Horse riding is her time to break away from the stresses of life
Horse riding provides an unparalleled feeling of freedom and connection.
For rider Mellissa Husselmann, it is a way of breaking away from the stresses of daily life and finding a place of pure joy and harmony.
Husselmann, 33, has been a member of the Queenstown Riding Club for 12 years and owns three horses which are stabled at the club.
Her oldest is Zigzag, followed by Bundy. Willow is the baby of the family.
“When riding a horse, I feel so free, untouchable and wild.
“Nobody can take away that feeling or match it with me and my horse.
“It is my time to break away from everything in life that brings stress, anxiety and worry. Horses are amazing as they do not judge me. They accept me for the outspoken and sometimes silly person that I am,” she said.
Husselmann has competed in tentpegging competitions on occasion (riders, at a gallop, using a lance to pick up a peg in the ground), but her busy schedule and financial constraints prevent her from committing to a team at this time.
She began riding at a tender age, and was instructed by her grandfather.
“My grandparents stayed on a farm in King William’s Town and my grandfather had a love for horses.
“He bought me my first horse, a Shetland pony by the name of Ponie when I was six,” she said.
“He taught me to ride and he helped build my confidence around horses. Visits to the farm had to become a regular occurrence.”
These cherished memories of bonding with her grandfather carried on when she would visit him at a senior’s home, when they would talk about their love for horses.
Adopting Zigzag in 2012 was one of the best things that happened to her, she said.
“She was a rescue horse from Natal and since day one we hit it off as she is just as feisty as her mommy.
“When I visit my horses or ride, it is always a memorable moment.
“Each of my babies has their own unique personality.”
Horses are highly sensitive to their surroundings and the people in their environment.
“Horses can sense danger, fear and anger and they know if you are excited or not in a good space on the day.
“Horses are gentle giants when they are around children and I know this, for a fact.
“When I ride Bundy or work with Ziggy they are excited, hyped up and ready for action but the moment I allow my friends to bring their children around to groom them and have a ride, they are cool, calm and collected.
“It is so amazing to witness.” Husselmann advises people who are interested in learning to ride to spend plenty of time around horses first, building up confidence and being comfortable around them.
This starts with touching the horses
and stroking their mane, which allows both the person and the horse to be comfortable around one another.
“Grooming and feeding treats is always a good way to win the heart of a horse.
“Once you are confident with those steps then you can start with riding lessons,” she said.
However, an experienced and qualified riding instructor is recommended for inspiring patience, spotting mistakes and teaching how to ride correctly.
“Once you have been riding for longer than six months and you truly feel it is what you can commit to, then you can start to look for a horse to lease or buy.”
She emphasized that horse ownership involved significant time and resources for daily care, including feeding, grooming, stabling, and vaccination. She also highlighted the importance of spending time with a horse to form a bond.