I know you posted this several months ago but...I've not been on the board in a while either. I too experienced a completely alien feeling of fear of riding--I have never been afraid to ride in my life. I always wanted the most spirited horse of the bunch. The first time I got back on my horse, I was ok, a little apprehensive but ok and then it went down hill from there. Nothing happened, just all in my head. I think the balance thing has a lot to do with it. Our center is no longer where it used to be and if you're like me, you got used to riding while you were bigger. We gained the weight gradually enough that we adjusted as we went along, but it came off a whole lot quicker, so no adjustment period. We no longer have our horses, when the 4th of July rolled around, we realized that neither one of us had ridden but maybe 3 times since the last 4th of July, so we found great homes for both of horses--mine went to an enthusiastic 12 year old girl in Georgia, which is right up my mare's alley--she loves kids. My husband's horse stayed closer to home but now has a full time job at one of the local cutting horse facilities. Both of our daughters started highschool this fall, so we really weren't going to have time to ride. We train enough for other people that we've always got horse to ride if we want, but we've even cut that down to a bare minimum right now. I hope you keep on riding and start enjoying it more and more! Monica Burchett Tioga, TX Riding since I was 2

I'm sorry I must be PMSing or something, I quess I just need to chill........ Jeannie

*****es all the time about how someone is riding? How thier hands are placed? How you are now holding or neck reining right? or how you are probably learning that from someone else. My daughter rides at a local horse auction & gets paid to ride other horses in the arena, if she were riding sooooo badly , do you think that they would let her ride them? My so called friend, always has to ***** and let me know about how my 12 yr old is riding. I get so freaking sick of hearing it. My daughter had lessons at a riding academy and rides well, her grandaughters ride as though they have chicken wings and does not comment on them, on how they are badly riding. Would you just ignore her & continue to remain silent or would you confront her? My daughter says to ignore her, she is just jealous that her grandaughters dont ride at the auction. Jeannie

I have Arabs, Foxtrotters and Minis. Hard to pick my favorite though...I appreciate them all, lol. Lori

MINE ARE ARABIANS AND APPYS . WAVE JEANNIE