I had my surgery the 11th of May - I was told by my surgeon that I can ride the end of July - as I will be healed enough - I can't wait to take out my husbands Standardbread and my QH Mare (The Tazmainian Devil) - It will feel great to be ba

Ever since I started riding again post-op, I have been afraid to canter my mare, and worse, she knew it! We could do just about anything at the trot, but just getting through that canter depart was making me crazy. (This was mostly due to having fallen and broken my left humerus 3 times last summer cantering.) Well, as the weight has been coming off, riding is getting easier and easier! My center of balance is so much lower, and Libby hasn't come close to losing me since my surgery in 12/03. Last night, my trainer and I decided that I wasn't getting off until we did a good, comfortable canter. It was the hottest day we've had so far this spring, and cantering was not in Libby's plan. I spent about 15 minutes getting a lovely lengthened sitting trot. Usually I would have given up long before this, but my beautiful trainer wasn't going to let me give up this time. Enter the Mare. She had a little tantrum, and bolted off down the long rail, kicking out and twisting. And I didn't fall off! (I was too scared to fall at that speed!) After the first corner, she gave up and came back to a more collected canter, and we just kept going for a lap or so. I'd forgotten how comfortable and secure her canter is! And, I rode out the worst she was willling to do to me. God, I love this mare. Our trainer is going to start us back jumping next week, and we may actually be ready by hunt season this year! Only 4 1/2 months post-op, and it's coming back. If you want to ride again, it will happen for you! Deb

Beth! Sounds like you are getting your riding in already this year. I wish we had better weather, or at least some safe ground for riding. I can hardly wait to get my horses in shape for some 3 hour rides! I was laughing, picturing you as a scratching post! LOL. One of my horses does that every time we take off the bridle. I've been knocked on my rump a few times! I learned the trick of using one hand to take the bridle off while scratching her in her bridle sweet spot with the other. This time of the year our horses look so shaggy with the shedding. We get so covered in hair when working with them. I love my horses, but yuck - horse hair in my mouth is not tasty! Keep on riding, girl! You are doing so great! Ruthanne

Hi Paula! Yup, the ponies are a-sheddin' so spring musta sprung! Coulda fooled me though, since it's snowed up here in NE MN the past few days. There is snow on the ground again where the pavement and sidewalks and shoulders of the roads were bare for a couple of weeks. The pasture is getting sloppy and my beautiful paint's coat now has a couple of extra brown spots, and it's not hair color. YucK! Why do they decide to roll/lay in the fresh stuff? LOL I had my surgery on 2/2 and was riding bareback around my yard within 3 1/2 weeks. Although I did ride a lot last summer, we had too much snow this winter. Jumping onto Sundancer was awesome last week! Good luck to you in your journey. I pray that you heal fast, in time for some awesome riding this summer/fall. Ruthanne

yeah , i can imagine spring fever must be terrible , i know it alway**** me when i lived in wis , abut this time , of course, i still get it here in MO> but , now its all over, i was out earleir today cleaning leaves from my flowerbeds, getting ready for spring, but its windy here, and doesnt feel like the 58 degrees the thermometer says, the horses i ride have been shedding and are squirrley and itchy, the big paint "buddy" nearly knocked me on my butt when he decided i looked an awfull lot like a scratching post!! i had just gotten his saddle off and had removed his bridle , and was haltering him when , whoof !!! head to my chest and he starts rubbing, luckily he only shoved me adaints the rail , but had it not been there i would have been on my behind !!! my legs are terribly sore, though , on saturday i went riding, for about 3 hours, then saturday afternoon went on the four wheelers for a couple of hours too ... oh , this was a lot of fun , but in hindsight not my wisest decision !! ouchy ouchy !! i feel almost like i pulled a mucsle, what arethe ones on the tops of your thighs called again ??? and of course to top it off, i got whacked by a branch in my right knee while riding, its all swllen and a very unattractive shade of purple ! oh well, spring is coming i know it is the hyacinths in the back yard are up ! the horses are shedding, !!! yeah !!! B