Riding as exercise II

Found at Suisan’s blog:

At this time of year, after the holidays, ads for weight-loss programs saturate print media and the airwaves. Even TV talk shows devote time to the battle of the bulge. I caught part of a Dr. Phil episode in which the prominent self-help guru was evaluating the situation of one overweight guest. The woman commented that she’d like to buy a horse so she could get exercise via riding. “That’s great for the horse,” responded Dr. Phil drolly, “but what good is it for you?”

Obviously, Dr. Phil has missed out on the cardiovascular workout we women get attempting to get into a sports bra and riding pants….

Clearly, the good doctor doesn’t own a horse. At least, not the right horse. A quiet, well-broke, agreeable mount may indeed not offer much in the way of fitness training. But, the right horse (and most of us have owned 1 or 2, haven’t we?) will provide a body-building, cardiovascular- enhancing workout that would make Richard Simmons envious.

Allow me to explain….

Don’t forget!

Horse Approved will be hosting a Horse Lovers Blog Carnival on January 31. If you’d like to be part of it too, submissions are due by January 30, 5 pm Pacific Time.

In Memoriam: Barbaro

In Memoriam: Barbaro, originally uploaded by Shoshin Seishu.

“Certainly, grief is the price we all pay for love.”
— co-owner Gretchen Jackson.

Barbaro euthanized

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized this morning, according to one of the horse’s co-owners. Over the weekend, Barbaro needed new surgery on the leg he broke in last year’s Preakness. Surgeons inserted two steel pins in one of the three shattered bones, to eliminate all weight on his right rear foot.

The leg had been on the mend until an abscess began causing discomfort last week. Until then, the major concern was the other hind leg, not the broken one. Barbaro had developed laminitis in his left rear hoof in July, and 80 percent of the hoof was removed. Link

Godspeed, big guy. 😦 You’ll never be forgotten.

Braids for the bereaved

Compassionate vet tech Jane Ebben creates beautiful horsehair and ribbon mementoes to give to the owners of horses who pass away at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Link

(NB: I posted this a couple of hours before I heard about Barbaro; I’m not being a ghoul. Honest)

But is it art?

The Sundance Film Festival has been abuzz lately with talk of Zoo (safe link), a documentary about people who are sexually attracted to animals, and in particular a man who died after getting intimate with a stallion. Good.

Bridlepath word cloud

 

Is cool, yes? Get your own here (link via raincoaster).