A Funny

Mar 31, 2012 18:00

A friend of mine was cleaning out her email of old, unwanted messages and she came across this and sent it to me thinking I'd enjoy it.  She was right *snickers*.  So I shall pass it on to you poor, dear victim reader, and those of you who have either had horses or been around them enough, know exactly what this is talking about!


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HOW VERY TRUE!!!

Response to Dr. Phil's comment on horse ownership as exercise:

At this time of year, after the holidays, ads for weight-loss programs saturate print media and the airwaves.  
Even 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...

With the right horse, you begin your fitness program by walking out to the pasture.  As you stride briskly,
you carry the halter and lead rope behind you, pushed up high on your back so the lead doesn't drag.
The purpose of this is to tone your chest and upper-arm muscles (because you're not fooling your horse --
for he knows what you carry).  As you approach to within a few feet of him, he'll walk slowly away from you,
but at a pace just so you can't reach him, then stop.  This will be repeated several times in succession,
until you're ready to job.  At that point, because you own just the right horse, he will trot, then gallop around
pasture.  If you're at the advanced level of fitness, you may continue chasing after him for maximum aerobic
benefits, or just stop and start throwing rocks at him to give your rotator cuffs a workout.  Make sure you 
switch throwing arms, not only is this a benefit to you, your horse will think it hilarious.

Beginners may prefer to toss the halter and lead on the ground, bend forward from the waist, and engage
in heavy breathing and chanting (that's what we'll call it anyway -- chanting) as the horse continues to circle
the field.  For those of you that have experience with this exercise, you may choose to throw the halter and 
lead, walk briskly, bend, pick-up, repeat.  When the horse determines you've had enough of this warm-up
session, he'll allow you to catch him.

Now comes the total upper-body workout of grooming.  The right horse, of course, will be caked in dried 
mud.  The cement-like consistency of it will require work-to-exhaustion effort of your biceps and triceps.
NOTE: this exercise has added value; the dried mud will stick to your face with perspiration - instant 
facial!  Next comes the bending, stretching, and toning of hoof-picking.  Bend over, pick up the horse's
left front foot, then be prepared to jump back as he stomps it back down to the ground, narrowly missing
your foot (or not missing your foot).  Keep your knees bent as you jump to protect your lower back.  Reach
down and pick up the foot again, hopping about with the horse to maintain your grip as you attempt to 
pick what seems to be dirt mixed with Super Glue from the hoof.  Eventually the horse may stand still; 
you may be chanting by this time.  Repeat the entire circuit three more times with the remaining feet.

Once you can stand erect again, it's time for the insect repellent exercise.  True, with this one, your
horse may actually get more of a workout than you do, but you certainly get more of the repellent.  It
goes like this: Squirt - circle - circle.  Squirt - circle - circle.  Squirt - circle - circle --- and so on, until 
you're completely misted with repellent and chanting, "What, you sonofa*****, WHOA!"  To receive
maximum benefit from this exercise, make sure you are at the beginning of a deep inhalation during
the "squirt" cycle and exhale after the last chanting of, "whoa".

With the right horse, saddling up provides both aerobic and strength building benefits.  The trick is to
keep your feet moving as you heft the saddle blanket over and over (and over), trying to keep it in place 
on a moving target.  The blanket exercise warms you up for the saddle exercise, for which the routine
is the same only the weight is much greater -- perfect for building those hard-to-tone shoulder muscles.

Now comes the mounting exercise.  With the right horse, it's left leg up, hop-hop-hop, left leg down,
heavy breathing.  Left leg up, hop-hop-hop, left leg down, heavy breathing.  For balance, go around 
around to the other side and continue the exercise.  Right leg up, hop-hop-hop, right leg down, heavy 
breathing, etc.  When your heart rate begins to exceed your target range, look for a bucket.  Bend 
over, pick it up, place it upside-down next to the horse, wait for the horse to move away, then bend
over, pick it up again, place it next to the horse, and so on.

NOTE: this is a cooling down routine, not to be confused with the warm up pasture routine.  When 
the horse deems you've had enough of these repetitions, he'll stand still and allow you to actually
mount.  At this point, of course, you'll be too exhausted to ride and your facial mask is dropping off
in chunks.  It's best to not overdo it, so dismount, grab a glass of wine, and head in to recover in a 
bubble bath.

rl, humor

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