For the returning rider, however, the reality is a bit different. You find that your center of gravity has shifted a bit, and you can't quite remember how all those straps fit together. As a teenager, you could grab a handful of mane and swing up on the bare back like a gymnast; now you find that getting your foot up high enough to get a toe into the stirrup requires the assistance of a few weight-lifter buddies. All of which provides an endless source of amusement for the rodeo alumni a few stalls over. Between the ridicule and the aching knees, your spirit soon takes a nose-dive into the muck bucket. It is no better for the beginner,often a child, who must deal with peer expectations, fear, and so much information that the riding lessons begin to resemble the S.A.T. exam.