The connection between humans and horses dates back to the Neolithic Age, when horses were prey hunted by humans. As human civilization evolved, the uses of horses became increasingly diverse. People used horses to pull carts, transport goods, deliver messages, thereby enhancing work efficiency, shortening distances between places, and accelerating the pace of civilizational progress. Horses still hold a place in people’s lives today, and the history of women and horses is interwoven throughout.
When it comes to horseback riding, the first image that may come to mind is that of a dignified man on horseback. As for delicate women, how could they possibly manage such tall and powerful creatures? But in fact, the relationship between women and horses has matured alongside the progress of society. From 19th-century women who rode side-saddle in their fight for equality, to the many strong female riders in equestrian competitions, as well as the growing number of women participating in equestrian life, the brilliance of women has become yet another beautiful sight in the human-horse relationship.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many upper-class women sought the equal right to ride horses just like men, so they revolutionarily chose to ride side-saddle. This was because the popular attire for women at the time was still skirts, and no woman dared to break convention by wearing trousers like men to ride. However, it was practically impossible to mount a saddle wearing a skirt, and doing so also violated the era’s standards of ladylike demeanor. Therefore, women—especially those from the upper class—had to sit deep on the saddle sideways, securing one foot in the stirrup while bending the other knee and pressing it slightly against the edge of the saddle for balance. Generally speaking, it was nearly impossible for women to ride very fast. On one hand, going too fast could cause excessive jolting and high-frequency vibrations, making it easy to slip off the saddle and get injured. On the other hand, to maintain an elegant posture, horses were usually ridden at slower speeds. Today, this act of struggle for women’s rights has evolved into a form of equestrian performance for entertainment, showing the world in another way: girls have been riding horses for ages.
Physically speaking, it is not easy for women to control horses weighing several hundred kilograms. Perhaps due to women’s sensitivity and delicacy—as believers in the magic of intuition—the emotional connection becomes a unique way for women to communicate with horses. There’s a saying that if you see a little girl riding a particularly obedient horse and consider buying it, you should be cautious. The little girl likely already has some riding skills, but if the horse is unusually calm without her having an innate “horse-taming” talent, then not everyone possesses such a gift. Even in the movie *Avatar*, there is a scene where the heroine tames the six-legged direhorses of Pandora by using her neural whip to connect with them emotionally, calming the fierce (as “dire” implies) creatures and convincing them to fight alongside her against invaders. Movies are inspired by life—if not for real-life experiences, the communication between the heroine and the horse might have turned out quite differently.
Today, women’s ability to handle horses is no less than that of male riders. In the Olympics, equestrian events are the only sport where men and women compete on equal footing. In the 2009 world rankings for show jumping, the top spot was held by a female rider named Beerbaum・Michaels・Meredith. She maintained this position for quite some time amidst a field dominated by male riders. In dressage, China’s top rider Liu Lina is also a trailblazing heroine. In barrel racing, female competitors’ performances are also comparable to those of male riders. Moreover, equestrian sports help women maintain good physique and figure, which is why women make up about 80% of participants in the introductory levels of equestrian activities.
Nowadays, horseback riding has become a lifestyle, and women riding horses is no longer a revolution—it represents a healthy and positive attitude toward life, as well as a longing for nature. Women and horses: this is not just a topic, it’s a beautiful painting.
