“Ever since I was a little girl, horseback riding has held a special place in my heart. My mom often told stories about her own days at the barn” says Hannah Leon, a current senior who took SLM 150E, beginners horseback riding. Hannah’s mom spoke about her experiences while taking horseback riding all four years of college with a kind of joy that was almost tangible. When Hannah was eight, she asked for horseback riding lessons for Christmas. That year, tucked under the tree, was an envelope with a card that read, “Horseback riding lessons!” and she was over the moon. “Even though I was only able to attend a few lessons, in that short time, something awakened in me. The barn became a place where time slowed down- being around the horses made it feel like all was right in a world where there was so much going wrong”. When the lessons had to end due to financial constraints, she was heartbroken. But Hannah never let go of her dream to one day be able to ride again. Throughout the years, she found her way back to horses whenever she could- at summer camp, on family trips, even biking nearby barns just to be near them.
“I never imagined that twelve years later, as a junior in college, I would finally get the chance to return to riding- something only my 8-year-old self could dream of”. While registering for classes, Hannah noticed a beginner horseback riding course offered at Miami. It felt like everything had come full circle for her. “Walking into the barn on the first day of class felt like coming home. Getting back in the saddle became one of the most meaningful experiences of my college journey”.
Midway through the semester, Hannah was paired with a horse named Stewie, which, little did she know, would have such a great impact on her. “When I first approached his stall, he stood quietly with his head out the stall window and barely acknowledged me. He seemed distant, almost guarded. So, I slowed down. I took my time grooming him, taking extra time to brush out his coat, and I made sure to give him some love by scratching behind his ears—his favorite spot—where he leaned in just slightly. Over time, those small gestures became the beginning of a genuine bond”. Once he was tacked and ready, she saw a different side of him—eager, energized, ready to ride. Their first ride together, and the first of many, quickly became her favorite. After their first ride, once she had finished untacking and grooming Stewie, he tried to follow her out of his stall as she turned to leave. Hannah’s instructor laughed and said, “He must really like you. He normally turns his head right back out his window.” That small gesture lingered in Hannah’s mind, a moment that reminded her of why horseback riding is so special and the unique bond that makes horses, like Stewie, unforgettable.
As the semester went on, she found herself changing in subtle, yet profound, ways. “I became more confident, not just in the saddle, but in myself”. The courage it took to regain her balance after a misstep, handle a horse spooked by sprinklers, or simply believe she could guide a 1,000-pound animal with calm intention carried over into her everyday life. Not only did she notice she had become more confident, but she had also noticed feeling genuinely happier. Hannah’s parents, friends, colleagues, and many others have always told her she is just an overall happy person, who is constantly smiling, which she has always felt to be true. Being able to take this class over the semesters has brought Hannah back to that version of herself, which can sometimes get lost without even knowing it in the stress of everyday life. “During stressful weeks, just knowing I’d get to ride and be at the barn made everything feel a little lighter. Naturally, when the opportunity arose to enroll in the intermediate horseback riding class, I jumped at the chance”.
As a senior preparing to graduate, people often ask her why she takes horseback riding if it has nothing to do with her major. While it may not be directly tied to psychology or her minor in family studies, the barn has been one of Hannah’s greatest classrooms. Working with horses such as Stewie has taught her the importance of empathy, trust, and the quiet strength of simply showing up—qualities she hopes to carry into her future as a clinician. “In particular, Stewie has shown me the value of meeting others where they are, shaping how I hope to approach people—with patience, awareness, and genuine care”. These lessons will guide her not only in my everyday life, but also in her future work, where the heart of helping lies in truly seeing, hearing, and holding space for others.
“This semester, being able to return for intermediate horseback riding has been both a pleasure and a privilege- an experience I have learned to never take for granted”. Amid sorority commitments, an off-campus job, doctorate school applications, and academics, moments of presence for Hannah can be rare—but the barn offers her a chance to slow down in a world that rarely does.
