Western riding with possible trip to US - am I too old/unhealthy?

[squashyhat]

I used to ride a lot when I was a child, and as an adult continued sproadically with lessons and holiday hacks, both english and western style. About 8 years a go I did a fab holiday on a ranch in Colorado, and would love to do something similar again. However I am older (not far short of 60), fatter and have arthritis and angina! Is it mad to think I could get on a horse again? I would love to do some refresher western riding in the UK (I am in the south east) and then another ranch holiday before it is too late. Will I be laughed out of the saddle or should I give it a go?

I would look for some refresher sessions and give it a go - see how you would feel. Also perhaps talk to your GP or someone more specialist about the implications of horse riding with angina. Your age is not a problem. The weight you may be able to fix, and personally although many people will disagree with me, I prefer it if riders keep their weight down. The arthritis shouldn't be a barrier. I don't know about angina, one way or the other.

See how you get on riding over here first. And maybe put out feelers to see what the insurance for such a trip would be like. I wouldn't give up without trying!

Go for it!!!!

Absolutely second the advice above about consulting your GP and getting a few lessons/rides in at home before booking an expensive trip.

Western riding I think would be a good choice for you, the tack tends to be more comfortable and the style of riding a little easier on the joints/less taxing for the slightly unfit than English riding. Plus there are lots of what in America are sometimes called 'dude' ranches specifically catering for holiday makers, where you stay on the ranch in nice comfortable accommodation (rather than camping or moving from place to place as on some other rides), all levels of rider are catered for including novices and nervous riders, and you can do as much or as little riding as you fancy rather than being tied in to a group programme (ideally look at one where there are alternative, on the ground, activities as well as the riding, even the fittest and most enthusiastic riders tend to need a few rest days and it's nice to have something else to do). I've used unicorn trails for riding holidays in the past, it's not the cheapest but they've got some great looking USA ranch holidays?

www.unicorntrails.com/northamerica/usa/texasranch/
www.unicorntrails.com/northamerica/usa/montana,sunriseranch/
www.unicorntrails.com/northamerica/usa/colorado,rockymountainranch/

Yes I stayed on a dude ranch before and it was great (apart from when the saddle slipped on a steep incline and I slid off swearing all the way down!)

Thanks all for the encouragement I have found a place in Surrey which does easy trail rides for all levels so am going to book one as a first step.🤠