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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

1st riding lesson as an adult- tomorrow - yikes!

35 replies

soda1234 · 13/09/2011 23:24

Well really as described above.

My dd, now 14 has been riding since she was 5, we bought her first horse last December. Horse is on working livery at a local stables. We have had some health issues with horse but she is fine now. Daughter is loving her, but I'd like to get more involved.

I have promised dd that I would become competent enough to go on a riding holiday/weekend with her by the end of next year, and hopefully be able to hack out together next spring.To me that means walk/trot/canter, I am 47, about 10 stone, not very fit. I know all the instructors pretty well and they all know me.

Please tell me I'm not bonkersl, I would love to share my daughter's passion.
The lesson tomorrow will probably just be walking and steering!

I'm well aware I may not be able to walk on Thursday.

Anyone else returned to riding so late and been successful?

OP posts:

MitchiestInge · 14/09/2011 08:48

oh that's ages away, you'll be fine - are you planning to ride once a week or so? Can you ride your daughter's horse once you're happy with the basics?

HattiFattner · 14/09/2011 08:57

I am on a mission to lose weight so that I can learn to ride a horse. Right now I think I would need a cart horse to carry me, so when I am about 5st lighter, I shall be following in your footsteps. By then, I shall also be 47!

Cheria · 14/09/2011 09:02

Lucky you, you'll have a fabulous time.

Can I recommend this place for your riding holiday? I went a few years ago with my husband who is a beginner and nervous and we both had the most fantastic time. Great food, wine and rides. And a pool. And lovely people.

I can't ride anymore unfortunately, but am insanely jealous of people who can and still hang out at the stables when I get a chance.

PS I rode from 11-19, then took it up again at 27. Not very old I know but believe me it hurt at the beginning.

Original poster

soda1234 · 14/09/2011 09:03

Thanks for reply. Yes the plan is to have weekly lesson/hack.
Dd's horse is not a novice ride, but eventually I'd love to be able to ride her.
In my dreams, if this works out, it would mean not having to sell horse when dd goes off to university (assuming she does of course), so I could ride in term time and horse would still be here for her in the hols.
Will report back later!

OP posts:

MitchiestInge · 14/09/2011 09:04

good luck!

seeker · 14/09/2011 09:04

Oh I want to do this too but I am too scared, fat and unfit. Do come back and say how it goes, won't you!

Original poster

soda1234 · 14/09/2011 09:05

Sorry x-posts. That place looks lovely Cheria - thank you.

OP posts:

MitchiestInge · 14/09/2011 09:07

oh go on seeker

I didn't know you didn't ride!

Cheria · 14/09/2011 09:09

soda plus if you're not very confident when you arrive there you will be by the time you leave.

JillySnooper · 14/09/2011 09:11

Best of luck! You'll be fine. Do expect it to hurt every time for a few weeks. And stick with it. There is a hump you have to get over ( having watched all my kids learn to ride, I can't remember a time when I couldn't ride ) when you feel all fingers and thumbs and can't quite put it all together but you have to persevere and you got over that and then it is the most wonderful thing in the world!

You'll also have stomach and thigh muscles you didn't think existed!

sprogger · 14/09/2011 09:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 14/09/2011 09:17

I used to, mitchiestInge. Tried after dd was born and nerve completely and utterly gone. And now several stone heavier than I was!

olderyetwider · 14/09/2011 09:29

I hadn't ridden since I was a teenager and took it up again about 2 years ago (I'm 49) I struggled with my nerves (and it did hurt) but I kept going and love it. I have a lovely kind little mare who's not too big, and quite wide so I don't feel I'm perched on the edge of a cliff. The best bit is I've dropped from a size 16 to a 12 without dieting!

Good luck with it soda, and seeker, dare you to have a lesson!

WorzselMummage · 14/09/2011 09:36

I'm watching this with interest. I had ponies from 11-16 but was never a particularly competant rider as never really had lessons. I'd love to learn properly but a combination of feeling too fat at 11 stone and being too poor, lessons are expensive!

My parents went on a riding holiday in spain a couple of years ago as complete beginners ( Ie, my dad rode as a child and my mum had only ever sat on one a couple of times ) and they had a wonderful time.

Let us know how you get on Soda :)

WorzselMummage · 14/09/2011 09:37

Sat on a horse that is, not a child

Poledra · 14/09/2011 09:39

I started riding at 26, stopped for 8 years (pregnancy and small children got in the way!) and started again in June at the grand old age of 40! I'm having a bloody marvellous time with the most gorgeous horse, who's an absolute star (as long as he gets to be in front of the ride ).

Hope you have a great time today, soda.

Oh, and those of you who think you're too fat - I used to ride an 18.1hh Shire horse. There was nobody who was too heavy for him, though a lot of people were put off by his size. He was a thorough gentleman and I am very sad that he's no longer around.

sprogger · 14/09/2011 09:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Poledra · 14/09/2011 09:54

Good point Sprogger! And I am 11 stone and 5'10'' too - it just restricts which horses I can ride at my stables.

It's really quite funny when I'm in a lesson with lots of smaller, lighter women, and my horse can practically step over some of the ponies the other people are riding

emlu67 · 14/09/2011 10:51

i would love to hear how you get on as am thinking of returning to it to after a break of 25 years! Only thing is that at DDs stables there are a lot of very big horses and as I am petite I was still on ponies at 18 so doubt if I will have the nerve to ride something very big! Wish you the best of luck!

marge2 · 14/09/2011 11:01

10 stone is FINE to ride. obviously you won't be on a little pony , but a horse. They are STRONG things you know!

Have a wonderful time - yes you will be a bit stiff and sore.

emlu67 - size doesn;t really matter so long as your legs come a decent way below the saddle. Your own strength is pretty irrelevant. Your legs WILL get stronger just from riding, but you do not use physical strength to control a horse. It's technique. Even a little pony can drag a huge person around on the end of a lead rope if it wants to.

Cheria · 14/09/2011 11:27

emlu size really doesn't matter with horses. I'm petite too and have ridden all sizes. The one I was on when I had the accident which stopped me from being able to ride again (broke back) was about 13hh and a little fucker . Wasn't far to fall, but fell badly.

Have fallen off much bigger and never had a problem.

But that won't happen to any of you guys about to take up riding.

Original poster

soda1234 · 14/09/2011 12:09

Well I'm back and still in one piece!

It was great, they put me on a 15.3h mare, very wide and pretty ploddy. I felt v safe and even managed to trot (I'd forgotten how hard it is to kick and rise at the same time).

I realised how horribly unfit and uncoordinated I am, hopefully regular riding will help (dropping a dress size or two would be a real bonus!).

My respect for my daughter and all those who make it look so easy has just increased significantly.

Have booked lesson for next week. To all those considering starting again, why not have a go, if I can do it anyone can.

OP posts:

olderyetwider · 14/09/2011 12:17

Well done soda! Wide horses are lovely, you don't feel as though it's possible to fall off, but it is harder to use your legs! It will all come together, but I know what you mean by respet for daughter making it look easy!

Poledra · 14/09/2011 12:26

Glad you had a good time!

PS I'd go for a long soak in a hot bath tonight, if I were you - them thigh muscles are going to ache tomorrow

MitchiestInge · 14/09/2011 13:02

Hooray, trotting already! Hope you are not too achey tomorrow, is it 30min lesson?

I was definitely more than 10st when I got my horse, although he is not getting younger and I wouldn't ask him to carry much more than that if it was a long gallopy hack or x country or hunting or something. I'm probably not far off that by the time I have hat, boots, a thousand jumpers and 50kg of barbour in the winter. Think he was wearing about 12st in rugs when it was really snowy and his legs didn't buckle under them all.

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