"I love animals, but I don't really like riding animals. Like, I don't love being on a horse - it's just not my thing"

Miley Cyrus draws a clear line between affection for animals and activities that place humans in control of them. Loving animals, for her, is about appreciation and care rather than participation in practices that can feel dominating or uncomfortable. By admitting she doesn’t enjoy riding horses, she resists the assumption that an animal lover must embrace every animal-related pastime.

There’s a subtle ethic embedded here: empathy can mean recognizing an animal’s agency and one’s own boundaries. Riding a horse is an iconic image of freedom, yet it also involves imposing human intention on a powerful, sensitive creature. Cyrus’s stance doesn’t condemn others; instead, it models a personal choice informed by comfort, values, and respect. The phrase “just not my thing” softens the edges, signaling that declining a culturally romanticized activity is valid without requiring a moral lecture.

Her words also challenge the pressures of image and expectation. As a public figure with roots in American pop culture where horseback riding often evokes glamour, independence, and rustic authenticity, she declines to perform that identity for validation. Authenticity, she suggests, comes from aligning actions with feelings, not from conforming to what a fan base or tradition prescribes.

There’s a broader takeaway about how we engage with animals. Admiration doesn’t necessitate riding, training, or using animals for recreation. It can mean observing, supporting sanctuaries, fostering, adopting, or simply advocating for welfare. Preference matters: some people find riding exhilarating; others find it physically uncomfortable or ethically complicated. Both positions can coexist without hostility.

At a human level, her comment champions boundaries: you can love something and still say no to parts of it that don’t sit right with you. It’s a small, conversational assertion that respect, both for animals and for oneself, often looks like choosing the kind of connection that feels considerate, honest, and humane.