Okay, here’s my blog post about my experience at Victory Stables in Colts Neck, NJ, just like you asked:
## My Day at Victory Stables, Colts Neck NJ: A Total Beginner’s Tale
Alright folks, let me tell you about my adventure at Victory Stables! I’ve always wanted to ride a horse, you know? Seen it in movies, looked so peaceful, so I finally just decided to do it! Found Victory Stables online, seemed like a good place to start, so I booked a lesson.
First off, driving there was pretty easy. Colts Neck is a nice area. Got there, and I was immediately greeted by this super friendly lady, I think her name was Sarah. She pointed me towards the office, and I signed a bunch of waivers – gotta protect themselves, I guess.
After that, Sarah introduced me to my instructor, who was also really nice. I was a little nervous, not gonna lie, but she was super chill and made me feel a lot better. She started by showing me how to approach a horse safely, explaining how they see and hear. That was actually really interesting!
Then came the moment, meeting my horse! His name was… well, I can’t remember exactly (oops!), but he was a big, brown fella, very calm looking. The instructor showed me how to brush him down, and how to saddle him up. It was a little more complicated than I thought! Lots of straps and buckles.
- Brushing: Started with a curry comb in circular motions.
- Saddling: Pad first, then the saddle itself. Tightened the girth (that strap thingy).
- Bridle: This was tricky! Getting it over his ears took some patience.
After getting all geared up, we headed to the riding ring. The instructor explained the basics of holding the reins, how to make the horse walk, and how to stop (which was, like, the most important part, haha!).
My first few attempts at getting him to walk were… interesting. Mostly involved me saying “walk on!” really loudly and him just standing there, looking at me like I was crazy. But eventually, I got the hang of it! Small squeezes with my legs, and he started moving.
Walking was fine, but the instructor then tried to get me to trot… Oh boy. It was bouncy. Very, very bouncy. I felt like I was gonna fall off! She told me to “post,” which involved standing up and sitting down in the saddle in time with the horse’s gait. It looked easy when she did it, but let me tell you, it’s a workout! I think I spent more time trying not to fall than actually trotting properly.
The entire lesson was probably only an hour, but man, it felt longer! By the end, my legs were aching, my back was sore, and I was covered in horse hair. But I was also grinning from ear to ear. I actually rode a horse!
Here’s a quick recap of the ride:
- Mounting and dismounting (with help!)
- Learning basic rein control
- Walking (success!)
- Attempting to trot (less success, more bouncing!)
- Stopping (thank goodness!)
After the lesson, I helped untack the horse and gave him a good pat. He seemed pretty happy to be done too! I thanked my instructor, said goodbye to my horsey friend, and headed back to the car.
Overall, it was an amazing experience! It was definitely harder than I thought it would be, but also way more rewarding. I’m already thinking about booking another lesson. Maybe next time I’ll actually manage to trot without looking like a total klutz!
If you’re thinking about trying horseback riding, I highly recommend Victory Stables in Colts Neck, NJ. They’re super friendly, patient, and make it a really fun experience, even for a complete beginner like me. Just be prepared to be sore the next day!
