A newbie asks...

[coffeeaddict]

... So I am getting back to riding after, ooh, 30 years?? As a child I walked and trotted and kind of cantered a couple of times. I am back up to trotting although not very steady yet. I have a long way to go!

My question is this: if I really go at it, with private lessons a couple of times a weeks, how long do you reckon before I would be proficient enough to, I don't know, canter? hack? own a horse or even... (eek) hunt?

I am moving to the country in a couple of years and will have a stable so my aim is to ride, ride, ride, get as good as I can given the limitations of being fairly ancient... and then hope to really enjoy riding in the country. But I also know I will make slow progress. Am I mad to think about buying a horse in two years' time? (I would do a stable management course, too.)

I know it depends on a lot of things... but I have no idea how high to aim. Has anyone else taken up riding late in life? Is it do-able?

PS I know hunting is a bit ambitious :) But it does look fun. You don't HAVE to jump, right?

I had a 30 year gap, having ridden to a decent standard up to late teens. I have my own horse but don't do much beyond hacking and schooling. Mine is a nice native pony as I don't fancy the lairy bastards I used to love in my teens

Definitely doable to have your own but be sure of what you want before you decide what sort to look for. And you can't just have one on its own because a) they like company and b) they're addictive.

I've been lucky to always own my own from a child, but from what i've seen from adult friends returning to riding, you will get confident and competent much quicker on your own horse rather than through riding lessons.

Have as many riding lessons as you want but they won't prepare you for horse ownership. IMO you would be best off finding a yard with a good instructor/YO and buying your own or loaning/sharing. Our YO is fantastic and helped many a novice horse owner. Go to local tack shops/feed shops and ask around. Your local Riding Club would also be a great place to meet people and ask for help.

If you had your own, with a good YO and instructor helping you, you should be cantering in weeks (if not the first lesson). Hacking the same - safe horse + off road tracks and a steady buddy and off you go! Enjoy!

Have a think of exactly what you want to be capable of doing and then find someone who is capable and willing to teach you. My dad rode briefly as a child and then when he married my mum he decided he wanted to hunt. Mum found him someone to teach him a decent leg position and a sensible horse and he was fine. And annoyingly was blessed with no fear. Your timescale is all very sensible and with the right horse you will be away and love it. Hunting/hacking is a great way to improve your riding and relationship with your horse. Good luck!

Well I agree with what's been said so far, my mum came back to riding when I was 15 having not ridden since her teens (and then only on the back of grandad's old trap pony) when she got a nice kind horse on weekend loan and got stuck in. He refused to canter until he thought she was ready but she was soon belting all over the downs with sis and I on our ponies, doing sponsored rides etc.

The one thing I would say though is if you are on a private yard be careful who you ride with at first. You need someone who is happy to go at your pace, not someone who wants to go charging off at every opportunity leaving you to cling on in their wake. That will be no fun, potentially dangerous and might put you off altogether. Exploring the countryside with someone you can have a good gossip with is great, being made to feel you are holding people up isn't! Most people are keen to encourage learners I find, but you do get the odd one...

• by private yard I really mean the usual DIY sort of place rather than a riding school.

Thanks! All very encouraging! I will follow all your advice :)

I returned to riding after a 15ish year break. It didn't come back to me that easily (apart from jumping) and I was a lot more timid than I ever was as a teen. I also found that injuries I'd picked up in those 15 yrs affected my leg position etc.
I had weekly lessons at a v reputable school with an instructor who was used to teaching adults. I also volunteered with the 10 yr olds on Saturdays to learn how to groom/tack up etc.
Then I took on a pay as you ride share. This meant I rode at a private yard and the owner was more than happy to show me how to care for the horses.
Haven't ridden since falling pregnant and I really hope I'll be able to go back to it. I love horses!! If I can I'll take on a share for 1-2 days once baby is here.

Not mad at all. The only time i've known novices have real problems is when they buy something unsuitable thinking they can handle it or they refuse to ask for help.

As long as you're willing to ask for help when needed (And have a good YO and instructor around) you'll be fine.

I think the main thing is to make sure you are confident with stable management before you buy- especially as you could be without much support if you keep your horse at home. In many ways, the riding is the easy bit. Can you help out at the stables you ride at? Or volunteer with a horse-y charity? Time spent around horses, knowing how to deal with them is often the only way to build up your confidence, and you are always gaining experience.

It sounds like hunting is your ultimate ambition, and this is definately achievable. The important thing is to have lots of practise riding out over varied terrain- it's very different to riding in the school. Can you do this where you are having lessons currently?

I would also say that do remember horses are herd animals, and most cannot cope if not kept with their own kind. If your ultimate ambition is to keep a horse on your own land, ideally you will need two!

Good luck :)

Hunting is achievable? Oh, you have made my day! Yes, I need lots of help re horse management. I also need someone to help me buy a horse too, if and when the time comes. Are there professionals that can help? Could ask horsy friends, but there is only so much trailing around that you can ask someone to do… am willing to pay a consultant.

I haven't yet told my instructor about my horse-owning dreams. Last lesson she started darkly telling me how it was not worth it owning, I should share, the vets' bills are a nightmare, she gave up breeding because of the cost etc. I'm not sure she wants to hear a starry-eyed newbie going 'Oh, but the lovely PONIES'…. :)

And yes. Two would be amazing. I have a daughter who is only two, but she will need one, won't she… ?? ;)

Good thing my husband never reads Mumsnet.

I took up riding when I was about 30 because I too wanted to go hunting. I had some lessons and then bought myself a 15.1 heavyweight cob. I went from a complete beginner to going hunting that season. You don't need to jump - at the meet the leader of the non-jumping brigade will be pointed out to your by the field master.

Of course the type of hunting (and therefore the experience you need) will differ depending on the country. I'm in Suffolk where it's mostly non-jumping with just a few hunt jumps and some ditches. I wouldn't start your hunting career in Leicestershire or Ireland!