Geez guys, all this yap about fear and getting
older is true entertainment to me. At age 48 you guys are
teenagers!! I am almost 64 and now I have second thoughts about some of the
stuff I do with my horses. BUT, I still race the kids, I still do lip hill
as fast as the horse can (lip hill is a short steep hill with the last 3 feet
being straight up. The horses fly up that hill, leap at the 3 ft mark, and
then the rider is treated to the horse version of a roller coaster!!) But
I am more cautious since I don't bounce as well as I use to. My older
horses aren't the calmest in the world and still throw some great spooks.
But the reason why I am more fearful of the younger one is because I have ridden
him for 2 years, but Bay I have ridden for 19 years and Maggie for 11. So
I know those older guys like the back of my hand. That is why I am more
comfortable with them. The younger one is the safer of the three but I
don't know him as well and thus I always expect him to do something stupid that
I won't be able to hang on to. Bottom line is this, no matter how safe the
horse, accidents happen. As long as my bod holds up and I can climb on a
horse, I am riding. Maybe not the distance I use to, but I can still go to
rides, I can ride shorter distances, I can help, and I can visit with old and
new friends. I hope to slide into home base yelling, "woooo eeee, that was
one hell of a ride"! Jeanie
