[Jess!]

Originally Posted by oldhag

Whoa here! I do realize the British sense of humour does not always swim across the pond - BUT -

My cracks about loss of weight and self control were quite clearly backed up with my own failure to quit smoking.



All I was trying to point out was that we are all only human beings - all of us have our own strengths and weaknesses. ALL OF US!

It would be great if those of you who missed the self-deprecating nature of my post could try to understand.

I mean, look at my user name!

I am sorry that I took your post the wrong way.
However, it's a very touchy subject with me, as I have seen so many lives destroyed by an offhand comment.

[BklynCwgrl]

OldHag...I must admit I missed the sarcasm myself. I just found this thread, and when I finished reading it I was going to PM you and ask you if you realized how hurtful you sounded. And, lo and behold, there was your post at the very end. Good to know you were just joking...but it looks like we all missed the joke.

[oldhag]

Yeah well - It's the British sense of humour ain't it?

I think I'll stay at home in future. (sob, sob, sob)

[BklynCwgrl]

Originally Posted by oldhag

Yeah well - It's the British sense of humour ain't it?

I think I'll stay at home in future. (sob, sob, sob)

I'm from New York (Brooklyn) and we're often misunderstood too!

[buddiebreeze]

Originally Posted by oldhag

How did the horses tell you they were 'having fun?'

I'm sorry, but 'fun' and 'love' are terms I don't think horses use. Just my opinion, please don't sit on me!

He, he, I couldn't resist that. No offense, just a joke.

I'm an ex-anorexic, before that I was over-weight. I suppose anorexia stays with you all your life, so I've never let myself go and I maintain a just under normal weight.

Therefore I have no sympathy with fatties. Self-control will cure you.

I'm also a chain smoker. This helps my weight but I haven't got the self-control to give that up.

It's all about how much you want to change.

oohhh, well....lets all become anorexic then THATS A GREAT IDEA!
you honestly think that becomeing anorexic isnt letting yourself go either? anorexia is a mental illness- over-eating can be too- you should know better than anyone to have a little sympathy of "fatties" what a disgusting attitude you have!

[BklynCwgrl]

Buddie...read her other posts...

[buddiebreeze]

Originally Posted by BklynCwgrl

Buddie...read her other posts...

i have read her other posts and i dont buy it- she just didnt expect others to take such an offence! and i too am british- how dare she blame it on our sense on humour- its all her own mind!

[MelissaH]

Originally Posted by oldhag

Yeah well - It's the British sense of humour ain't it?

I think I'll stay at home in future. (sob, sob, sob)

And my husband looks at me cross-eyed when I watch The Young Ones. He just does not get the dry humor!

[S.HorseWoman]

This is a subject close to my heart. I'm not skinny and I never will be. I'm not built to slender; my entire female family has broad hips, broad shoulders, wide backsides, and large bosoms. I would not fit into a size 6 even if I stopped eating for a month.

Yet, I am healthy. I have never had a single medical problem aside from my ankle (which was not related to my weight, but to a misdiagnosis by my doctor). My body fat at last check was 17%, which is pretty good for a woman (average is 20% if I remember right). I'm 5'6" and about 155 pounds at my slimmest. I am not allowed to run because of my ankle, but I walk a lot, don't eat huge amounts of food, and stay away from most sweets (Mountain Dew Soda is my one vice as I don't drink or smoke; I love my Mt. Dew! ). I am hoping to get back into riding now that things are settled.

Still, being considered "fat" hurts. I try hard and have battled my weight since I was in middle school. I worked hard to get my weight under control and my health improved, and still do today. But that doesn't seem to matter to the general public. They don't see me and others like me as trying hard and doing the best we can with what God gave us; they see "fat people".

[luvs2ride79]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

Funny we evaluate by percentage of the horse's weight...

Makes it sounds like an obese, out of work arab would be a better mount for a larger rider than a horse in top physical shape with good bone. BIG difference.

I always point out to larger riders HOW you ride your horse- not just seat and balance- but how you ask them to carry you- makes a HUGE difference.

When ANY rider rides on a horses back, they're sitting on spine and muscle stretched between the front and the back end. Their back is basicly a bridge over the weakest part of their body. The VAST majority riders- big and small- allow their horse to move hollow, head up, back hollowed, spine under pressure, and carrying the rider's weight on muscles that break down and hurt. Have you ever seen a weight bearing bridge built from point A to point B by sagging down? No, it's one of the weakest structures.

Engineers know that an arched up bridge can hold many times more weight with a fraction of the strain on the structure. Our horses are the same. When we teach them to collect and round up under their rider their burden is decreased significantly. Instead of feeling the strain of holding up a rider with their back muscles, they can support their rider with their spine and skeletal structure.

A 175lb rider on a hollow horse can do MUCH more damage much sooner than a 250lb rider on the same horse working round and correctly.

Very good points!

~Barbara