I haven't been on a horse for 12ish years...where do I start?!

[giraffesCantDonateBoneMarrow]

I used to ride when I was at school, lessons/hacks etc. Never jumped or anything.

Always loved it but dancing took over. I have realised I miss it. Would love to at least try it again to see if I still enjoy it. I would need some kind of refresher lesson I think. I am 27. What do I DO? Am I supposed to rock up and join in the kids skill equivelent class?!

I have developed asthma, I wonder if I have developed a horse allergy :( Only one way to find out I guess.

I am in Glasgow and have a car so a few directions I can go in for stables but if anyone can reccomend any?

I'm about as far from Glasgow as you can get but I just wanted to reassure you that you won't have to go in the kiddies class . You can ask for a 1:1 lesson at first to see how you get on.

Can't recommend a stable for you, but certainly wouldn't expect you to be put into a kids' lesson. I went back to riding after 8 years last summer, and the instructor suggested a couple of privat lessons to get comfortable again, then I joined a group lesson with 5 other women of varying ages (between early thirties and sixties, at a guess. The lady in her sixties has utterly fabulous posture, I am so envious). It's such a laugh, as we're all a leetle bit rude and find farting horses funny, so rather childish too.

Good luck, and I hope you still enjoy it!

For the love of god wear proper supportive underwear. Thick gussets and bras made from girders. I cannot stress this enough. :(

Experience of not following my own advice has led to:
I) last week's loose flying boobs
Ii) DIY Brazilian after 20 mins trotting without stirrups wearing a string

Both incidents occurred after a break from riding. Whilst you may never forget how to ride a bike, you might forget not to get on in a micro-mini!

I remember standing up while the horse pees

I remember my legs aching from riding when I was 14. What do I wear?! I might as well wear a tshirt saying NEWBIE!! in neon.

jodhs or leggings, something smooth soled with a small heel, and a top and yes, alpinepony is right about underwear

excited for you, hope you find a nice riding school

this is closest

looks very nice doesn't it? am puzzled by the BHS logo and ABRS stuff, can you be both? when are you going?

am enjoying my horses so much at the moment I just want everyone to feel the same happiness! (and walk like John Wayne, every day is an endurance ride at the moment)

My hint, if you can manage it, book your first lesson, followed by your second a day or two later. You will ache, the next day, and getting back in the saddle ASAP is the only antidote!

It'll come back to you,honestly.I hadn't ridden for 32 years and after half an hour the instructor said she could tell I'd not lost the knack and was going to put me on something faster next time.

DH has asthma and only suffers when he is in an indoor school with lots of dust/horses.Outdoors with our pony he is fine,and he takes anti histamines if needed.

Have fun and let us know how it goes.

I'm another one who came back to riding after a 30 year break. I had private lessons, ached a bit, was surprised to find that I wasn't as brave as when I was young, and had to unlearn the old 'cavalry seat' that we were taught.

I've got a lovely little cobby mare, DH has a heavy horse and we potter about happily and sometimes if our horses are fit enough we race the kids across the open fields (they usually win). I just wish I'd returned sooner.

Hi I'm looking at getting back into riding after a 10 year break - getting a horse on loan would you say this is too much too soon?

muslane it might be too early too think about a loan horse. You'd be 'fixed up' with one horse so one personality (or horsenality ) [buwink]

I haven't been on a horse for over 15 years, but the ones I liked then ( ridiculously untidy hairy ponies) are not what I would want now (I'd go for something a bit more sedate and finer bulid. And dare I say a bit staid and sensible.