Do you still ride Paula ?
Is the beach local to you ? I have to drive about 20 mins but its certainly worth the drive.
Hmm, the last time I rode competitively was in 2008/2009 and I last rode in 2012. The 3 mares (all purebred Arab) I rode have all since crossed the rainbow bridge. I went to driving in 2010, not just because I enjoyed it and wanted to utilize the ponies for "work", but because I was already having issues with both hips locking when I sat astride. The pain, when it happened, was incredible - causing shortness of breath, blinding by tears (embarrassing!!) and the in-ability to move - even to dismount. The Arabs were a little easier, not quite as wide as some of the QH and Paints I'd been riding for others.
I don't know about other areas, but here in the states, riding is based on weight sometimes instead of ability. I was told by quite a few trainers that I shouldn't be riding at all OR should be riding much larger horses. However, they were always referring to taller, not more substantial/larger frame. I've found that a much smaller horse, with more substance, is better - both for carrying my size and to reduce my own fear of heights (gotten worse as I've aged, LOL) AND just to make it easier to mount and dismount.
Back to weight - since I took on a predominantly desk job 3 years ago and then not riding, I've lost much condition myself. Riding helped to keep me in shape and not having a straight desk job also went a long ways... I'm not sure I could "nicely" ride right now - while I havne't gained much more weight, what I have is no longer "in shape". Not sure how else to describe it. I do know that over the years, even heavy, I surprised many a trainer or even pleasure riders. It's amazing how many people think that just because you are heavy, they think you know nothing about aids, balance, helping your horse to find balance in precarious situations, etc. I was never a "sack of potatoes" type of rider and always tried to find things that would help me improve and help my mount - especially since I did know that my size was/could be compromising for both safety and performance.
All that said, I found and spoke with a trainer/instructor that is in our Draft Horse club. She has a Hafflinger mare that may work well for me. Of course, she's one that is for sale, so she may not have her when I make plans to go visit(December - when I have two weeks off from work and time to recover go up there a couple of times and then recover from the "new activity). She lives 2 hours away from us and that type/length of driving is now bothersome for me as well... I will also probably take at least a pair of ponies and a cart to drive them at her place. My own western saddle will not fit her and she is making sure she has either a hunt seat or western saddle that my "wider bum" will fit in on this wider mare. I will be happy to let everyone know how my "new" ride goes, when it takes place. I didn't think I would, but I HAVE missed riding!!
Here are some pics of me riding -
working on collection and flexing on mare that was paralyzed on the right side for years before coming to us.
Our middle daughter decided to ignore my directions to lounge her feisty, 3 yr old Arab mare. She ended up in the mud beneath PG's hooves and it took a while for the stitches to her armpit area to heal. In the mean time, I took over riding PG - hoping/praying that she was large enough and finally able to carry me. In just 30 days I had this little mare so light and somewhat balanced up, we were doing piaffes, shoulder-ins and 2 tracking (yes, in western gear - didn't have an english/dressage saddle of my own). With all the work she was getting and how well she did at a trot, you'd think she would get much better at a canter/lope - but after any length of time, she'd always end up cross leading and no amount of equine chiro, massage or flat out conditioning ever seemed to fix that issue. She was a "hoot" to ride! And at 13.3 hh, just a few short years later, she was SOOOO much easier to mount and dismount (for me)... These two pics taken 20 October 2002 - so 14 yrs ago. (wow, I didn't realize it had been so long -
)
Taking an english riding lesson on Chaunter, our first Arab mare. The instructor insisted that I "work harder" at flexing and stretching down into the stirrups. The result was that I pulled muscles in both of my feet, calves and thighs - causing severe Plantar Fascitus (spelling?) that would affect me for years (still?) and caused me to be barely able to get out of bed and walk and couldn't mount or ride for a very long time... Why can't fitness (& riding) instructors realize that with someone who is larger and/or out of shape, that they need time to re-assimilate stretching/flexing just as an out of shape horse does or someone/horse who may never have actually done what is being asked.... ARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!
Chaunter's 2000 1/2 Shetland son. He matured to the same height as his dam of 14.1 hh. He is 6 yrs old in these pics (Jan & May) and I finally felt he might be mature enough to handle my size. Part of me has always wished I'd never sold him - he turned into a supremely smooth/fun ride in any tack and could go for hours (built up of course) under me.
The last pic of me riding and also last competition ride. This is a timed trail ride (hunter pace?) - that a group of Huntsman (Yadkin Valley Hounds - don't seem to have a website anymore) used to put on in NC. They allowed any type of riding equipment as long as safe and suitable to horse & rider, required helmets. You rode with a partner, could do the jumps if you liked, had a map & markers of the trail. Up/down hill and banks, thru streams - it was timed for each group (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and you couldn't be too early or two late. Think this is the one that Gail and I won, but can't remember. We were disqualified at one - we had gone off course and couldn't figure out how to get back. Came in from wrong area for our level and "too fast". We'd enjoyed the ride and had a blast. We did this over a 2 yr period in 2008 & 2009. I was having issues with my hips then already and before I could make a "forest pitstop", I needed to make sure that i could safely re-mount PG (from a decent sized log or a ditch bank).
If you are directing the beach ? to me, we are about 3 hours away from the coast now. Yes, there are/were rides that could be done on the beach but we never coordinated such rides when I wish we could have. Now, after Hurricane Matthew, I don't know how long it may be before anyone can ride along the NC coast. Just getting to places where you could legally park, right now, would be very difficult.