Where do I find the courage?

I have a 2 1/2 year old Stallion that I purchased from Canada as a yearly. I have been doing lots of ground work with him. Schemer walks, trots, canters and whoa in the round pen on command, I started him under saddle three weeks ago and sence day one the saddle has never bothered him. My problem is me. I've lost the courage to get on him, but I want to be the one who trains him. I'm scarred that he will throw me off and I will break my something.The last horse I trained to go under saddle was 3 years ago and I was somewhat smaller. and more agile. What should I do should a bite the bullet and climb up or should I not.

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Thanks Nicole for your input. I agree with everything you said. I have solved my problem. I paid a trainer today to ride my colt. I purchased my colt as part of a business venture. Schemer will have to start breeding a small group of mares (3) in February. He is my first stallion, everyone that I have spoke with has told me to make sure he has a good handle on him before breeding starts. Schemer is a appaloosa and is a very big boy, he will be 3 years old in April and he is already 16.3 hands tall and his weight is 1200 lbs with very heavy bones. I had him x-rayed 2 months ago before he started taking a saddle. I x-ray all of my horses knees before they go under saddle. I also watch to make sure my horses are mentalily ready before their training begins. My problem is with me, I have rode and trained horses for over thirty years, but with my weight being so high 270 lbs. I worry that I will break something. But I guess I want have to worry about that for now. Thanks for the kind words. Cheryl

Cheryl - Hi. I am also looking for courage to get on my 2 year old gelding soon. I have been saddling him and driving him for about a month and he is great. I have lost over 100 pounds and weigh in at 142 so am ready physically. It is the mental thing right now. I havent started a colt in about 10 years and I am 56 years old this year so I do not want to break anything either! I am sure that he is ready but I am not I guess. Hopefully I will do the right thing and not get hurt.

Lynn-Hi, I know what your talking about. I fill the same way. I'm glad that someone else started my colt, sence I did not have the nerve. I paid the trainer for 2 weeks of riding and it killed me to watch, my colt never bucked and did just what I thought and said he would do. The trainer said he was the easyest colt he had ever started. It should have been startingmy cold! The good news is that the trainer moves along or trains alot faster than I could do, so I guess that will have to do. Lynn good luck with you and your colt. I hope you find the solution in what you seek your. Please let me know how it goes. Cheryl

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I had my son ride my 3 yr old arabian gelding a couple times this summer. He did awesome...and by spring, I should be light enough to ride him myself...and I DID break a leg really bad almost 4 yrs ago..(not on a horse)...and it broke my spirit as well. I gained 50 lbs and found that while I can ride...if a horse gets out of hand, I don't have the physical strength to HOLD on...I am way top heavy...so aflying I would go. Now, I am just under 200 lbs...and working steadily down, and doing strength exercise on a bowflex and rowing machine, as well as walking 3-5 miles every other day. THIS coming spring, I will have that arab at 4, and also a 3 yr old Peruvian Paso to start...can we say "weight loss incentive"? I had lapband surgery on Oct. 5th, and am already down 12 lbs. I am regaining my personal confidence one step, and one ride, at a time. Good Luck!