smiling from ear to ear

My parents have had some health issues in the last 10 years and their riding time has been steadily declining, haven't even rode in the last 2 years at all. Dad also was dumped about 4 years ago and lost some confidence in himself and his horse. Add to that mom is pretty much done riding herself and so everytime I called to invite them out there was an excuse not to go. Started to become evident to me that dad still wanted to ride but mom was done (both retired now).

Well, mom took off for a week to attend a family reunion back east. I sprang into action and invited dad out for a ride behind moms back (she was inside the house packing) and he was all for it. Swung by yesterday to pick him up. Soon as he climbed on his horse he put on a huge smile. 3 hours riding later and that smile was still on his face. Matter of fact, another 3 hours later when we left his house that smile still hadn't been wiped off his face. He's regained confidence in himself and his horse that they can still be a team together. Now I'm hoping he wont keep letting mom run interference to his riding!

Have to say that was actually one of my best riding days of my life.

Good for you to keep this option in front of your Dad. Glad that he had a great ride.

Yes, it's a special day you'll long remember. Another cherished memory.

Glad you and your dad had a great day together.

Good on you for arranging it!

YAY! Glad you got to spend some go quality time with your dad and that he got some time with his horse! Hopefully you can sneak in some more rides for him!

Maybe with your Dad feeling more confident again, he will want to keep riding even if your Mom doesn't and will tell her so, eliminating the need to sneak!

Fingers crossed.

Excellento! Hope your dad keeps riding, proven medical fact (heard it on the tv "The Doctors), horseback riding staves off oestoporosis, arthritis and some other aging disease (can't remember, getting old, bad memory, lol).

I can pretty much gaurantee with his confidence back there will be no stopping him riding now.

Update: he and mom talked and it seems, according to mom, he's the one that's been stopping them from going and she has still wanted to ride. I know how I feel about that one but if she starts riding again I'll be happy about that too. Doubt we'll be able to talk her into more than a one or two hour ride at a time.

Short rides are okay. I lost my mom in 83, dad in 93. All of us only have so much time to spend here. It sounds like you've found a great way to make the most of it.

I guess I kind of Envy you in a large way, but it's a good envy.

You're truly blessed sir.

My dad begs me to put him on a horse. Says "I can handle it"
But it just scares me to death. He's on Oxygen and unsteady in walking. Knees and legs have lost their strength long ago. It would be just my luck that the day I put him back in the saddle, He'd tumble off and seriously break something.

I might be able to get him in the saddle at home with a short ladder, But if he came off while trail ridding, I'd never get him back in the saddle. And there is no way he could walk out.

I feel bad refusing him, But he is just beyond the point where I dare take the risk. If your dad can ride, Enjoy the time with him.