport.

“I like that it’s individual and not very predictable like other sports can be, and you’re with an animal, which can be exciting and fun,” Gonzalez-Bondolowski said.

While there are those like Gonzalez-Bondolowski who, since a young age, have dedicated all their time to riding, others participated in a wide array of sports before settling on equestrianism. Paly alumn Rachel Vonderhaar is one of these people, but despite starting later, she has stuck with horseback riding past high school and throughout her collegiate career.

“I have played just about every sport that there is, and there’s nothing quite addicting like the feeling of eventing,” Vonderhaar said. “It gives me the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve ever felt… it is extremely rewarding.”

While riders like Gonzalez-Bondolowski and Vonderhaar are passionate about their sport of horseback riding, there are a few barriers that could prevent potential riders from taking up the sport. The most notable barrier is the high cost of horseback riding. The sport ranks as one of the most expensive sports to take part in for teens, with an average annual cost of over $11,000 for consistent riders.

Freya Mcquarrie, a Paly sophomore and avid horseback rider explains the difficulties in being able to participate in horseback riding.

“You don’t have constant access to the horse and riding fa cilities, and when you do it costs lot of mon ey,” Mc quarrie said. Many factors can be attributed to the high cost of the sport which include leas ing a horse, maintaining the horse, partaking in lessons, and buying additional equipment. A typical horseback riding lesson ranges from 30-60 minutes and can range anywhere from $40 to $200 depending on which stable the lesson is taken at.

For many people, the cost of horseback riding alone is enough of a reason not to try or take up the sport. When compared to popular team sports like soccer or basketball, or even other individual sports like running, horseback riding costs considerably more. But why is it so expensive?

The simple answer is that managing a stable or farm is expensive. Horses are large animals that require plentiful space to roam as well as proper bedding, food, and veterinary care in order to maintain their health.

Horses consume a substantial amount of food, approximately 1.5-2.5% of their body weight, and consequently produce waste that has to be cleaned up by workers. Health care for horses consists of vaccinations, check-ups, horseshoe maintenance, dental treatment, and other expenses. Additionally, stables and farms have to invest in equipment such as saddles, bridles, bits, and blankets; all necessary equipment for equestrians. When the cost of food, health care, and equipment is paired with high util ity and insurance costs for the horse, it becomes much more un derstandable why the cost of horseback riding is so high. Horseback riding es sentially entails caring for two athletes: the person and the horse, and the high cost reflects this.

Due to the cost of the sport, mon ey-oriented stereotypes about horseback riders have developed. A common stereotype is that horseback riders are very rich and spoiled. Another stereotype about horseback riding is that the sport is not that difficult.

“Just like any other sport, you can’t really see what it’s like from the outside,”

Gonzalez-Bondolowski said. “I think a lot of people just assume that it’s so easy… that you just sit there and the horse does everything.”

What many don’t understand is that just because it doesn’t require as much human physical exertion, it doesn’t make it easier to train and perform for, just different.

“A lot of people don’t understand the sport because it’s not widely known,” Vonderhaar said. “When I was in high school, I really didn’t like explaining riding to people because it felt so undervalued to even try, compared to what it really was and felt like.”

Mcquarrie agrees, noting the difficulty in trying to make people understand the complexities of being an equestrian.

“It’s often said that the horse does a lot of the work while we just sit there which may seem like it to people who aren’t very familiar with how horseback riding works,” Mcquarrie said.

The truth, however, is that horseback riding is far more complex than outsiders assume and these stereotypes can diminish the respect and beauty that outsiders may feel for the sport.

To those who do it, horseback riding is the most thrilling and unique sport in the world. While most other sports utilize inanimate objects like a bat or a ball to demonstrate athletic prowess, horseback riding champions the physical beauty and strength of another living animal. The uniqueness of horseback riding involving a live animal, essentially, another athlete, means that it requires much more than just skill.

A hugely important part of riding is the connection between the human and the horse. In horseback riding, much like other team sports, these two are teammates and must have each other’s back.

However, creating the connections with these gentle animals is not as easy as it may seem. Horses, like humans, have emotions; they can be timid, easily startled, and apprehensive. Gonzalez-Bondolowski’s horse is no exception.

“Our bond is not super strong because Colton is very grumpy and old, and doesn’t really like people,” Gonzalez-Bondolowski said. “However, I would say we’ve definitely built a connection over the past six months.”

Spending quality time and demonstrating care for a horse is one of the best ways to form and maintain the bond. “I had a favorite horse named Morty,” said Vonderhaar. “I started leasing him when he was four, during my senior year of high school.”

Sometimes, a rider’s favorite horse isn’t based on accomplishment in competitions, but instead, the moments of tenderness and learning are what make it a true champion.

“Morty was not the horse I took the highest, but he was the horse that I accomplished the most with,” Vonderhaar said. “With him, I became a much better rider and person, and he taught me so much about being patient. Not every day was perfect, and we had our bad days, but he really taught me resilience and to learn to appreciate every little accomplishment.”

Likewise important to understand is that horses, like humans, differ from individual to individual. Some are more trusting and friendly while others can be more shy or aggressive. Much of a horses’ personality is derived from how they are raised. Some untrusting horses come from a background of abuse, trauma, and have not been treated well. They may learn bad habits so that they can get out of certain situations and avoid the pain from trainers. On the other hand, a well-ridden horse who has been treated well by humans will most likely be friendly and trusting.

In the end, though, the individuality of each horse adds another layer of challenge to the hurdle of bonding with a horse: there is no formula and each animal must be treated differently. Thus, horseback riding is not just a sum of the dollar signs behind the equipment, lessons and gear. It is hours of dedicated practice and technique work. Days of training muscle memory for form and position.

And, most importantly, the sport of horseback riding is the sum of thousands of small acts that strengthen the bond between the athlete and one of the strongest, most beautiful, most unique animals on the planet. Horseback riding, unlike any other sport, represents the precious bond between human and animal.

As Vikings, we display our spirit in every way possible; some teams choose to participate in dress up days to get hyped for their games. Here’s a look at some of the best game day dress ups.