It seems like most girls go through a phase where they love horses.... some of us never grow out of that phase! What are some of your personal experiences with horses - and reasons for falling in love with them? Did you grow out of it, or no?

I always loved the idea of knights, horses and chivalry... there was something really romantic of the legends of the Knights of the Round Table and their faithful horses. Sure, history wasn't really like that, but the stories were great! I always loved the faithful companionship that horses are so amazingly good at, too. I never outgrew it, and was lucky enough to get my own horse - it's a life-changing experience!

I was fortunate enough to be able to take riding lessons when I was about 9 years old.

I had always loved horses but could never have afforded to keep one, so I was more than satisfied with my weekly lesson and books.

Of course, I love horses too. A friend of mine influences me to experienced horse back riding. Well, I could perfectly say, it was great! Had you ever tried this activity?

I always had images from my horse stories of galloping across open fields and brushing the coat of this huge magnificent horse so I was thrilled when my parents sent me on lessons. I can see in retrospect that it was a very very bad stable and will be in the minority but the sight of skinny ponies with saddle sores in concrete compartments really killed the dream for me until I turned 18 and saw some ranch horses in the Australian outback and was given some riding lessons there too. Wow wow wow. I've since been lucky enough to visit proper stables but the price is too high. I still love them and will still cross the street to stroke a police horse or feed horses in field grass, it's pretty much as close as I'm going to get now.

Kyles, horseback riding is one of the most amazing feelings! The bond between horse and rider is just amazing, especially when you have your own horse, or can take lessons on the same horse for a while. You can really build up a kinship with them... I had only ridden a few times when I met the horse that I absolutely fell in love with an had to adopt - he's one of my closest friends now, and one of the few creatures on this earth that I trust with my life. There's no more amazing feeling!

That's too bad that your first experiences with horses were so bad, Pepper... I can't imagine. It breaks my heart to see horses that are so badly cared for... they're such beautiful, elegant creatures, they deserve our respect and our unconditional care. I'm glad you can still appreciate their beauty, though - they're magnificent animals!

Your lucky to get have your own horse, Im still wondering when I will get mine! I love horses too, and did quite a bit of horse riding before I got married and it gradually got less after marriage due to time and having a kid. But it something I do once in a blue moon and really enjoy it.

Yes, the first time I experienced horse back riding was actually not so good, yet it was memorable one for me. It seems that I don't want to repeat it but my friend pushes me to practice well with her horse. How about you, how often do you practice horse riding?

I like watching horses in movies and documentaries. They move so powerfully and they look magnificent. I've never wanted one for my own though.

As long as you trust your friend and she has a calm horse, you should give it a shot, Kyles! I was really, really intimidated by them at first, but once you get comfortable around them, there's no turning back. My boyfriend's first experience with horses was a bad one, too - and I've got him working with mine now, and he's learning that they're not all that bad. It just takes time and working with people that you trust - that's a huge step right there.

I try to spend a couple days a week with him - not always riding, which is work for him... and I don't want him to see me and think work! A lot of afternoons we just go for walks out in the pasture... he finds horseshoes or ropes left behind from other horses, picks them up and gives them to me... they have such personalities!

That connection between people and animals has always amazed me... I'm always interested in learning about people's own, personal stories. Powerful stuff!

My daughter loves to ride horses but I personally never got interested in it. There is something about horses that I find strange, I don't exactly know what it is, but I still encourage my little one to go riding. She seems so happy when we take her horseback riding, I have a feeling she will love doing this for a long long time...

In your opinion, what is the characteristics of the horse that you love most?

Well, for me, I love their ability to carry us while we are enjoying our ride.

I think horses are beautiful. I've been lucky enough to ride a horse twice in my life. It was a lot of fun. They're so big though, I'm not sure I could maintain it. They take up so much space. My sister has two of them. I dunno how they do it. When I was in Kindergarten, our school was on a farm and we would always feed the horses by hand. It was fun... maybe it was Preschool. I'm not sure..

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-Brittany Brydahl

From the ages of 11 to my teen hood, I used to take horseback riding lessons. Much of my spare time, as well as those of my cousins' and friends' were spent in the stables and in the riding ring of the stable where we took our lessons. We each had our favorite horses. When we weren't riding in the ring, we'd be playing there. We'd come home smelling of dirt and horse and perhaps even horse manure. Going on evening trail rides were a real treat for us, but actually anytime we could go out of the stables on our horses - day or night - was great. Later on I learned to jump and that was fun too. I can say those times were some of the best times of my life.

As a kid, I dreamed about horses and wanted to have one. We lived in a city, so there were no horses around - none. I had to resort to books and movies, and seeing a horse in real life was like a miracle.

Then I grew up. I still love horses, but I wouldn't ride one. I had a chance, and I found it too frightening.