YR Letters

Tell us what you love or what you want to see in YR!

I started riding six months ago and cantered for real for the first time today. It was kinda terrifying. Will cantering ever get easier? My ultimate dream is to do show jumping, but we don’t have those opportunities where I live. What should I do?

— Lexi, 14; Medford, Ore.

Hi Lexi! Cantering will definitely get easier the more you practice. Soon it will feel natural! Hold on to your dream of being a show jumper and some day it will come true. You might have to wait, but it will be worth it. — Holly Caccamise, editor

My horse Bambi bucked me off pretty hard, luckily I was OK. After that I was a little bit scared of Bambi. But I saw an article about fear after a fall in YR, and thanks to that one article, I was no longer afraid of riding her. YR is such an inspiration for me and my riding career.

— Makenna, 13; Tenn.

Young Rider is absolutely my fave horse mag ever. My favorite parts are the fun crafts, the awesome posters (my walls are covered in them), the stable skills, and the western lessons. I do have some suggestions though: 1. More contests! 2. An article on how to plan an awesome horse party/ sleepover. 3. An article on trail riding safety. 4. Merch! I would certainly wear a YR shirt.

— Halle Jo, 16; Missouri

During my parents’ divorce, I was about 6 years old, and when my grandma took me to the stable, I connected with the horses. It’s like I could tell them anything. I wasn’t sure what was going on with my parents at that time, but when I was around horses, all of those feelings just fell away. The stable that I am at now is the third stable that I have been at—I finally found the right match for me!

— Layton, 12; Aurora, Colo.