Congratulations!  Your smile says it all.  Beautiful! 

Congrats!!

Great pictures! Riding again is on my bucket list of things to do when I get my weight down. Ride on for me until I can!!!

They need to install a "love" button next tot he like button... Somedays like just doesn't cover it. Amazing!

Fantastic photos. Your post brought me to tears. I am early for a potentially stressful training, sitting in my car. Decided to ground myself with this forum. Back in 1997 I had cancer, did a lot of visualization  and meditation. Came to the conclusion that I needed a relationship with a horse ( childhood dream to have one). Spent a day with some friends and their horse. Big help. Well...the years speed by so quickly and no horse in my life. Now thinking of retiring and unwilling to do that until I have a plan whi*****ludes limited recliner time. Your post brings the dream back. How does someone with no connection to horse people get connected in a place like Los Angeles? I have no desire to own a horse....just want to be around them. I never dreamed I could ride without breaking a horses back or my neck. Thanks for your post and congratulations. I am really happy for you. 

Look up Therapeutic riding schools. Also, some psychologists keep horses as their animal counselor for kids . It is sort of like bringing dogs into the hospital for people that are sick and going to be there for awhile.

I am sure that they would be happy to have you there! I bet you wouldnt have to ride. I was listening to talk radio about 6 months ago and there was a counselor, in her 70s, that had a child patient that stopped talking after a particularily bad trauma (i.e. witness to a murder).

The kid didnt talk for over two years. The counselor had a horse and the child went to the barn regularily for therapy.  At the end of a session, the psychologist told her that she could talk to the horse and say good bye and left the child "alone."  She heard the child whispering to the horse.

Within a few more months the child was able to start communicating with human adults.

And horses are herd animals. They want to be around other beings ... 

Hi Anne I would try here.  horses in LA  or this type of situation may be more of what you are looking for horse therapy.  Not sure how far any of the farms are, but hopefully you will find something.

Look at your horses eyes in the photo where you two have your heads together. She is happy that you are there!!!  See that photo take from you being on her back?  She is listening for a command to do something from you.

All in all, I bet she is ALMOST as happy as you are at having you "back in the saddle again!"

:)

Happy Tears for you!

Thanks Skinny.  Scarlett was trained for voice command with light direct contact on the bit and no leg contact.  If you apply any leg pressure she thinks it time to go go go.   When I lounge her which ever direction she is going in that inside ear is always to me.  She is a very smart horse who loves work.  I'm lucky to have her in my life.   She was rescued when she was 3 by my SIL who ended up giving her to me. 

You are so lucky to have her and be able to afford to BOARD her!  Or do you own acreage.  Here in the DC metro area, it is 500-800 to board a horse monthly. I wanted to buy one and board it here...but $800 is my mortgage!  

How does she do with a hackamore? (sp...bitless bridle).

I used to ride a really smart Morgan that was kept at a barn up the street. I loved Teak with my heart and soul! His owner sold him because he had a bum front right knee and she wanted to barrel race. I dont understand why though! He was the perfect trail horse. When the going got muddy he would slow down (rather than try to walk through it faster). Sometimes. he would even stop and look back to see what his hind legs were doing.  

And if you fell off him in the woods.. he would not go "Aha!" and happily run off and leave you (Like some horses do). He would stand close and wait for you to gather your wits to clamor back on him.