When self-identified “aging horsewoman” Sharon Roberts made her first social media post detailing how arthritis, balance loss, and weight gain affected her retirement riding plans, she was amazed when the online community jumped in to commiserate and support her. Vulnerably sharing her thoughts led her to find the support she needed and pushed her into a leadership role for Aging Horsewomen Intl. (www.facebook.com/groups/ AgingHorsewomen).
The Arkansas horsewoman says that in her frustration with aging, she decided to make a Facebook group just for horsewomen. She knew that only others with a passion for horses could understand why it was important for her to keep horses in her life. In her original post, she shared her worries and stated, I don’t bounce anymore.