To consider taking up riding at the advanced age of 50-mumble?

[StepAwayFromCake]

I rode a bit in my teens, got as far as cantering and once took a 12" jump. I've since done the occasional hack when on holiday, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I need to lose weight and to strengthen my core. Would treating myself to riding lessons as a reward for reaching 13st be a completely bonkers idea?

Do it OP! Never too old for riding. My 89 year old friend from horse shows potters around on her beautiful hack very happily (got my fingers crossed I'm like her when I grow up!!)

Absolutely go for it! Being a little older can make falling off a tad worse as your body wont be as 'bouncy' as a teenagers. But I have met many riders starting at the age of 40+

Sounds like a great idea. Fifty-mumble is young, go for it!

And my MIL is 83 and rides every week!

Go for it! The Queen is still riding at 91 yrs!

Go for it OP.

I am 40 next month. Haven't ridden since I was 21ish. Next month I hope to be backing my baby pony.

After 20 years out of the saddle am not sure an untrained baby is the most sensible of mounts but meh. It will be right.

YAY! Good for you!!! Go for it girl.

Sounds like a great pastime. And horses are amazing

Do it. Mu mum rode as a teen/young adult. Started again in her late 40s. Bought her first horse at the same time as I did. She was 50-mumble. Now 60-mumble, and having lost her old horse, she now has taken on my older one. It keeps her young, active and fit.

And I have the same weight loss incentive btw!

GO FOR IT!!

Do it! My mum had her first ever riding lesson for her 50th birthday having never even sat on a horse before and continued riding (and having a ball) well into her 60s.

Crikey - a universal YANBU!

So, how do I go about finding a riding school? And how much should I expect to pay? I'm in the SE.

I take it that my 13st target is reasonable? In terms of the horse's back, that is.

Most riding schools have a designated "weight-carrier" if that's what you're worried about. I'd look for reviews. I've been to three riding schools for lessons: my main one started off as £15 for half an hour group and now is about £25 for half an hour and the others were £20 for half hour private and £25 for half hour private.

I'm 50 mumble too (51) and rode horses from early teens to early 30s.

I don't think my post pg bladder would cope now
Or my back
Or my raddled old carcass if I fell off

But *Cake8 ..Go For It

This time of year with the Autumn leaves soft underhoof , the smell of bonfires and the thickening of their coats.
Makes me want to look at fields through a pair of pointed ears

My mother reactivated her interest in riding at 50+ and thoroughly enjoyed it.
We all felt sorry for the horse (but were probably being really mean).

Look on the BHS website about how to find an approved riding school (sorry can't do links from this device).

The horse world has been tightening up on weight allowances of late; there's been lots of publicity about it, particularly in the show arena (adults warming up child ponies for example). Many UK riding schools have a 15 stone limit. I currently lumber around on ride a friend's cart horse (I'm 13.5 stone) but need to lose 3 stone to ride anything a bit more active!

I'd never learned to ride, but we all had some lessons - me, DH (who'd ridden as a boy, I think to a similar level as you OP) and DD. He and I must have been nearly 50. It came back to him pretty quickly - and obv they had a horse big enough for a bloke, he was probably about 14st.

Go for it!

Go for it OP! I ride every day, it's like a drug for me. Whereabouts in the SE are you?

Back where I can post BHS link now:

here

Do it, do it!

Where in the SE are you? If you are anywhere near Surrey, I would recommend Wildwoods near Epsom. I used to ride there when I loved in a London and they had some lovely horses. Lots of adults ride there so you won't get shoved on a pony, they'll have something suitable. If you like it, once you're a bit better you can go hacking around Epsom Common which is just a fab place to ride.

You'll be fine. Most riding schools have a 13 stone limit, but it's unlikely they'd want to weigh you unless you looked much bigger (none I've ever known have..). I'd go for a half hour private lesson initially, then perhaps join an adult group lesson or hack. Once you're not so rusty and are safe and confident you may even find someone who would share their horse with you for a small fee.

If you're on Facebook look for local horsey pages and ask for riding school recommendations on there.