Horseback Riding Lessons

[Montana Gal 448]

@@Kindle and @@CowgirlJane or anyone else who enjoys riding horses. The one big thing I wanted to do whan I lost 70lbs(my first goal) is to take horseback riding lessons and learn to take care of them as well. My question is, should I wait until I am 186lbs or is it safe for the horse to be ridden at 206lbs? I rode once in my life, but I think I was a lot heavier than 256lbs(pre surgery weight), I was so aftraid of hurting the horse I rode REALLY slow :-) I need to start making up for lost time instead of always saying "I'll do _____ when I loose weight" I want to get out of that mind set and stop the waiting.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I rode much heavier and obviously many men who ride are well over 200#. A well balanced, competent rider that is heavier is easier on a horse's back than a floppy bouncy unbalanced skinny person. Take lessons, ask the instructor to assign you an appropriate horse.

[Montana Gal 448]

Thank you CowgirlJane for you response, I am working up the nerve to call the stable I chose...hopefully will do it today.

[cody73 0]

I work full time as a farrier and show with a trainer doing western pleasure. I weight 275. I've never had a problem other then looking at pictures of me. That being said I'm sure my horses will appreciate the weight that I lose.

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[Kindle 8,667]

Ditto to what cowgirljane said. I rode heavier than you (along with a six pack of beer in each saddle bag...my poor horse )and most of the guys I ride with are close to or over 200 pounds. It's never too soon to start learning good balance and riding technique. It will serve as a great Pilates-like core strengthening excercise as you lose weight, as well.

[Kyn13 215]

@@Kindle and @@CowgirlJane or anyone else who enjoys riding horses. The one big thing I wanted to do whan I lost 70lbs(my first goal) is to take horseback riding lessons and learn to take care of them as well. My question is, should I wait until I am 186lbs or is it safe for the horse to be ridden at 206lbs? I rode once in my life, but I think I was a lot heavier than 256lbs(pre surgery weight), I was so aftraid of hurting the horse I rode REALLY slow :-) I need to start making up for lost time instead of always saying "I'll do _____ when I loose weight" I want to get out of that mind set and stop the waiting.

This is one of my goals too!!! I used to ride as a girl growing up on a ranch in New Mexico. Last time I rode I was 17 so well over 10 yrs. I can't wait to get out there, just have to be able to pull my self back up in the sale first, so glad to see you are getting out there!! Have fun!

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[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I definitely want to ride again, but I still have a ways to go.

[Valentina 2,642]

Ya know what? Me too! I'm gunna do it --get back up on a horse again. No fair you guys having all of the fun...

I always had a horse when growing up. I miss them. I miss their smell. I miss their "snorts". I really miss the enjoyment I felt every time my last horse, "Coco" bit my brother. He hated horses and she knew it!

My grandfather used to drive Santa in the Thanksgiving Day Parade for years and years. Back in the day, Santa road on top of a stage coach drawn behind a matched team of Clydesdales. When it came time for two of the team to be retired the owners offered them to my maternal grandfather.--who lived in New Jersey. He brought the Clydesdales by train to Kingston, NY. That was as far as the train went at that time. There he met my paternal grandfather who WALKED the team home to the family farm--80 miles! My grandfathers had to have all of the harness' custom made for "Jake and Luke". They, like the other horses on the farm, where never worked on Sundays. My grandfathers always insisted that all of God's creatures were to rest on "The Lord's Day". Somewhere I have a picture of myself--probably 5yrs old, sitting on top of one of the Clydesdales. I can still remember---how high I was off of the ground--I was almost in Heaven--literally!

Sorry, for the long story. All of this horse talk brings back memories of some of the great horses I've been fortunate enough to know.

Yep, me too.. I'm going to get "back in the saddle". Probably should wait until my skin surgery, but right after that------up I go!!!

Thank you for the inspiration!

[Kyn13 215]

Ya know what? Me too! I'm gunna do it --get back up on a horse again. No fair you guys having all of the fun...

I always had a horse when growing up. I miss them. I miss their smell. I miss their "snorts". I really miss the enjoyment I felt every time my last horse, "Coco" bit my brother. He hated horses and she knew it!

My grandfather used to drive Santa in the Thanksgiving Day Parade for years and years. Back in the day, Santa road on top of a stage coach drawn behind a matched team of Clydesdales. When it came time for two of the team to be retired the owners offered them to my maternal grandfather.--who lived in New Jersey. He brought the Clydesdales by train to Kingston, NY. That was as far as the train went at that time. There he met my paternal grandfather who WALKED the team home to the family farm--80 miles! My grandfathers had to have all of the harness' custom made for "Jake and Luke". They, like the other horses on the farm, where never worked on Sundays. My grandfathers always insisted that all of God's creatures were to rest on "The Lord's Day". Somewhere I have a picture of myself--probably 5yrs old, sitting on top of one of the Clydesdales. I can still remember---how high I was off of the ground--I was almost in Heaven--literally!

Sorry, for the long story. All of this horse talk brings back memories of some of the great horses I've been fortunate enough to know.

Yep, me too.. I'm going to get "back in the saddle". Probably should wait until my skin surgery, but right after that------up I go!!!

Thank you for the inspiration!

I so get it!!! My horse passed away a few yrs ago, his stomach got twisted and they couldn't fix it. But growing up I could crawl all over him, and walk under him. Wish I had pictures, his name was raven and he was a black appaloosa. Living in middle Tennessee we have tons of horse barns all over, I've been wondering if one would let me volunteer on my days off from the hospital, just to be closer to the horses.

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[Valentina 2,642]

Never hurts to just ask. Go for it!