We started out just teaching kids how to ride horses, but what we found as a side affect is that we were really teaching them about life. Teaching them to deal with the inevitable failures and disappointments inherent in the sport. We saw children picking themselves back up. They were developing resilience and learning about leadership, problem solving, and ultimately to care for something other than themselves. Not only that, but they learn true bravery, not through the absence of fear, but overcoming the fear. Experiencing the magic of being scared, feeling the butterflies and riding on and doing it anyway. The resulting smiles are anything but fake.