Fairweather - 2015-02-04 2:43 PM  No, but you did reference a 200 pound man as fit vs  a not fit 200 pound woman. If a person can lift a lot for a long period of time, I would consider that fit. Not all women that are 200 pounds or have a higher BMI are necessarily unfit or soft. That's the point I was trying to make in general. 

Murphy - 2015-02-04 2:21 PM


I'm hoping I didn't offend with my comment, as that was not my intent. However, I think there is more in being "fit" than just lifitng heavy for long periods of time. My husband is out of shape (he will admit this) and he can throw hay all day long.  He is 6'4" and 220 pounds. 

I think people who have a solid core and are in shape can utilize balance and weight better. That's all. 

banjomia - 2015-02-04 4:11 PM I couldn't agree more....being "fit" is a lot more than being able to go out in a field and outwork a teenager. Being fit requires your heart and lungs and your entire body to be fit. There are a lot of different sized people in this world. None of us have the same frame or genetics. What you you can do is be the best and most fit version of yourself. Unfortunately, if we are honest with ourselves....that is not happening. Most people eat like crap and don't take the time to exercise. And yes, we do owe it to our equine partners to take care of ourselves so we can take care of them....and that includes in the saddle.

banjomia - 2015-02-04 4:11 PM I couldn't agree more....being "fit" is a lot more than being able to go out in a field and outwork a teenager. Being fit requires your heart and lungs and your entire body to be fit. There are a lot of different sized people in this world. None of us have the same frame or genetics. What you you can do is be the best and most fit version of yourself. Unfortunately, if we are honest with ourselves....that is not happening. Most people eat like crap and don't take the time to exercise. And yes, we do owe it to our equine partners to take care of ourselves so we can take care of them....and that includes in the saddle.

LMS - 2015-02-04 3:20 PM  AND that statement right there makes me want to do this to you    Because I'm overweight I don't love my horse?? SHEESH  HE is an animal, he exists because I've bought him, taken care of him fed him, loved him....don't think I owe him too much......Trust me, I'm as honest as the day is long, some days the only thing that keeps my sanity is the fact that I have to walk down and feed my horses and steers-and guess what?  It's probably the only real exercise I get in a day!!!  Bottom line?  If people would mind their own business and keep their opinions to themselves we wouldn't even need a thread like this.

LMS - 2015-02-04 5:08 PM I'm sorry, I did not miss the point, because IMO my "best" would be to quite my job and workout approximately 5 hours a day and ride for 5 hours a day, that would be my "best".  My best would be me at 135 with enough muscle tone to frighten weak men!  My best would be riding an NFR mount.  Thats what I COULD be, but when someone follows up a statement with unfortunately, it leaves the impression that we should just quite with any of it if we can't do our "best"  I'm not willing to do that, so all of the people that think I'm too fat to ride my horse, keep your opinions to yourself....because you know what?  I'm not doing my "best" and I'm guessing that if people are truly honest with themselves-most are not doing their best either, but I try not to throw rocks when I live in a glass house.  Everyone should evaluate their definition of "their best" because nope I'm not doing my best and that is life! I have never made excuses as to why I am the way I am, I know why.

cavyrunsbarrels - 2015-02-04 6:00 PM Is it me or is this starting to get a little testy...The POINT of this thread, and Fairweather's shiny new website is to ENCOURAGE people. We are all in different situations. We all have different goals and struggles. One person's ideal size may be another's "feel like a balloon" size. There doesn't have to be a clear definition of what is fit and what isn't. If you are trying that is what is important. If you are living as healthfully as YOU can and not hurting yourself or your horse, then gosh darn it I think you're doing great! I understand being frustrated at yourself, the world, whatever and I've gone through my times of bitterness. Heck, I was obese as a baby, as a toddler, as a child, all the way through adulthood. I've never known what it is like to be thin. I didn't eat myself to this point, or have kids, I didn't do anything to deserve the body I was just given. It sucks and it hurts when people want to point fingers. But if you want to feel better you have to ignore the haters and take care of yourself so that you can love yourself no matter what size or shape you are.

Red Raider - 2015-02-04 9:34 PM On May 2, 2013, I walked into a bariatric surgeons office with one major goal in mind.  I was basically willing to die on the operating table during a gastric sleeve surgery for the chance to be able to ride horses again. 



You see, I'd been heavy all my life and had stopped riding horses some 10 years before that time because I thought I was too much for a horse to handle just light riding much less competing.  I never gave up on the dream of riding again though and I figured if I couldn't have that in my life, my life might not be worth living.  So I took the risk and had the surgery.



This picture of me was taken about 9 months after my surgery.  I think I was down about 110 pounds from my heighest weight of 325 at the time it was taken.  This was the first time I had gotten on a horse since 2002-03 when I was in law school and I actually competed in a ranch sorting competition the day this picture was taken.  I can't describe how I felt riding that day.  It was like coming home -- I didn't feel weird or anything.  My balance, seat and everything was pretty much what it always had been.  The body just knows what it knows I guess.  



Don't ever sell your saddle or give up on your dreams.  The cost may be high and the risks may be scary but don't give up on yourself.  Keep dreaming and keep riding on my fellow fat girl friends.  Don't let anybody take riding horses away from you.  If they want to make fun of you and tell you you'll never be able to do it, tell them to go F*CK OFF and get a life.  Your working on yours and it's going to be a good one.    







   

LMS - 2015-02-04 9:56 PM  I do want to apologize to fair weather that I'm as testy as I am!  I'm just about 40 and plumb sick of this! Here's a Point: red raider, ur pics u weigh about 10 pounds lighter than I am now, the gastric sleeve has been on my mind a lot lately. I've always wanted to be thin, for my height 135 is "correct" but at my fittest I weighed 175 and was bullet proof!  Fighting weight probably! I'm very concerned about the problems that come from gastric surgery, can I do it?  Will it kill me?? Will it work? Any insight  into the sleeve I would really appreciate!  You are very brave for trying something so many view as controversial!