That is a lot of hobbies there Faye. Makes me think back to when I was young, and all the knowledge older folks had and I would sit and lean from them. These days older folks seem to be taboo, to the younger generation. Out of all those hobbies which do you miss most?
I did most of my riding around ranches bareback and bridle only. I never used a bit but would a saddle for range or mountain riding. A saddle was necessary for carrying a rope and my Winchester lever action either my 30-30 or 22. I am far from a horse expert. My specialty was cattle. @Yvonne Smith Yes, balance issues related to either older age or vestibular loss, are good reasons to stay off a horse. I think if riding was kept up, then age may not matter. One of my grandpas rode until he died at age 89. One of his sisters rode until 100 when her blindness was getting bad. Maybe we need to bring up that trail-riding thread again.
Great photo, Yvonne and that sounds a lot like my life with horses. We started riding too as toddlers, Daddy was always plowing the fields with Gran Daddy's mules or riding his horses. I have a photo upstairs I'll have to post, of me holding Thunder, One of Daddy's horses while he was putting the harness on to plow the garden. We also use to put our animals on the backs of horses and donkeys. Tennesee Walkers are awesome breeds, and high spirited too. Daddy use to tell me I wouldn't have them any other way. He loved Tobacco, mules, and donkeys. I too had to quit riding and caring for them after back surgery, hate it, and miss it.
I always loved bareback, but when I left home I used a saddle. Around here just felt it wasn't needed and you could cue Tobacco with your knees to turn at any time left or right. I turned him into a spoiled pet. The trail riding thread does sound nice too.
I can relate I have fallen off, been knocked off by limbs, bucked off, and found the trick was to get back on and do it again.
I don't know that I've lost the capacity to do stuff as much as I lost motivation...and then the energy.
Past couple weeks I haven't felt good at all, and no energy, maybe because of age plus it rains everyday, but the sun is out in the am most of the time. I still make myself move around.
I used to love to roller skate. I've considered buying myself a new pair and seeing if I can still skate since I don't have any balance issues. Maybe I'll do that after I check the out-of-pocket balance on my medical insurance.
I use to roller skate too, Beth, great exercise and fun, we were at Piedmont Park in Atlanta one time and I had to go back to the car for something and decided to roller skate back downhill to Marie and the kids so I did and that was a mistake before I knew it I felt like I was going a 100 mph, so I made the decision to just turn and hit the grass on side of the road, ended up going through some hedge bushes and landing on a bunch of homeless guys. "What A Mistake".