Horseback Riding: Dressage

My daughter is a competitive dressage rider, so we have a horse that puts up with me one day a week.

Riding is really hard work. I can be on a treadmill and working in my aerobic zone and not sweat nearly as much as I do during an hour or so riding.

I grew up riding in the West in the U.S. It was the 70s and we always rode as close to nature as we could (bareback with minimal bridles)...so while I have great balance and no fear, I am fairly clueless when it comes to English style riding and especially dressage-- but I absolutely LOVE it. It is so challenging-- thankfully our horse is very patient with me. He is 16.2 hands, a well-muscled stallion in peak condition, so he can take my weight. Still, I feel bad about weighing 20 kilos more than I "should" and I know I could look really good on him

He is such a joy to ride. I am thankful he accepts me-- and thankful my daughter and our trainer think I am good enough to be riding him.

I don't really care too much about what I look like in terms of body shape in my daily life, but I really mind pouring all the fat into those riding trousers. Sometimes I am cantering along and oops! my pants have come undone