Equestrians???

So happy to see this board has some life again! It got quiet for a while.

You all have such lovely critters, even those that should be pigs. I have a gray mare (in my profile pic) who I always say should have a curly little pig tail. She loves to roll and hates baths. Go figure.

Here in NW Vermont it is supposed to be -30 this weekend! Every time I look at the weather the forcast gets colder...... :noway:

I hear ya! They're saying -25 windchills here in Minnesota this weekend. Brrr. It makes the 3 degree weather sound lovely and double digits above zero like a tropical heatwave!

Yay! It's so awesome to find other horsey girls on myfitnesspal! I was born with what my husband calls the "horse-gene" and have had horses most of my life... grew up riding bare back in Florida orange groves, and now have a farm with two Oldenburg cross mares, one Anglo-Arabian mare, a German Riding Pony filly and an old-lady TB whose once gorgeous physique is sagging and bagging with age... a little like mine!

I've been riding since I was 13 or so and have owned a couple of horses when I was in high school and college. I rode dressage at the time and showed at a bunch of local dressage shows in the Chicago area. When I got married and moved to Texas I sort of got out of it (and of course gained a TON of weight). My husband surprised me with a Christmas present in 2005 he and my sister went to a local horse auction and purchased a 6 m/o colt! At the time I was renting a house with property that my sister was keeping her horse at and he needed a buddy so I now have a going on 6 year old QH gelding named Ebenezer, which we call Benny.
I have not spent much time with him training wise. A HUGE part of that is because I have gained so much weight and I just don't feel that riding him at my weight would be appropriate. He's a stocky boy but not that tall. He probably would have been ok but I just didn't feel right about it.
Currently he lives in Texas still and I have moved back to Illinois. I'm waiting for the DREADED winter to finish up and hopefully I can bring him up here. I'm still looking around for a place to board him at that fit's the budget. It is SO much more expensive to keep a horse here than it is in Texas, let me tell ya.
Here's a couple pics of him... there are more in my profile.



here's one from when he was younger

Working with my Sa-Fire and Marble Jack sure do burn the calories !!

I really hope they can feel the difference in my weight. I feel awful riding on my horses' backs when I'm so heavy. At least I've got muscle memory so I don't throw them out of balance as much.

Feeling good !!

It's going to be SO COLD here in Wisconsin this weekend. Boooo!

Hey everyone! All of you saying you are going to wait to get back into riding until you are skinnier...DON'T WAIT! Riding is an incredible workout, not only for your body but it's good for your soul. Horses don't judge you, horses don't make fun of you. Riding has helped me jump kick my fitness because I want to be a better rider, but I've already been taking weekly lessons for a year when I was at my highest weight. Just make sure you pick an appropriately sized horse. My draft mare weighs between 1600 and 1800 pounds and has a 58 inch girth. She doesn't even break into a sweat during our hour-long lessons. I had a saddle fitter come out to take measurements for a custom dressage saddle and she felt no soreness in Gypsy's back, therefore I am not stressing her. If you don't have a saddle that fits you, ride bareback! That is THE BEST work out for developing your seat and proper leg posture. In fact, if I'm having a bad day with wobbly legs my instructor makes me ride bareback to "find" my legs again. Just get out there and do it! Most lesson barns will have a horse to accommodate you.

Gypsy is a popular name!! Here's some of my Gypsy girl:

Her big draft butt is awesome huh? Makes mine look small!!

Princesshoagie: I have to agree with you that riding is an awesome workout. I never quit riding, even at my highest weight, but I also have a horse that could accommodate my size without stressing her. She's a Mustang cross but at 14.2h, she's built like a "brick sh*thouse." We've lost weight and gotten in shape together, at least over the summer. I'm starting to work with her on standing still at the mounting block since I never use one; but once we conquer this, I plan on doing bareback riding for the winter because it's warmer and a better leg workout!

Welcome to those who have joined this thread since my last post. I love hearing about your horses and what you're doing to stay busy with them!

Hey Kelli - I used to live/work in Plymouth for almost 2 years

I have Teaspoon, a Belgian/QH that I just got about 3 months ago. I adore him, and am getting him back in shape for hopefully some intro dressage and low hunters or some type of schooling show. Nothing major, but I love my baby! More pics and info on his blog, www.backyarddraft.com

Hey everyone! All of you saying you are going to wait to get back into riding until you are skinnier...DON'T WAIT! Riding is an incredible workout, not only for your body but it's good for your soul. Horses don't judge you, horses don't make fun of you. Riding has helped me jump kick my fitness because I want to be a better rider, but I've already been taking weekly lessons for a year when I was at my highest weight. Just make sure you pick an appropriately sized horse. My draft mare weighs between 1600 and 1800 pounds and has a 58 inch girth. She doesn't even break into a sweat during our hour-long lessons. I had a saddle fitter come out to take measurements for a custom dressage saddle and she felt no soreness in Gypsy's back, therefore I am not stressing her. If you don't have a saddle that fits you, ride bareback! That is THE BEST work out for developing your seat and proper leg posture. In fact, if I'm having a bad day with wobbly legs my instructor makes me ride bareback to "find" my legs again. Just get out there and do it! Most lesson barns will have a horse to accommodate you.

Gypsy is a popular name!! Here's some of my Gypsy girl:

Her big draft butt is awesome huh? Makes mine look small!!

THAT is great advice

I personally had a rough time getting back into riding after my weight gain – because of a variety of reasons (excuses) I ended up having a 2 year lapse of riding which definitely coincided with being out of shape and much less athletic…this ALSO led to a loss of confidence. That was the hardest for me as I had always been a very outgoing rider – never afraid to do anything on horseback. My saving grace was finding a trainer who is (despite the fact she’s about as big around as my left thigh) is very supportive and non-judgmental. We took things slowly to build up my (and my horse’s) confidence from the ground up. I’m now hoping to hit some training shows with him THIS spring 
I also encourage those of you who are wary about getting started again to DO IT!! Even if you just find a place to ride a couple times a month. I almost cried after my first time back in the saddle for those 2 years I threw away…and I can tell you I’ll NEVER let that happen again…

Hey everyone! All of you saying you are going to wait to get back into riding until you are skinnier...DON'T WAIT! Riding is an incredible workout, not only for your body but it's good for your soul. Horses don't judge you, horses don't make fun of you. Riding has helped me jump kick my fitness because I want to be a better rider, but I've already been taking weekly lessons for a year when I was at my highest weight. Just make sure you pick an appropriately sized horse. My draft mare weighs between 1600 and 1800 pounds and has a 58 inch girth. She doesn't even break into a sweat during our hour-long lessons. I had a saddle fitter come out to take measurements for a custom dressage saddle and she felt no soreness in Gypsy's back, therefore I am not stressing her. If you don't have a saddle that fits you, ride bareback! That is THE BEST work out for developing your seat and proper leg posture. In fact, if I'm having a bad day with wobbly legs my instructor makes me ride bareback to "find" my legs again. Just get out there and do it! Most lesson barns will have a horse to accommodate you.

Gypsy is a popular name!! Here's some of my Gypsy girl:

Her big draft butt is awesome huh? Makes mine look small!!

Princesshoagie:

You are very right. The greatest weight loss I had came because of riding. Thats also when I was in the best shape of my life. I ache so badly for those days again. Granted that was 2hrs + or riding each day. Not counting the barn work and training and everything else in between. I dropped 6 pant sizes in that three year peroid of time. 6!! I have a hard time fathoming that right now. Here are some before and after photos. (I'm five foot btw)

This is before. 145 lbs wearing a size 12 and spilling over.


This is after. 160 lbs and a loose size six. And I lost more weight (muscle) when I left....Please forgive the whole gooberness of this photo. I thought I was fat in this photo btw. Good god what I wouldn't give to be "fat" like that again.


This is what I want to repeat again. After having my baby girl. It was a rough pregnancy and I wasn't allowed to do anything. My butt shows this now. I'm finally getting a grip on my depression and severe anxiety and panic attack. Taking small baby steps and patting myself on the back for the small victories. My biggest worry right now is my old muscle tear. I ripped an abdominal muscle while riding a few years back. While pregnant it was agrivated again. With me letting myself lose all that muscle and strength I'm petrified of doing it again. That was pain that I don't want to feel again. So Im working on it a little every day both at home and with the horses. I WILL get back to the skinny girl I know, and found once before, that lives inside me.

Whoa sorry for the larg size. I don't know how to shrink it

Confidence is a big deal for every rider, but I definitely think it affects those who are overweight more. I was gaining weight due to starting an office job and bad eating habits, but was still riding during that time just not as much bc my horse was in training. I took a BAD fall one day, and was never the same rider after that. That nervousness and stress led to almost 2.5 years off of riding, which made the weight gain even worse.

Now I have my trusty Spoon and just try to get out there 5 days a week and push myself when I ride. When I get tired of posting, I do no-stirrup work... just something so my muscles continue to catch up!

Heather: Thanks for your comments about Spoon He's the first half draft I've ever owned, and even though he isn't as docile (in some ways) as I've heard they can be he's truly a lovely horse!

Well I never owned a horse but I rode whenever I got the chance growing up. Including working summers at a race horse farm. I live in Minnesota now and I would love to ride but I know no one with horses. Hopefully in the future a farm with a couple horses will be in the cards.

Take lessons in the meantime! Riding several different horses will make you a much better rider for when you have your own!

One more lol...

Hi! I'm from Michigan! I've never owned a horse, but I've been working in barns and riding for almost 10 years now. I barn I currently work at has 16 TN Walkers!

Does anyone own their own boarding/training facility? Any advice for someone wanting to start their own place?
Thanks.

Sarah

Samb: If that's Monty in your profile pic, he's beautiful! I have a soft spot for greys!