Dreaming is Free.

[BaseballAnnie]

Ballet too, right there with you, Sistas...

11 years, along with piano,

And pointe shoes were cool, still remember getting those.

But I didn't want anything to do with any of that stuff my mother and grandmother wanted me to do...

All I wanted to do was RIDE.

[angelica]

Annie - question, I had a really bad back for years, which has gone away - problem with my lower disc. I think I got really fit and srengthened teh supporting muscles.

I really want to start riding again. Now I will not hold you liable, but do you have eny experience on riding for people with previous back problems?

I am not thinking of doing anything dramatic, like competetive cross country or show jumping, more a case of just ambling around on horseback occasionally.

[Cinderellaman]

Lissie - thanks, that was the song ! Love you ! xxx

[BaseballAnnie]

Honey, I am a people with previous back problems. Ruptured a disc 9 years ago. Every three to four months acupuncture treatment keeps me sound in the saddle (no wisecracks, SPEEDY).

There are also wonderful stretching and yoga exercises you can do in the saddle and using one of those pilates inflatable balls.

The key is core strength (your dance will help with that). Build up that core, you will be fine.

And then, of course, you need a reliable mount (shut it, CAPS)...you don't want some young crazy thing that just wants to go all jiggy on you (OK, Speed, you can actually tee off on that, I have it coming). Stick with a gaited horse, very comfortable, smooth ride.

[saffie]

Angelica,

When it comes to the back thing and riding, I think most of us riders have had back problems at one time or another. As well as a reliable mount, ( try somewhere where they have Riding for the Disabled horses because they are pretty even natured and smooth or a schoolmaster), you can get back supports designed especially for the lower back for riders. Look online at some of the UK sites - Robinsons or Derby House. Also, some people find that wearing a body protector when they first get back into riding can help keep their back in the correct position and therefore prevent pain. Just a few ideas anyway.

BBA - what kind of riding do you do and what sort of horses do you have? If you fancy a horsey chat sometime lissie has my email address.

Saffie

[frank_D]

Lissie's comment about "real men" was not intended as a slight to guys on the board. She was commenting about DNQ's posting of his sex life and how "real men" don't kiss and tell the public.

Frank's comments are not meant to be judgmental to Lissie, and he is, in fact, offering up an olive branch. However, Frank, Lissie truly does not see herself as anyone more important than others on the board (even though she is a minor celebrity here \:\) ) and really doesn't understand why her words carry so much importance to those around here. And her "drop it" comment was a general, "let's let the issue die" comment, not a direct request to you to bury your feelings.

You are right on in most of your analysis, thank you for helping to clarify.

Let me clarify a few things also. First, I have no emotional response to any of the 'exchange' between Lissie, cire2, etc. None. When Lissie said

This, "Finally a real man thing" must of struck a cord with you, and I don't know really why yet, it was not said towards you at all.

Let me say 'no, it didn't. Not at all.' Because as Lissie says, it was NOT said to me at all. But it did trigger a response from some other people, which is why there was that heated 'exchange'.

I honestly and confused as to what is going on here. And you say you are not continuing it but you are.

This is the first time you post to me, and you are telling me to be impeccable with my word?

First, let me explain that I did not post _to_ you on DNQ's thread, which is where I posted the Four Agreements originally.

I titled my post "An Observation about the high emotions on this board." and I 'told' both sides of the exchange with the intention of just getting people to think about how we react to each other, and how easy it is to misinterpret each others words.

Unfortunately, your follow up post on DNQ's thread said that you did think it was some kind of message aimed at you. It wasn't. It was aimed at EVERYBODY, myself included.

Your back and forth with Cire2 etc, are just the most recent 'example' that made me remember how important it is to think about what I say before I post, and how I need to remember that, as a 'celebrity' poster, as Going Solo points out, people take our words to mean much more than we think they do. Even a casual joking comment can be misinterpreted.

I'm not here to discuss the 'Finally a Real Man' comment at all. It's irrelevant. What's relevant is that we are ALL here in a highly emotional place and it's good from time to time to think about how we are communicating.

My last post on _your_ thread was another attempt to explain this, but I seem to have not done a good job. I only added the observation about your reaction to the previous post because I am wondering if you are feeling attacked, when I tried very hard to not come off that way.

The inclusion of the Four Agreements wasn't meant to say 'you do not speak with integrity' at all. I just like them, and I included them as something to think about. For EVERYONE. That's it.

See how hard it is to write things that don't provoke defensive feelings on this board when everyone is already feeling hurt and defensive in their relationships? I'm trying my best right now and seemingly failing at it!

I am no one at all with any power. I am just a peep from this board, that is going thru a D. I have no power.
.....
Frank, you are right, I think that maybe i was very sensitive about this, b/c i don't see my POV as something that carried so much weight as you said.

Now I am going to feel like maybe , I can't say what I feel about something b/c of my "status" on this board.

Oh NO! You MUST continue to say what you feel because you have EXPERIENCE! And now you have AWARENESS of the weight your words carry. As do many people who find themselves in positions of 'leadership'.

You ARE a great person. I learn a lot from you, and it helps me to be a better person.

I'm sorry for hijacking your thread, DNQ's locked and I didn't want my commentary to continue to be misinterpreted. I will not post to your thread any more.

[BaseballAnnie]

saffie, I agree, I think bad backs and, in my case, bad hips, just go with the territory. I have never taken a bad spill, knock wood, just worn myself out from over use and trying to stay on crazy horses for so many years. I started with a pony, riding bareback mostly, all around town with my cousins from sun up to sun down, then graduated to Saddlebreds, showing first a pleasure horse, then a walk trot, finally, five gaited horses. Also showed road ponies.

Now I am done with showing, have a paint mare that I trail ride, western, and a couple of rescue ponies that are pasture ornaments.

BA

[always_14]

sigh.

I would love to learn to ride a horse.

Lissie - so great to speak with you this morning.

smooches!

[angelica]

Thanks Annie - I have been building my core strength, which is why I think I no longer have a bad back. Yes I am not planning on anything frisky [Oh get over it!!!] Thanks for the validation that it isn't crack brained to start again. Now for advice on Harpsichords . . . Anyone on the threads play the harpsichord?
A

[angelica]

Saffie - thanks for this. It has some good ideas.

A