17 Reasons to Start (or keep on) Horse Blogging

We’re at the beginning of a new year halfway through 2017, can you believe it? Have you accomplished any of your horse goals yet? Or are you like me and still plugging away? For horse lovers, I have a recommendation that applies to January 1st or June 11 or really any day of the year: start a horse blog.

If you already have a horse blog but it’s been on the back burner because life gets in the way, keep on persevering because there are significant benefits to blogging about your equestrian passion. Here are 17 reasons to give horse blogging a try.

17 Reasons to Start a Horse Blog (in no particular order)

1. You’ll have a written record of rides, training and shows (if you show).
   • It’s so easy to pause and reflect on your growth a a rider and your horse’s progress–all it takes is a few clicks and you can go over what you learned at your lesson from months ago, the fun trail ride you went on or your results from last show season. 
     

     My lovely horse and horse show groupie Carey from the TB Classic show in March.

2. You’ll have a record of health. 
   • I have recorded all the details surrounding that time last year when my horse Knight colicked on Thanksgiving and then colicked about a week later and was hospitalized, which led us to discover he had extreme ulcers!
3. Keep an online photo album.
4. Make new horse friends around the world.
   • A few of my early blogging friends were scattered in England, France, and South Africa. By following their adventures I gained perspective on just how widespread the horse craziness is and learned about other cultures. Win! And my friend in France recommended the best gelato in Paris which I got to try out on a layover last summer.
5. Make horse friends in real life.
   • I have gotten to know the lovely ladies in real life behind Me Jump Pretty, Horses and Heels, Dressage Fundamentals and Sidelines. (lookin’ at you Carey, Raquel, Christy and Jan!).
6. Hone photography skills.
7. Become a better writer.
   • The more you write, the better you get at the craft.
8. Learn from the community.
9. Support during times of crisis and joy.
   • Congrats after shows, commiserate with horse shopping doldrums, comfort when your horse is lame or sick.
     

     Knight loved modeling his Illumiseen breastplate which we reviewed for the blog.

10. Get free stuff (occasionally).
    • I’m kind of a bookworm and have been gifted with many awesome horse books to review for this blog like The Perfect Horse and Unrelenting (to name a few). And you can’t beat doing a product review of things such as this amazing LED horse breastplate–another freebie.
11. Segue to paid writing for other publications.
    • In 2017 both Sidelines and Horse Illustrated will feature more of my articles. I’m super excited about them with topics ranging from why partner dancing is relevant to horseback riding and vice versa to getting to know the founder of the Essex Classics show shirt line and an interview with @StyledEquestrian of Instagram. 
12. Blogger equestrian secret Santa.
    • Did you know that every November for the past four years, Tracy from Fly On Over has hosted a horse bloggers gift exchange? This was my second year participating and it has been fun both playing Santa and being on the receiving end.
13. Horse Blogger Two Point Challenge in October.
    • As a precursor to No Stirrup November, there is a friendly competition to see who can two-point for the longest time at the end of the month. This year it was hosted by Emma at Fraidy Cat Eventing.
14. Help other people with things you’ve learned or experiences you’ve gained.
15. Reconnect with old friends. 
    • I found the woman who bought my first horse! I had her Wisconsin address and mailed her a letter a few years ago and never heard back. Flash forward to starting this blog. She found me (and had moved to Texas and never got my letter). We were able to fill in the blanks for how life had gone over the last twenty years. How cool is that?
16. Publish your own book.
    • Anna Blake, Carly Kade, and Alyssa Knee have done this. Why not you?
17. Win an award for your blog (and do good).
    • In June Knight and I won Best Unconventional Pet Blog during the Blog Paws conference in Scottsdale. I was honored with the title and cool trophy, but even more excited that a donation was made in Saddle Seeks Horse’s name to a Thoroughbred Rescue of my choice!

Your Turn: What are the reasons you blog or read blogs about horses? If you have yet to start your own, which of these reasons make you excited about blogging?

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