Cal Poly is famous for its agricultural education, ranging from degrees in wine and viticulture to animal science to agribusiness. Part of the robustness of that education comes from the university’s many acres of agricultural land, including an Equine Center with over 100 horses!
I am fortunate to be minoring in Cal Poly’s Equine Science program, which allows me to take classes where I work with horses. This winter quarter, 2026, I took a class called “Equine Management,” which helps students develop a “working relationship with a horse.” Having very little prior experience with horses, I assumed “working relationship” just meant learning how to take care of a horse; I didn’t think Cal Poly would offer a class that allowed me to actually learn how to ride a horse. But when I walked into the first day of class, my professor announced we were doing just that.
My previous experience with horses stopped at timid trail rides where the success of the ride depended entirely on the horse’s training—not my own skill. However, from the very first day of my Equine Management class, I learned to halter a horse and tie the bowline knot used to secure a horse to a post. Halfway through the quarter, I achieved elementary skill in controlling a horse at the trot, and could successfully tack up a Western saddle and bridle.
Learning to work with a horse has been quite humbling—in terms of both character- and muscle-building. Horses respond primarily to pressure from your legs; but I rely on my arm dexterity in so many other activities that I forget how much I need to maneuver the horse with my legs. And when I don’t put pressure in the right spots, the horse doesn’t move the way I want it to. In those moments, my gut reaction is to blame the horse and wonder why he isn’t doing what he’s been trained to do. I have to remind myself that the horse is following my lead; I’m the problem. Usually, this proves true when I learn and apply ‌corrective measures and the horse responds in kind.
Being in sync with such a powerful animal makes my heart race and my blood pump with exhilaration and awe. The trust of the horse when he responds the way I ask him to both humbles me and offers a measure of pride in my success. Seeing the progress I made in such a short time encourages me to pursue other hobbies and excites me to continue to try new things. I am exceedingly grateful to have an opportunity to take a class like this at Cal Poly, and I encourage anyone else interested in trying a new hobby to check out this class! There is a $550 cost, but it is worth it because you learn so much about caring for and working with a horse for a fraction of the cost of traditional horseback riding lessons. Spots are limited, so be on the lookout as registration opens up and try to snag a spot! You won’t regret your growth!