anyone brave enough to post??

Dee it's really hard to tell from that pic how suited Dancer and you are, in fact it's very hard to tell from any picture.

More pics from me

Here I am on Fancy, my first time on a horse in a long time, this is my little beginner friendly weight carrying Haflinger



So many people told me that we looked like a good match, and she looked fine for me, just on a set of these pics. Truth is she wasn't fine, she had to brace when I got on, and she is not happy with a heavier rider on her.

I knew that which is one of the reasons I bought Appy Gilmore there.

When I posted this pic



It caused quite a debate among a load of people I didn't know and who didn't know me or Mr G, and they deemed that I was to heavy for him...wrong, the reason that I'm smiling so much in the pic is that he didn't have to brace when I got on, and he rode the same for me as he did for the lightweight I was buying him from.

As larger riders we are always seeking some sort of validation about if our horse can carry is, truth is the onlt one who can truthfully tell you that is the horse themselves.

Be totally honest with yourself, and watch and listen to your horse, let a smaller rider have a go and compare their way of going. Involve a trusted and experienced friend to watch these things as well, it will give you a far truer picture than asking people on a message board

One of the friends that was with us on our trail ride (and has seen me ride Dancer previously) is a trainer. She is the first one that told me that Dancer wouldn't have any trouble carrying me. She just suggested that I not even try to mount from the ground (I can't do that, anyway) and not to bounce around in the saddle.

Trying to find a saddle that fits Dancer has been a trial, but we think we've found what she needs, and I will pick one up before next spring. The saddle I have will do just fine for the short rides.

Dancer never once staggered with me, and had no trouble keeping up with the Paso Finos that were leading the trail ride...until we were about halfway through - about four miles. I think if we hadn't been trying to keep up, we'd have been fine. Dancer hadn't been ridden in several years, except for a very few short rides.

Trust me, we were checking Dancer every day for any sign of soreness, but she was fine. I spent a week in a wheelchair and a month in a cast. I can't wait to be able to get my foot back in my boot and ride again. We are going to take it slower, though!

GH, I'm pretty sure Fancy wants to live with me! What a cutie!

Here's me finding me english side again on my new mare.

All great pics, you all look fabulous!

MFH, sit up straight young lady,

Can you tell I spent a good many years riding hunt seat......definitely a work in progress!

These are the first day I rode Cat. I left her halter around her neck with the lead rope twisted around the saddle horn, because I figured I'd hit the ground, and we'd have a heck of a time catching her.... I'm glad neither happened! For a horse who supposedly spent a month at a trainers, she would not do anything, would not walk forward, would just turn circles, finally my brother came out and led her a bit after that she was fine.

First of all, MHfoundationquarters, you are only an honorary member of this forum. YOu aren't big enough. But since you are so nice, you can stay with the "big girls"! Just kidding. YOu are always welcome!

Here's me on Mac a year ago. I think I am about the same size?

I used to be though. At my heaviest I was 215. I'm hovering around 160 right now. Pretty sure though that I have enough derriere to belong to the club :)

Nuisance, you remind me of me! This was my first ride on Dancer. I was the only one brave enough to get on her. We were at the trainer's in these pix. I kind of got rooked into it - we took daughter's little mare for 90 days of training. Daughter "claimed" her mare would need a companion on the trip to keep her from getting too nervous. I agreed to take Dancer - it was no skin off my nose and she needed the practice loading.

I was set up! Yes, daughter's horse was going to be left with the trainer, but the trainer was bound and determined that I was going to ride Dancer. Guess you could say I was shamed into it, and shamed was certainly right - I had to use a picnic table as a mounting block!

The long line was just a safety precaution - the last time anyone rode Dancer, she pitched a bucking fit that would have taken your breath away at a rodeo! Personally, I think she just didn't like that rider's style - I have learned one does NOT kick m'lady Dancer!