Hey!  It's so nice to hear from a fellow rider.  I love to "talk horse".  Thanks for telling me about dropping my stirrups, I will have to try that.  It sounds good.  I know I need to keep riding, but I guess I just feel so bad about myself that it is starting to effect every part of my life.  Horses have always been my one thing I could go to, and now I even feel to big for that.  So, I guess it's more a mental thing.  It is just hard for me to find a good seat, I bought a new saddle last year.  It was an 18 inch, I have that syndrome also!!!      My husband loves to ride in "rough" places, I always was in a ring or a field.  Trail riding to me before him was riding on the gravel road to the river, then riding in the field or maybe the woods to water.  And if I was feeling real adventurous, I would ride out in the river for a little ways.  Now I go with him, and he really has changed my trailriding!!!  We took the horses to The Great Smokey Mountains last summer.  Was that an experiance!!!!!   I was riding a 6 year old Pusher horse.  Don't know what I was thinking.  He did real good, I was proud of him.  It was very steep and some places were not what I call trails, but my husband loved it.  I would like to go back about 150 pounds lighter.  ( And with a mule!  LOL )  I always rode English, but I had to get something else to take there.  I feel to "held in" in a western saddle, I know that sounds crazy.  So I bought an endurance saddle, this has been the best  thing ever.  I thought at first it would feel to restricting, if that makes sense, but it has been great.  It feels like my english, only with saddlebag ties and better stirrups.  I really want to ride, I just am heavier than I have ever been in my life, I am around 311-315 now.  When we went last summer, I was around 270.  I hope to have my surgery around Jan/Feb, so next summer I will be ready!!  Please keep in touch, it was nice to hear from you.  If you ever want to talk horse, let me know!!!   Cindy

so did you get to lease the mare that you rode before I hope so thats awesome

Hey Anita.  I have Americain Saddlebreds, and a Tennessee Walker that I trail ride.  I have showed and rode my entire life.  I just found this Forum, and I have been a member since  July!!!!  I have told my husband that I wasn't going to ride until I have my surgery.  It is about to kill me!!!!!!!!!!  We trail ride alot, and I miss it something awful.  I haven't shown in a couple years.  My weight has really discouraged me, I don't feel like I can ride right.  I have always rode horses with alot of " motor", and for the last couple of years I have had to ride a more calm horse because my balance feels off.  I should have my surgery some where around Jan or Feb.  So, next summer they will have to drag me off a horse!  I am not from Cal, but I thought I would write ya anyway.  Happy Riding, Cindy

I called a stable today about taking lessons, and in talking with the owner, found out that she has the last lesson horse I rode before I quit. And, at the end of summer or beginning of fall, she is planning on leasing her out. This is like so awesome. I've been looking to own my own horse, but want to work on my riding since I haven't for about 5 years. Sweetie is the most wonderful horse I've had the privilege to ride and be around. It would just be the greatest thing if I can lease her, if not, just getting the chance to ride her again makes my day Plus, I weigh less than the first time she got to carry me around Just had to share my news with someone who might be able to understand

I bought my riding pants from Boink, State Line Tack carries them. They were like $80 when I bought them like 5 years ago.