Getting Back in the Saddle

When my children were little, we lived in Tokyo, where I worked for the now defunct accounting firm, Arthur Andersen & Co. Yoko’s parents only lived 30 minutes away and we would regularly go to visit.

Japanese homes are very small and not conducive to having company, so it wouldn’t be long before someone would suggest that we take the kids to the park. Yoko’s parents lived across the street from “Baji Koen” – literally translated “Equestrian Park” where our girls played on the swings and jungle gym. From time to time there would be horse shows taking place at the park, which was built as the equestrian venue for the 1964 Olympics.

After admiring the skill of the riders in a show one year, I casually remarked to Yoko that it would be fun to learn to ride. Yoko took me seriously and within a week or two made it happen. After doing some investigation, she discovered the riding school Avalon, less than five minutes from our home.

We would go to Avalon on the weekends to hang out in the coffee shop and watch the riders practicing in the arena for hours on end. Eventually I enrolled in the school, bought the necessary riding equipment, and began to learn the skills of dressage and show-jumping.

Like any sport or activity in Japan, equestrian riding has a ranking system. You have to show proficiency at each level to advance to the next. After about five years of riding I became a top ranked rider, licensed to show in competition. At some point along the way I needed to have my own horse in order to advance. That lead to the purchase of an Arabian we named Tis Adore. For about five years my life outside of work was largely spent at Avalon riding and grooming horses.

Once I left the employ of Arthur Andersen, it was hard to keep up with the expense of keeping a horse in Tokyo. Sadly, I had to give up Tis Adore and riding in 1995. I have not been on a horse since until recently.

People who don’t ride generally don’t realize what an extremely aerobic sport it is. While it may look as though the horse is doing all the work, the rider is using nearly every muscle in his or her body to maintain proper “seat” and balance and keep the horse relaxed and under control. I remember the first time I jumped a horse in a show; I rode a fairly easy circuit in about one minute. I was astonished to find that my legs were so weakened that I could hardly stand after dismounting.

I have not been on a strenuous exercise regiment since I gave up riding. I golf every week, ride a bike or walk the dog every day, but none of these produces the aerobic exercise I know I need. Joining a gym to run or lifting weights is just not my thing. I would rather play a sport or do something that produces a sweat.

A friend of mine has been caring for two horses here at a local stables. One her daughter rides. The second horse has issues and is not being exercised much. Knowing that I use to ride, I was recently invited down to see the horse and take her around the arena. It’s been nearly 15 years since I have been on a horse. I was happy to know that after all these years I could still remember the basics.

I’ve taken up an invitation to ride her horse a few days a week (flat work only) and share the expense of boarding. I bought new gear (which I lost in Hurricane Charley) and oiled up my saddle. I’m looking to forward to getting back in the saddle and getting back into shape.