Warning - advice for a complete newbie needed!

[singinginthelifeboats]

I'm feeling a bit intimidated by the type of topics on here but thought I might get a better response than if I posted on MN Local

Basically my DD would like to have some riding lessons - she is 14 and has done a bit on and off over the years but has lots of other sporty interests so I am not looking to do this every week - maybe once of fortnight max

But.....I also wanted to have a go myself - I did a little bit of riding as a child but that was (cough cough) many years ago so I guess I would rather be considered a bit of a beginner. We used to keep donkeys and I loved them - and riding them - but I also rode ponies etc from time to time but never had any lessons so probably have lots of horrible habits.

So, I have been thinking about this for some time but never got round to it. But now I have a DP who rides. Fairly well I suspect - his ex is an 'excellent' horsewoman apparently so I haven't dared suggest we do any together as I am terrified of comparisons but I would really love to go out riding with him (my ex wouldn't go within 50 ft of a pony or horse - or donkey - and I used to get very irritated!) - but I do need some lessons to try and get to a stage where I'm not embarrassing!

We live in Newcastle and I am asking around but thought I'd see what folks here thought. I kind of thought it might be fun if DD and I could have a lesson together! But I appreciate that might not be possible!

Any suggestions for kind people who deal with adult beginners and who wouldn't laugh at me (it'll be bad enough with my DD!)

Thanks!

[Mirage]

I'm not local to Newcastle,but bumping for you.

You'll probably find it all comes back to you.I hadn't ridden for over 30 years,went for a lesson,and the instructor said that she could tell I'd done it before and wanted to put me on something faster and get me cantering.

[singinginthelifeboats]

Oooooh - thanks for the encouragement! I am pretty confident around horses/ponies - donkeys - (maybe overly so) but I gather that's a big help in these things. I have a vision of myself clinging on for dear life whilst trying to compete with the 'excellent horsewoman' - I am never going to be stylish!

(Maybe I should have posted this in 'Relationships'? )

[MitchierInge]

hope you enjoy your lessons, don't see why you shouldn't share with your daughter initially and then see how it goes? You might progress at different rates or find group lessons that suit

there are probably many of us here competing with excellent horsewomen in our own ways so make yourself at home - or you could leave the bastard, keep the horse? Tack Room Relationships, hmm, not sure I should even think about that.

[Mirage]

Confidence counts for a lot I find.You are braver than me,I wouldn't let the dds watch my lesson in case they pointed and laughed-or worse,shouted at me to shorten my reins and keep my heels down.

[Butkin]

Why don't you find a BHS approved riding centre near you and give them a call to discuss this. Explain that you'd like you and DD to come for a taster lesson where they can assess you both and work out if you can learn together - thus saving money on individual lessons - or if there are groups that would suit you both. I wouldn't tie yourselves down to riding together though - best if the instructors suggested (honestly!) your own levels.

[singinginthelifeboats]

Yes - I suspect it won't be long before we get 'split up' but I thought it would be fun to start together (and save a little bit too!)

i will get on the BHS website pronto

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Try visiting a local tack shop and asking for a recommendation. Bhs is ok, but our friends school isn't Bhs registered, apparently because it doesn't keep it's horses stabled. It is still an amazing school, an RDA centre and also a Pony Club branch centre!

[singinginthelifeboats]

That's interesting - I have looked on the BHS website and there are a couple of riding schools that I know of locally that are just not listed. I wondered why.......

Getting quite excited here!

[Onlyaphase]

My DD has started riding recently, and I am tempted to take up riding again too. There are at least another 2 mothers at the stables who have either started riding again or taken it up recently too. And two other uni friends (living non locally) have started riding when their children did too, so I suspect stables are pretty much used to this.

[tink123]

Hi. I am the same as you. DD (9) has actually taken up riding and loves it. Unfortunately we pulled her out of the first riding school cos I had major issues with their teaching methods. Now on waiting list for other local school which has a fab reputation. I really fancy trying riding again after 25 yrs out of the saddle, but need to lose 2 stone.

singinginthelifeboats, I am from near you, so hopefully you will find a nice school in the area to try it.

[Olderyetwilder]

Slippery slope, lifeboats, tink and onlyaphase. I took it up again after a long break, then taught DH to ride. This is how we ended up with 4 horses

[Pixel]

I blew it at the first attempt with my dh. It was before he was my dh and he was still willing to make an effort to impress me so I managed to persuade him to come for a ride whilst we were on holiday. I only found out after the hour's ride over Exmoor that he'd thought we were going to have a gentle amble round an arena! He'd never ridden before and he was put off for life, oops! (My partner in crime was Max, who was guilty of putting the frighteners on dh by trying to eat gorse while leaning over a steep precipice with a tumbling river below. Stop laughing there, it's not funny )
OP, go for it, there are lots of perpetual beginners like me adult beginners around. I hope you enjoy yourself.