I remember when I was a teen (and about 100lbs lighter) how natural and free flowing and safe horse back riding felt. I loved every minute of it. It was SO enjoyable! I could ride fine in my western saddle, or bare back. It didn't matter. With a bridle or without a bridle. Whatever. I just rode. ANd I enjoyed it so much!
Now - after getting older (I'm now 29 - will be 30 in March) and approx 100lbs heavier, it feels so awkward. It's so much more difficult! I don't feel comfortable in the saddle (which is a 16" saddle), I feed unstable and not balanced AT ALL, I feel like I could just fall off! It now feels so UN NATURAL! It's hardly enjoyable. I've heard that getting back into horse back riding (after years of NOT horse back riding) is like riding a bike - you never forget how to do it. But why is it so un natural now!? I want to and am planning to lose weight, but is there other reasons that I feel this way? Is there something I can work on (besides just losing weight) that will make it easier and more enjoyable?
Also - is anyone else that's overweight experiencing the same thing??
btw - I am 5'7" and weigh 237lbs. Although, the weight is distributed evenly over my entire body - which is why NO ONE ever believes that I weigh this much - I look more like I weigh about 190-210lbs approx. So I'm not like HUGE ... but not nearly thin either. So is the issue mainly with my weight - or is it something else?
Maybe it's just a mental thing? Perhaps I'm just more timid and nervous than I was as a care less teen ...? I don't know, but I want to and NEED TO figure it out. I'll admit - I'm nervous to ride George, and I don't want to be!
Now - after getting older (I'm now 29 - will be 30 in March) and approx 100lbs heavier, it feels so awkward. It's so much more difficult! I don't feel comfortable in the saddle (which is a 16" saddle), I feed unstable and not balanced AT ALL, I feel like I could just fall off! It now feels so UN NATURAL! It's hardly enjoyable. I've heard that getting back into horse back riding (after years of NOT horse back riding) is like riding a bike - you never forget how to do it. But why is it so un natural now!? I want to and am planning to lose weight, but is there other reasons that I feel this way? Is there something I can work on (besides just losing weight) that will make it easier and more enjoyable?
Also - is anyone else that's overweight experiencing the same thing??
btw - I am 5'7" and weigh 237lbs. Although, the weight is distributed evenly over my entire body - which is why NO ONE ever believes that I weigh this much - I look more like I weigh about 190-210lbs approx. So I'm not like HUGE ... but not nearly thin either. So is the issue mainly with my weight - or is it something else?
Maybe it's just a mental thing? Perhaps I'm just more timid and nervous than I was as a care less teen ...? I don't know, but I want to and NEED TO figure it out. I'll admit - I'm nervous to ride George, and I don't want to be!