My horsey NSV was actually getting back on one after 16 years. Granted, he's the size of a tank, but he's mine!

I put on my winter riding breeches the other day, and I didn't have to dance and wiggle into them. I bent over and tied up my boots without getting cut in half, and it occurred to me, my breeches fit! I didn't feel like a sausage in them, they were just comfortable!

I recently was able to ride again after 3 years of not riding. It was great!!! I didn't try to be a dare-devil or anything but it was just nice being back in the saddle again and riding around in the back pasture

It is pretty easy zipping into my chaps and field boots!

what's NVP?

wow Buckeyhorsemom, thats great, what yoga did you do????? I am not able to get on my horse without using a mounting block. I would use one anyway as it is better for the horses back on a regular basis but I really worry in case of something happening out on the trail how would I get back on?

Part of the reason I started this journey was to be able to do more with my horses.

I have had quite a few horsey NSVs over the past few months (non-scale victories -- I think that is what it means, and the "victories" part sure feels good!). Just as I was getting near my goal weight and feeling pretty fabulous (my horses were thanking me too), I tore up my knee pretty badly. After a month off to get the healing started, I found out I could not use a stirrup AT ALL on that side. So, I bought a great bareback pad and have ridden exclusively on that ever since. It is amazing for my riding in general, and I do almost everything now -- all gaits and transitions, poles (not jumps -- yet!), trail rides, and I have so far survived even the occasional spook and take off incident. I was so bummed when it first happened, especially after losing weight and feeling in great shape, but it has turned out to be a great development for my seat, control, confidence and communication with my horse. I hope to get back onto a saddle again one of these days, but at the moment, it's great without it.

And yes, stealing my skinny daughter's full chaps and zipping them up no problem was a total rush!

Out trail riding several weeks ago, I was able to remount my 15hh horse from the ground. Granted, I stuck him in a rut in the road to give myself every advantage, but I was able to get back on without struggling, in spite of bad knees and being old.

Second NSV was being able to borrow a pair of size MEDIUM winter riding breeches from my daughter when I visited her last year. She got me my own pair for Christmas.

My nsv would be when I went on a 10k endurance race on my ottb snd neither of us where remotely tired, before we used to get so out of breath that we'd be at the check points for at least half a hour catching our breath. It feels good to know I'm lighter in the saddle as well.

Non Scale Victory but not horsey

Doctor halved my BP meds today. For three days I have been dragging! a MFP had the solution!

I dropped my pain med, cuz no pain!

wow Buckeyhorsemom, thats great, what yoga did you do????? I am not able to get on my horse without using a mounting block. I would use one anyway as it is better for the horses back on a regular basis but I really worry in case of something happening out on the trail how would I get back on?

Part of the reason I started this journey was to be able to do more with my horses.

Thanks for the encouragement! I still use a mounting block when I can, but it's just great to know that I can get on without one now! and it just keeps getting better. On Sunday I had my left foot in the stirrup and my right foot flat on the ground and I was balanced and comfortable (and Nacho even uncharacteristically stood there patiently and let me soak up the experience)! I actually went up and down 3 times just to make sure it wasn't a fluke! It was such a cool feeling! and to think it's only going to keep getting easier--now that's motivation!
In answer to your question about what Yoga I do, I've been rotating DVD's of Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown and Rodney Yee's Power Flexibility and Strength videos. R.Y.'s are much more "beginner" geared and not near as intense as J.M.'s, but still a great 30 minute workout. J.M.'s meltdown is a killer to get through (only 30 minutes!)--and it was actually my first experience with Yoga. I got this DVD 2 years ago and I about died the first time I did it. But I did it and I kept doing it, and mixed in other DVD's and live classes over the past couple of years. Even now, Meltdown is still a challenge, but wow, every time I finish I feel like I can do *anything*! Tonight I start a live class with a new instructor and I can't wait to try something different. I'm sure I'm going to locate new muscles I didn't know I had.

It's happened so gradually that I almost haven't noticed, but I'm also able to ride at the posting trot for lots longer than I could when I first got back to riding about 6 months ago. I had NO core strength and NO stamina--cleaning paddocks, trundling the muck cart to the pile and back (the downhill is almost as hard as the uphill), walking all over, and riding has made all the difference.