Expectations versus Reality When Dating an Equestrian

Hi friends, and welcome back to another Cowgirl Monday! Today’s topic – expectations versus reality when dating an equestrian.

As a cowgirl, I just have to giggle at that photo on the left. She looks more like a dominatrix than a horsewoman!

The reality for most of us horse-loving women is that we work hard in the barn, cleaning stalls, grooming our horses, and bringing them food.

We don’t mind getting our hands dirty.

Things You'll Never Hear a Horsewoman Say

Seeing as how I had a little fun with AI on my post The Girl Who Loves Horses and Dogs, I’ve tried it again. I hope you like it. And here we go!

Expectations vs. Reality: Dating an Equestrian – A Short Story

EXPECTATION:
When Jake matched with Emily on a dating app, her profile was like something out of a romantic movie: windblown hair, riding a majestic horse at sunset, sun-kissed smile, and a bio that read, “Equestrian. Horse lover. Nature’s my happy place.”

He imagined weekend picnics under oak trees, peaceful trail rides together, and cozy mornings feeding horses before sipping coffee in the barn. Maybe he’d get to wear a cowboy hat. Maybe she’d braid his hair. Romance. Wholesome vibes. Maybe a Jane Austen novel on horseback.

REALITY:
The first time he visited the stable, Emily handed him a pitchfork.

“Can you muck out this stall while I cool down Thunder?” she asked, already halfway across the paddock before he could ask what “mucking” was.

Thunder was not romantic. Thunder was 1,200 pounds of fury with opinions and hooves. Jake tried to bond with the horse by offering a carrot. Thunder sneezed in his face and walked off.

Weekends weren’t for cuddles. They were for hauling hay, scrubbing tack, and waking up before sunrise for competitions in the rain. Emily’s idea of a date night? Cleaning trailers and watching vet videos over takeout. She always smelled like a mix of leather, liniment, and effort.

Once, he tried to surprise her with a pair of new shoes.
She was touched—until she realized they weren’t for the horse.

But then…

One windy afternoon, Jake finally climbed into the saddle. Not gracefully, and not confidently. But Emily beamed as he trotted (bounced violently) around the arena.

“You’re doing great!” she yelled. He wasn’t. But he was trying. And later, as they watched the sunset behind the barn and shared a cold drink in the hayloft, he realized something:

It wasn’t the romanticized horse life he’d expected. It was messy. It was hard. It was real.

And maybe that’s what made it worth it.

Moral of the story:
If you date an equestrian, expect hay in your bed, manure on your boots, and a third wheel named Stormy who demands half your attention. But if you stick around, you just might find a love that’s built on grit, humor, and a whole lot of horse hair.

– The End – Ha ha!

I hope today’s Cowgirl Monday story put a smile on your face. Credit to chatgpt.

Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on July 6, 2025.