Can we have a thread for those who have returned to riding after a long time out of the saddle?

[Peanutbutterandnutellanutter]

I used to ride as a teenager (only lessons) didn't ride for years and recently got back in the saddle in my 30s.

I have been riding a friend's old cob who has been great to get me back in the saddle, she's an angel to handle and is a total superstar out hacking, but is soooo lazy in the school so I have decided to get some lessons at a riding school in addition to riding the sweet but lazy cob.

Amazingly I think I might have actually found a decent riding school! I've been to a lot of schools I didn't like for various reasons (different instructor every week, instructor young and struggled to relate to 30-something returning to riding, booked private lesson but had to share school with 5 other horses, horses that won't trot/canter without being whipped, lessons that start late and finish early......)

Anyway I had my first lesson at the new place this week, the instructor actually talked to me about my ability and picked a suitable horse to match (ie sensible but willing) the lesson was great and it felt soooo good to ride a forward going well-schooled horse for the first time in years!

Please come and tell me about your experiences returning to riding.

No words of wisdom but similar story here - no cantering yet (6 lessons in) and its not bothering me, I don't think I'm nervous as I've only been riding very kind unflappable cobs but... the longer it gets left the more I'm thinking about it.

waves to everyone

I returned to riding a couple of years ago while living abroad and found an amazing share pony, a little Haffie in his twenties. At first I was constantly terrified and he (ex-RDA pony) used to plod along very carefully looking after me. Then I got bolder and we could do almost anything: canter was my big bugbear (I lost my nerve originally after being bolted with) but with him I could eventually canter bareback and hands-free with only minimum gritting of teeth. In the last months I never bothered with a saddle and was working on reinless halts, transitions etc. We did lots of liberty training, learned football, all sorts of things. He was just the best boy.

He died suddenly of colic in the spring and I'm still grieving hard. We've moved back to the UK and I have just found a wonderful share, a very affectionate and stable older TB mare who needs to be brought gently back into work. I haven't lost the bulk of what I learned with "my" old boy, but in lots of ways it's like starting afresh. She's lovely but obviously hardly knows me, so we're working out all the basic stuff together. And that grief -- I don't think it ever goes, does it? Working with a new horse is both healing and painful all at once, if you see what I mean.

Sorry to go on. Anyway, loving the stories here! Good luck to you all!

Right I'm off this afternoon to my first group lesson, I'm a bit nervous My instructor suggested it so I hope its a group of similar ability. Really don't want to find myself in a group of 10 year old kid wonders! Wish me luck!

How did it go MIL?

Good actually! No whizz kids just 3 other (grown ups) at about my level or the level I will be when I get to know the horses and get used to riding in groups again! Forgot how different it is riding in a group and the horse I was on seemed to think she knew the lesson better than I did but they seemed like a nice group so I'm going again next weekend.

Have just come back from a hack. Unbelievable cold.

I was wearing loads of layers, and gloves and earmuffs, however my feet are frozen. Any tips for keeping feet warm?

I wore two normal pairs of socks today and then a thermal pair....my feet didn't completely freeze...

My issue now is my ears! I put my hair up and then hat on and they are all exposed and frozen!
How do you get earmuffs on with a hat?

And can I just say...thank god for lighter evenings...ish!

Managed to squeeze a quick ride in after the school run today before it got dark, haven't been able to do that for yonks!!!!

You can get ear muffs that attach to the straps on your riding hat, like this.

Or these keep your neck warm too (and are a lot cheaper).

How is everyone coping with horse riding during the winter then?

Totally getting me some earmuffs!!!!

Been ill all week so BonkeyTB has had yet another week off - bit stoppy and starty with us but luckily he doesn't seem all that bothered when I hop back on. First ride in 5 weeks last week and he plodded around lovely - got me a good one there .
Going to attempt to ride this afternoon if I feel I'm not just going to flop off - fingers crossed!

Glad Bonkey TB is behaving! Had my first canter since coming back, completely unintentional, horse I was on was keen to keep up with the ride and took off - head on the floor and really jolty; it didn't register with me that she was cantering, it felt like a bronco! So not the best experience, I've ridden her since and she's been fine but no more cantering at the minute for me! I'm still unfit keep finding excuses not to get out running so I don't have a problem keeping warm whilst riding!

Spoke to soon....carted me off at full pelt mid canter today thanks a pheasant . I can now see why he was a racehorse .
Once I got over the 'OH SHIT' moment I actually enjoyed it before I pulled him up but bugger me is he fast .

Oooch, I hate head on the floor movers, find it really hard! Like I'm being pulled forwards?

I had ear muffs which wrap around the back of my head. Had to squigde the hat right on though so not hugely comfortable.

am going back out hacking on saturday. have been given possum insoles for my boots. hoping that this helps keeping my feet nice and toasty

I came back to riding about four years ago, although I haven't ridden consistently for that time. It took me a year to be able to canter again! I am also much more nervous than before. The thought of being bolted with terrifies me.

hello, i have just bought my first horse after thirty odd years of wishing. I had a long break since teenage years but now the kids are older i have been getting occasional riding in with friends. How ever since owning my own (4 weeks) i have been suffering with unbearable anxiety.. Ridiculous really because i know a month of two of regularly riding i will be fine!! Luckily i have a great instructor and fabulous friends. But buying my girl has been my best decision ever!!

Haven't been on the thread for a little while, lovely to see how many of us are getting back in the saddle :)

I now have a horse share arranged, and it is brilliant. Loving the whole package of riding, plus the grooming and stable duties. The lady I'm helping out has two horses in work and one who isn't ridden - we hack out together every Saturday morning in some beautiful countryside. Finally got me one of the 'between the ears' shots :) Love it, love it, love it!

Can I join you?
I rode and owned horses from the age of 10 (am now 41), but stopped riding about 15 years ago. I hacked out a few times a couple of years ago but nothing since then.
2 weeks ago I bought a 14.1 cob! I am over the moon to be back with horses again. Hacked out for an hour yesterday, and my legs are killing me today!

Can I join you too? I used to have a pony from 11-17 and I started riding at 6 years. I'm 36 now and have ridden a handful of times in the last 20 years but every time I have managed to come away with my body feeling broken! Especially my knees. Any tips for getting my strength up before I attempt riding again?

Cantered today for the first time ever! attempted it last week but just bounced about in the saddle. After a few attempts today, managed a whole lap around the school. NO falling off. Just a little bit of squealing (with fear) from me..! ha ha!

totally feel like I've achieved something though!

I have just started riding again and was going well until my 3rd session today when I fell off! Frightened myself

Ouch fire hope you're ok. I fell off a while back. Shook me up a bit. My instructor was awesome though. Tied pony up. Got me a cuppa. Talked me through why I fell. Then got me back on.

Hello folks [clops into the stable yard].

I went back to riding after a 15 year break due to children and living abroad.
Used to ride a lot. It was wonderful to get back in the saddle. Hadn't forgotten how to do most things but couldn't always get my muscles to do it.
I am over 50 yikes.

Have been back riding for three years now. Passed my Stage 2 exam recently and am currently in a share arrangement with a lovely, big horse to ride.
Riding two or three times a week. I have lost weight and feel a lot better for it. Haven't fallen off yet though, fingers crossed touch wood.

marking place to post tomorrow :)

I went to visit some clip clops today after really craving a horse snuggle from this thread. Would love to be riding again but money just won't allow it while am doing post grad!