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Well, what have you done for the first time?
never having been on a horse before, I got that sorted out by going for a ride on "Charlie Brown" . Charlie Brown is a very old horse, so their was no chance of him deciding to gallop off into the sunset with me hanging on for dear life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Getting onto him , was another story, and my hubby said that I did not mount him very elegantly, as I climbed onto him. The first time, Sandy took me up the drive way on the farm, and then the second day, it was the real thing, when both of us went out for a ride.
We did have a horrid dog come and chase us and he even tried snapping at Charlie, but Charlie gave him a slight kick, and fortunately left it at that.
If we had stayed on the farm longer I am sure that I would have spent more time riding, but we only had a few days away.
Now for the dance lesson which will be starting at the end of the month, at least I will have my feet on the ground for them.
Dont fall off your chairs laffing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
getting there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
made it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and this one was an easy one, one of the cars that belong to Sandy's Dad. A 1927/28 triumph.
Lynette
Chaska, MinnesotaLynette: I bet you had fun sans the getting on the horse. But I love the pictures....Now what is this about a dancing class? My friend took belly dancing and loved it. Anyways thanks for posting pictures.
Patsy Lake BearsGood on you Lynette .....but I think the car would be more my style these days.
ToadBriarYou know, they teach camels and elephants to "kush" - kneel down to make mounting easier -
why not horses?? Charlie is a TALL boy - I can't fault you one bit! He's a handsome fellow
to be sure and you look quite at home perched up there on him! How did it feel? Is your bottom
sore now?? I love riding. That's not to say I'm any good at it. It's been years though. My horse
owning friend is 8 hours' drive away.
Posts: 3,540Okay, its not really you, but my training is just killing me here ~ Aaahhhhh....NO FEET IN THE STIRUUPS UNLESS ITS GOT REAL HEELS!!!!! 
Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!
...pant, pant, pant....sorry 
old habits die hard! LOL 
Seriously, its just a safety issue with me.. its sooo easy, especially for someone new to horses. You must keep your heels down when riding, otherwise its very dangerous, your horse could bolt (Charlie, absolutely no blemish on you hun, you look like an absolute positive SAINT!!! :hug: :hug: ), but then you'd roll backwards from the impulse, feet shoot forward into the stirrups, and then you could very well end up drug along on the ground. Yes, I'm paranoid...ack!!! Its been drummed into me because with western riding the stirrups dont' ever part like they can on the english saddles like you're riding in. LOL Told ya I was paranoid...pant, pant, pant...
That said, bless Charlie...what a FANATASTIC ole gentleman to take you on your very first ride 
Honestly, you couldn't pick a more perfect horse for a first outting He's very stoicly standing there just waiting for you, and babysitting (sorry) every step of the way Horses like this are worth their weight in GOLD!!!!! Trust me Now you're really gonna roll your eyes, but honestly, you ARE a natural in the saddle!! Once up there, you are instinctively searching for center, legs nice and long and although you haven't a clue what the reins are for, you aren't snatching at Charlie's mouth ALL are indications to me that you really are sympathetic and want to learn more, and are more than intuitively capable of learning the finer points. You honestly could not find a better teacher than your own daughter and Charlie if you want to persue this 
As for the old car ~ WAY cool!!! I've been wanting to ride in a real Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car for ages LOL, but the horses have always easily taken me away...
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Yeah DebbieD! I was going to comment on the Crocs/Quarks but...
In spite of (or perhaps because of!) our long hours spent sewing, our upper arms are about the weakest past of our anatomy!
Lynnette, as your first picture began scrolling up I saw the expression on your face and you hunched over w/arms close to your body and knew exactly what you were feeling - your legs & helper were getting you up into the saddle.
Ever watch Westerns? DH does and you'll note how they swing up into the saddle; their arms are working as hard as their legs.
Part of my work out added routines for this year is to build lower back and arm strength... it's about killing me but it's early times.
Good Luck and Thx for sharing your pix!
Way to go Lynette!!
Hugs Lyn
Michelle- dancing lessons, I am joining up for ballroom dance lessons. It is something I have always wanted to do, and that is do dance the RIGHT way. I realized when Sylvia became a quadraplegic, just how important it was to do the things that you are able to do, and I said then, one day, dont let me sit and not be able to say , if only I had have done that when I was able to do it.
Kim- the 2nd day, I must say,when I got off, I thought I was going to walk around in a rather strange way, but I was fine. I can see what good excercise it is for your butt, legs and tummy thou. Sandy, in Cape Town, rides a horse, whose owner has had a baby so she shares in with the costs and gets to ride the horse every day. Charlie lives far to far from her, about 1000 miles, maybe in the near future Dale and her can get a small place in Cape Town and she could bring Charlie with her. Charlie has been her horse for the past 17 years, and she says as a little girl she would curl up with him and sleep with him.
Debbie, now I can see from your Avatar, horses must be in your blood !!!!!!!!!!!! On my 2nd ride, Sandy made sure I had all the right stuff, her shoes were a bit big for me, pants too jolly tight !!!!!!!!!! you can see how skinny she is, but the helmut did fit, so I did look more the "rider" part. English saddle ??? did not even know you got American and English ones.
Charlie is used to take "Beginners" out, I did scratch behind his ears, and let him nuzzle and I did explain that I was rather stupid, so I think he understood.
Bobbie- I was told to swing up- hahaha, and yes those "crocs" they have found a place in my wardrobe, they sit amongst their Italian imported sandals smirking, they are so demm ugly, but they are comfortable and one of the best Christmas presents I got.
Lynette
Posts: 8,574As well you should be~!
It looks like this is going to be the year of firsts for our Lynette, eh?
Congratulations....
dilu
Posts: 3,540LOL...those pants are jolly tight on anybody! I can remember my first fitting for them ~ boy was I alarmed The lady helping me laughed and assured me that yes indeed, they were supposed to be that tight
Yep, riding is excellent for your tummy (especially that dreaded lower abdomen), buttocks and inner thighs. Groom the horse beforehand and you've got an excellent upper arm workout, making being around horses one of the best exercises all round
Charlie really is SUCH a sweetheart Believe me, not all horses are so stoic, nor sympathic. Some take note their riders don't know what they're doing and devise all sorts of little games. Amusing for the horse, not so amusing for the rider 
Things like...oh, let's drag her leg along the barbed wire fence....let's see if we can scrape the person off with a low hanging branch....or my personal favorite, let's just dive the head to the ground to eat leaving the rider completely helpless while they try to wrestle the head back up 
:clap: :clap: Good on you for getting up there and giving it a try!! :clap: :clap:
Laurie Lou BearsMany a time Debbie I have ended up in someones garden with my horse being traffic shy and when trying to avoid the traffic taking me where she was not supposed to be going 
You look like you had a great day out Lynette.The horse looks very behaved too.It makes me cringe to see you riding in shorts though as I used to try to when it was hot in the summer but the stirrup leathers were always nipping my legs so I had to wear jodphurs and it used to be so hot in those.I used to ride daily before I had the kids-I loved it.
Laurie :hug:
mm maybe this is something that I have missed out on in life, but perhaps I could now start. I am sure that if we moved to the Cape and I was close to Sandy I could join her and "Learn" to ride the correct way. Perhaps we should buy land in the Cape, I could have a studio/shop, mmm something to think about.
Lynette
Posts: 3,540I'm firmly convinced its never too late to learn to ride Not only is it a lot of fun, but its such great exercise as well. And for me, there's something ultimately calming about just being around a horse. I can be stressed to the max, take one whiff of a horse, and just instantly feel myself calming
But then I'm a horse nut! 
Bev's Huggables PlusWay to GO! :clap: :clap: :clap:
