fallHi everybody, just a random update from your friendly Intransigent blogger, to lighten the mood around here.  I have a tale of a happy convergence of circumstances. 

One day, I’m at the horse rescue and another volunteer invites me to come to a different horse-establishment to meet her horse.  Of course I said yes!  So we made a date, and I met up with her and her horse, and as we’re fussing over her horse and giving him treats, she asks me, have you ever thought of starting to ride again.  I (as cheerfully as I can manage) say “nope, I’m too fat.”

We carry on pampering her horse, and the owner of the barn stops by to chat.  “So,” she asks, quite innocently like there was no ulterior motive in getting me to visit, “Have you ever considered starting to ride again?”

I do my little nope too fat, shrug, self-deprecating laugh thing.

The barn owner looks me up and down, and says, “We have a couple lesson horses who could handle youno problem. Email me if you’d like to have a lesson sometime!”

I emailed her as soon as I got home, and lessons started the week after singing lessons ended for the summer!

A few observations upon getting back in the saddle after eighteen years on the ground:

  • Everything is still there mentally, but the balance and fitness to do what I remember, has left the building
  • Riding, especially posting trot, is way more exercise than I remember
  • Horses are still very silly, unpredictable animals
  • Falling off hurts about the same amount as ever