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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I can start horse riding at 30?

63 replies

Therewillbe7 · 12/08/2018 14:10

I’ve been looking at starting adult horse riding lessons having not ridden a horse since I had one or two lessons as a child. Has anyone done this.? Most people who have taken it up as an adult seem to have been good riders as children then lapsed, whereas I would be a total novice. Is it a stupid idea?

OP posts:

SideOrderofSprouts · 12/08/2018 16:30

Good luck!! I started four years ago on and off and once I’ve lost weight I intend to go
Back to riding again

ploppymoodypants · 12/08/2018 16:54

Weekly lessons at least for a bit until you have established basics. Otherwise you will take so long to progress you will get demotivated. To be fair all the people I’m in examples earlier in the thread had access to a steady mount to had a lesson weekly and practiced several times a week. Appreciate we are not all that lucky. But I bet once you start, if you love it, you can put feelers out for a share, and someone at the yard is bound to have something suitable you can share at some point if you are patient and wait a bit. That’s when you make tea progressz

ploppymoodypants · 12/08/2018 16:54

Real progress!

QueenOfIce · 12/08/2018 16:59

I'm 40 and about to start lessons, how much am I going to ache? Is it going to be like that time I tried PT and the next morning thinking I could jump out of bed as I usual I instead planked and had to crawl. I ached for days!

Maelstrop · 12/08/2018 17:04

Go for it, pet! If they don’t get back to you, go along for a visit, there’s never anyone to answer the phone at my stables.

I started riding at 32/33, then bought my own.

Badbadtromance · 12/08/2018 17:04

I'm about to 🌟 riding again and I'm slot older than you op!!

Smoothsailing9 · 12/08/2018 17:04

I don’t ride but a friend took up riding in her late fifties and is absolutely hooked on it! She’s at the stables in all her spare time and turned into a complete horsey person! So I’m sure it’s certainly not too late for you.

MrsMozart · 12/08/2018 17:09

A friend started in his late 40s. He now has two horses and events

Some ideas for you to get ready:
Buy (lots of) Radox in the blue box (brilliant for achey muscles);
Start burning £10 notes whilst standing in the showere (on cold);
Develop a tatse for beans on toast (for variety you can try toast on beans);
Buy all dark beige / browny coloured clothes (lovingly referred to as 'mud coloured');
Throw away all holiday brochures;
Wake up at 5am every day including weekends;
Empty the contents of a rabbit hutch into your car. Smear it round a bit;
Prepare your heart, body amd soul for the most glorious and amazing times

TheLastNigel · 12/08/2018 17:09

I used to ride horses loads until
I was about 15. I've really missed going so this year aged 38 my lovely boyfriend bought me some lessons for Christmas. I used to be good at horse riding and assumed I would pretty much remember what to do (I didn't) and pick it back up with ease (I was in agony after the first lesson and found it exhausting in a way I can't remember Doing when I was young!) bloody loved it though.
I don't think there is an age limit on it as long as you are prepared to be pretty achey the first few times you go!

Tir3dandhungry10 · 12/08/2018 17:15

It's never too late to try something. I hope that you enjoy !

Original poster

Therewillbe7 · 12/08/2018 17:19

MrsMozart

Wake up at 5am every day including weekends; I’ll consider it a miracle if anything gets me out of bed on a weekend before midday!

OP posts:

Pasithea · 12/08/2018 17:23

DH learned at 46.

Gaspodethetalkingdog · 12/08/2018 17:39

Website looks good - go for it - beware it easily become addictive! My horse has more clothes than I have!

OllyBJolly · 12/08/2018 17:42

I'd never ridden.

I was looking for an activity I could do at weekends with 2 DCs where we'd all be at the same level. Horseriding was perfect. I was about 38. It's actually very good exercise and quite hard work. Very enjoyable.

Tashalburrows · 12/08/2018 17:42

Go for it.
I rode briefly as a child and my daughter has been riding since she was four. I've just bought her a 15hh horse and it has been staring at me for the last 18 months. A month ago I got back on. My muscles were aching for a few weeks but I am so glad to be back on.

Gaspodethetalkingdog · 12/08/2018 17:43

Horse and I are at a dressage yard we compete as much as we can - now the horrible hot weather is over, I have a lesson once a week, but we are aiming for advanced dressage.

FlatPackFurnitureCompAnyone · 12/08/2018 17:44

You should also read The Fox in the Cupboard by Jane Shilling

teaandtwigs · 12/08/2018 17:47

Weekly at least, more if you can. I'm trying to have at least 2 private lessons a month on top of my weekly group lesson as I can see the progress more when I do have more time in the saddle. I'm very excited for you, please do let us know how you get on

ferrier · 12/08/2018 17:48

Another one thinking about this - and rather older than op. How bad is it on the knees?

Wrongwayup · 12/08/2018 17:50

it's a slippery slope. I have 4 and planning number 5 next spring

MyGirlDaisy · 12/08/2018 17:54

Give it a go! I learnt to ride at 10 and had a couple of horses in my teens - one day my mum who had never ridden in her life decided she would like to learn - at 48 she learnt and was able to come out with me on one of mine it got to the point that she would take one of mine out during the day when I was at school. I didn’t think much of it at the time - typical teen and all that, but she was great, she did so well and loved it! Good Luck.

moreismore · 12/08/2018 17:56

Haven’t RTFT but my dad started as a total novice in mid-30s, took two weeks off work and had lessons every day, continued riding weekly and then in under a year had bought a horse. Has owned and ridden ever since!

plominoagain · 12/08/2018 17:59

Do it ! Do it ! My mum learned at 45 , she’s now in her seventies and has her own . She’s aiming to ride as long as the Queen . As for your knees , well it’s better than running . But yes they might hurt a bit . But not as much as your thigh muscles .

Start preparing for it to become an obsession though ( she says , glaring at dreadful remorseless creature that’s opened the yard gate and is standing on her patio by the kitchen door )

To think I can start horse riding at 30?

ploppymoodypants · 12/08/2018 18:20

Ferrier - get some flexi stirrups which bend and move with your ankle and knees. My knee used to ache terribly after a couple of hours in her saddle. Since the flexi strirrups no issues at all.

FrenchFancie · 12/08/2018 18:39

Ive got to be honest, I hurt like hell for the two days after my first lesson, and by day 3 I was gagging to get back on. I do one private lesson a week at the moment but want to up that to two a week when child goes back to school.
It’s the most amazing feeling when it all clicks into place. For quite a lot of the time I’m still making terrible mistakes and messing it up (and I got dumped into a bush when my horse spooked on thursdays lesson. Scary looking branch) (I was unhurt)
It’s awesome. I live it, am sure you will too.
I second the blue box radix disk though, it’s the best.

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