Business leaders share early equestrian experiences—and the lessons that stayed with them
For many, the first time riding a horse is equal parts awe and uncertainty. Sitting atop a powerful animal—often for the first time—can feel unfamiliar, even intimidating. Yet across industries, from real estate to law to tech, leaders who have taken that first ride describe a similar arc: hesitation, adjustment, and ultimately, connection.
Presence News asked professionals from diverse fields to reflect on their first horseback riding experience—where it happened, who they were with, and what stayed with them most.
Learning to Let Go
Richard Morrison, founder of Vancouver-based real estate firm Richard Morrison Vancouver Homes, recalls his first ride as an exercise in surrender.
“My first time on a horse, the animal just went where it wanted while my friend walked beside me,” Morrison said. “It felt exactly like my first solo house showing—nerve-wracking at first but then I found my rhythm.”
For Morrison, the experience wasn’t about control, but about adaptation. Drawing a parallel to his early career, he noted that letting go and embracing the unfamiliar can often lead to growth.
“Honestly, letting go and learning something new is a great feeling,” he added.
Trusting the Process—and Yourself
For Polina Haryacha CEO of CloutBoost, the first ride came during a family trip, with a guide assisting her onto what she described as a “slow, old mare.”
“I was pretty nervous being that high up,” Haryacha said. “But as we walked through the trees, I’d tug the reins and she’d just calmly turn her head.”
That moment marked a shift—from uncertainty to agency.
“Suddenly I wasn’t just a passenger anymore,” she explained. “It was different from anything else, learning to trust the animal enough to trust myself.”
Finding the Rhythm
Cyrus Partow CE0 at ShipTheDeal remembers his first ride at a summer camp, surrounded by classmates in an open field.
“At first, every lurch made me tense up, trying to predict the next movement,” Partow said. “Then I just stopped fighting it and let my body go.”
What followed was a subtle but powerful realization.
“After a few minutes, I wasn’t bouncing anymore but moving with the horse’s rhythm,” he said. “It was a strange, quiet feeling—just this big animal and me moving together.”
Respecting the Power Beneath You
For Jae Francis Lee Principal Attorney at Francis Law Center, the experience came on a school field trip, where nerves were shared among classmates.
“The instructor helped me up, and I immediately felt how much power was underneath me,” Lee said. “The horse reacted to every tiny shift in my weight.”
That sensitivity required composure.
“Honestly, taking a few deep breaths was the only way I stopped shaking enough to actually enjoy the ride,” Lee added.
A Shared First Step
Across each story, a common thread emerges: the first ride is rarely about mastery. Instead, it’s about awareness—of balance, of trust, and of presence in the moment.
Whether drawing parallels to business, personal growth, or simply the act of trying something new, these early equestrian experiences reflect a broader lesson: sometimes, progress begins not with control, but with connection.
