Searching For Your Better Half

Finding that perfect someone to share your life with, to settle down with, and to grow old together with takes time. Finding someone who will provide all the before mentioned criteria, in addition to supporting your dreams as a crazed horse girl, requires an even broader, and more drawn out search.

If you are hooked, addicted, can’t live without, and have already sold your soul to the horse world, there has to be a unique person out there willing to join and share in your equestrian journey. However, there ought to be a checklist handed out to potential better halves, prior to seriously pursuing Mr. Right.

Okay, here goes my checklist…

#1) Supportive. After waking up at 6:30 am, performing various house chores, followed by two hours of barn chores, including, but not limited to, feeding, shoveling horse manure, transporting water from point A, to point B, sweeping, raking, and more, followed by riding as many horses you have to ride, followed by teaching lessons, sometimes a gal needs a little support, or a helping hand. Some days are more or less the same, and some are more exhausting, both mentally and physically. There are days you get home from the barn, and you think to yourself, what the hell am I doing? I can’t ride…what makes me think I can do this? I am pathetic, useless and should stop while I am not ahead. What makes all your worries and stresses go away is that shoulder to lean on sometimes. That someone who can calm you down in your hour of need. Someone to put everything into perspective, or to take your mind off your impending obsessions. This support is a MUST!

#2) Understanding. Whoever Mr., or Mrs. Right is, they have to be incredibly understanding. They have to understand that at times, our horses are all that consumes us. Our horses are our babies, and we would do anything for our horses. Thus, when searching for a perspective long term mate, find someone who meets this standard. If you ride horses, and that person you consider your significant other does not understand why you waste all your time riding, competing, schooling, and training, then maybe it’s time to find someone else who can understand you, and your way of living.

#3) Passionate. Okay, settle down, I am not referring to that kind of passion. I am more interested in what your better half is passionate about in life. If you are obsessed with eventing, or showjumping, or what have you, often times it’s beneficial in the long run to find someone who shares that same level of drive, that same level of commitment, and determination. Maybe your partner is passionate about horses as well, or maybe they are avid sailors, or mountain climbers. Whatever they enjoy, regardless of how it relates to horses, sharing that sense of resilience will only make you a stronger team.

Okay, well, perhaps this list of criteria applies to all individuals searching for that perfect partner, but equestrians need those potential significant others to have those characteristics times two!  Now, what would your top three characteristics consist of?

My name is Lila Gendal and I am 27 years old. I am from Vermont and have been riding horses since I was 6 years old. I have been eventing since I was 10. I have been riding and training with Denny Emerson for the last 7 years. My goal is to compete at the upper levels someday. I currently have a 2005 Holsteiner mare, “Valonia” (Contester X Parlona), who is currently going training level, and I am riding one of Denny Emerson’s horses, a 2005 Selle Luxemburg gelding, “Beaulieu’s Cool Skybreaker” (Beaulieu’s Coolman X Une Beaute by Heartbreaker) who will be moving up to training soon! When I am not on a horse or in the barn I am likely working in my office on what I like to call Equine Media… or social media for equestrians and equestrian websites.