Getting back into riding

[Becominghorsey]

I used to ride as a child but stopped for various reason before I got very advanced however my love of horses never stopped 😍 now I’m older (late 30s) and can afford to, I’ve started taking DC for lessons and thought why not me too! I’ve had a few lessons now and am enjoying it so much, the perfect antidote to all this covid-misery and being stuck at home all the time.

I was hoping for some advice and tips for an older rider! I feel like a beginner in terms of the actual riding but I did so much reading relating to horses that my knowledge of horses and riding a far outstrips my abilities I am hoping me and DS8 can get good enough to go on hacks together as part of a group by summer. He’s having weekly lessons and I will probably have lessons every 3-4 weeks, do you think this will be sufficient for me? DC are becoming just as horse obsessed as I once was and if they carry on being interested, I’d love to do a pony share/loan in a couple of years. I may be getting ahead of myself! I just feel like I can finally realise those childhood dreams. I do have the funds so not worried about costs, plus our riding school seems to do loans so that is encouraging. On the downside, it’s almost half an hour drive away! Is that too far for a horsey life? I would only go for a loan of max 2 days/week where the mornings are covered as I’ll never be keen enough to be there at 7 am before work/school

It’s time in the saddle really - but when you’re a relative beginner, more lessons are best. There were quite a few people on our old yard who’d bought a horse after only a few months of lessons, then couldn’t afford lessons and ended up practising bad habits and the horses becoming tricky to ride. If you can, do an intensive course - for example Talland do a 3 day adult course where you’d get 2-3 lessons a day which would help you improve very quickly. They cater for beginners as well as elite riders so don’t be intimidated!

And core and flexibility exercises will also help - good luck!

What Please said, lots of lessons is it really, I feel you on the cost but it's what we all have to do to improve no matter how experienced you are. More saddle time will help too, I'd def look up courses, there are lots of riding holidays available for people of all abilities in some nice parts of the country and if you can combine some lessons with hacking (talking proper hacking not beginners trekking) that's a great way to learn.

I'd ask about the loan at your school too, the worst that can happen is that they say you need X amount more experience or to be able to do Y and then at least you'll have a goal to work towards. I don't know if the school I livery at is typical, but this lockdown they seem to have massively lowered their standards for who can loan/share their school ponies, before it was really only the more experienced adults and older teens allowed to do it but now pretty much anyone of any age providing they're off the lead rein is welcome. This is a bit annoying frankly for the rest of us - as I attempt to find a safe area to school my very fresh coblet who's been stabled for 24 hours and has decided to try out being a rocket fuelled war horse charging around the school breathing fire and spooking at every shadow, only to find every available space filled up with bumbling, half-balanced and ill supervised children barely in control of their ponies - not a great mix! Not suggesting that would be you of course OP but with lessons off I think riding schools are glad of the income and getting some exercise into their horses is a bonus so they may well be very happy to let you loan one of the quieter horses providing you are sensible with it?

I've only been riding sporadically over the winter (broken finger from loan horse's brutish brother, and crap weather), I'm on the lookout for decent YouTube videos to watch! My riding friend has just returned after pregnancy and watching her has given me a boot up the backside to get better

Thanks for all the good ideas! Sadly the riding school have confirmed they can't loan a horse to me during lockdown, no lowering of standards on their side I guess

A riding holiday sounds lovely especially after a year of no proper holidays. Will definitely look into that.

@LaPufalina I really like watching videos by This Esme, even though it makes me feel like a teenybopper especially when your read the comments and they all seem to be written by 13 year olds But the videos are very well put together and are a basically nice relaxing horsey watch, even if I (and probably the majority of her viewers) will never have a set up similar hers.

Perhaps have a look at FreeRein Riding Holidays for the summer? They do a learn to ride course which basically gets you riding outside and with basic horse care in three days.

I've not done it, but heard great things about FreeRein and they ride in a gorgeous part of the world. Pricey, but think how much money you're currently saving by not being able to ride...

Thank you! Suitable for my 4yo too?