A Distance Behind a Passion •by leia•

"She's so lucky she gets to leave school early everyday"

What people often don't see behind someone's hobby is the time, travel, and sacrifice it requires.

A one-hour drive, several times a week, with Nola's mom supporting her throughout the way.

Upon arrival, the beauty of the barn life reveals itself through wandering chickens, horses grazing, and other architectural structures.

but Beyond the beauty, playful struggles still emerge

Preparation

behind every lesson is gaining the motivation to tack up

Nola tightens the saddle, swings into the stirrup, and mounts, ready for her lesson.

The lesson

While many people escape into phones, Nola escapes into movement, land, and animals.

Nola guides her horse around the barrels, leaning into each turn with focus. Her instructor watches closely, calling out tips and corrections she quickly takes in. Nola learns from her mistakes, adjusting quickly as the lesson continues.

The Aftermath

Most people just see the riding part, but the real story is everything else. It's the hours spent traveling and tacking up, the dust in your lungs, sweaty and hot, and that total body exhaustion you feel when you finally step off the saddle. Nola takes a moment to hydrate under the sun before untacking and heading back to the barn.

A Quiet Moment

The end of the trail

Nola spends time alone with the horse, a reminder that her connection to riding is built on patience. She untacks her horse and brushes him, letting him out into his stall to roll around and cool off after the long and tiring lesson.