OT--Back on the horse
 

LOL, no, I didn't meet a new alcoholic to date. This is a LITERAL horse.

I have my first vacation to Europe (Barcelona) planned for early May, and I added in a riding weekend up in the mountains. It's two days of riding, four nights in a Fourteenth Century farmhouse. Anyway, I love to ride, but have done very little (if any) in the past 10 years. So I am out of shape, plus I have only ridden Western since I was a kid, and although this place has SOME Western tack, they mostly use English.

So I found one of those Amazon "deals" for half-price private riding lessons and went on my first one today. Boy, I can really feel it, and I didn't do anything but walk and trot. Still, had a great time and I like the teacher very much. It was nice having a private lesson--more attention so I can focus on what I am doing wrong. I don't get out and do stuff too much, but in the past two weeks I have been out to rock concerts twice and now riding!

I always tend to sort of deny myself those kinds of outings because I feel guilty not getting more stuff done at home. I know, I know. I'm working on changing that.

Just thought I'd share. :)

I grew up with horses and rode a bit in rodeos (barrel races). Haven't ridden in a number of years, but I remember being wrecked after a ride when not doing it regularly. Enjoy! I am envious... ; )

I need to get out more. Just challenging with teenagers - having a kid in college and one almost driving - I am broke all the time. I keep telling myself, this too shall pass...

In the meantime, just have to live vicariously through you, Lexie! Can't wait to see photos after your trip in May.

OMG! Barcelona AND a riding trip out to the countryside? Definitely worth a sore butt in my book. :)

L

Good for you Lexiecat, enjoy.
Thanks for sharing.

I too grew up around horses, my best friend as a teen had a stable, lots of show horses and we used go riding quite often.

Such freedom in riding. I really miss it!!!

So what concerts did you get to see????

A week ago Friday I went to see The Who in Atlantic City. Went by myself, had a great seat (not that anyone sat during the show), and they were STILL awesome (lol, saw them in college when Keith Moon was still alive, and I have very little memory of the show, other than Roger Daltry swinging that mic around).

This past Friday I went with some AA friends to a concert in the basement of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Phila. They like funky new bands, and there were three of them playing: Wampire (don't even have a CD out yet, but liked them a lot), Foxygen (which is the band my friends most wanted to see but the lead singer acted like a jerk and he was high on something), and Unknown Mortal Orchestra (also good). It was fun--my friends were a pretty disappointed in the band they wanted to see, but we had a good time, all in all.

So awesome for you! I would love to see pics of the trip, too. I grew up with horses but haven't rode for a while. I guess you'll have to build up those inner thigh muscles especially if you're going to be riding English. I grew up riding Western, too.

Like Tuffgirl, I did some barrel racing and bareback riding, as well. My mom still has horses and I love visiting her farm. Unfortunately, they don't ride their horses anymore so they're just for pleasure and beauty. I really do hope you enjoy everything leading up to this trip and then the trip itself. Keep us updated on your riding progress!

Here's the tour I'm going on: Catalonia Weekend Ride. You gotta check out the video.

I've had this site bookmarked for at least three years, fantasizing about one of these trips. I would LOVE to do one of the Morocco rides, but all of them are at least a week--and I think that long in the saddle right now would do me in. If I keep up with the riding, though (which I am hoping to do), maybe in a couple of years I'll go for it.

Very cool and can't wait to see the pics! I've ridden twice and both times were thrown. Fortunately I was young and didn't break a hip or anything.. lol
I'll dive with sharks but keep a safe distance from horses.

Sounds wonderful Lexie! RAH and I went riding about a year ago for 2 hours - I could barely move the next day. Wish it was more available here I do enjoy it.