Take the time to see yourself as your horse sees you
Being a female rider, and especially a female one, creates a different level of self-scrutiny. Plus-sized cowboys can jump onto quarter horses to cut rope, rein, and rope their way to championship runs, without having to think about the watermelon-sized stomach hanging over a belt. Women, however, may worry about a little more pudge and, God forbid, a muffin top. A woman who goes up in size is not willing to admit to failure or a personal weakness. This is especially true in the show ring. You ask me why? What can we do about it? What can we do to change how we think about our bodies? Do our horses care if we are healthy, fit, and strong? Jenni's story is told in Riding Through Thick & Thin. It is a great example of how we can accumulate garbage about our bodies and the joy that comes with overcoming it. Jenni was raised by a family of women. Her grandmother was a strong believer that "being thin" is the key to success. ...
