Horseback riding can be very dangerous. It's still a small price to pay for the power you feel astride one. The way the horse floats between thunderous hoof beats, it's like miniature spurts of flight. It's complete total freedom. Then there's the power. They ruled land warfare for an untold number of years, even into the Napoleonic wars with the feared grenadiers! Even in World War One they were the favored means for scouting. You didn't have to worry about fuel for a horse and didn't have to stick to the roads.

I once saw a boy who didn't properly tack his horse and his saddle slipped off sideways taking him with it. The boy was lucky. Normally that results in a broken leg.

Good to see that you're doing better.