Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?

[Hereforthedramaz]

I have recently returned to riding after a very long gap.

I was a very casual rider as an early teen, happy hacking on plodding ponies rather than technical riding. I am thoroughly enjoying having proper lessons now.

I thought it might be nice to chat with other newbies or returners, all non-horsey people in my life and there is only so much they want to talk about it!!!

Also the stables I'm going to is so lovely and welcoming but, in their own words, aimed almost entirely at 8-12 year olds so it would be nice to talk to some adults!

😬 I have a hat also, I have 2 non riddens so the boots I get away with. It's been 20 years since I rode, I exercise at 6am 4 days a week I'm already aching and I have a lesson tomorrow. Have a feeling I won't be walking come Thursday!

@WildFlowerBees everyone has lessons like that at times when you’re starting out or restarting. It’s much easier to ride a more forward horse when you’re a beginner but plods are safe and aren’t going to tank off with you!

Eventually you’ll be able to get on a plod and get them zipping round the school like Valegro 😉but in the meantime can you ask for some lunge lessons? It’s so much easier to work on your position and balance when you’re not also having to worry about keeping the horse moving and steering at the same time.

@Hereforthedramaz enjoy your holiday 😊 a lot of getting better at riding is simply spending more time in the saddle. As a full-time rider, my dd spends more time on a horse in a day than most riding school riders would do in a couple of months, so you’ll probably make huge improvements while you’re away plus have a lovely time too!

Hi Hereforthedramaz ·I didn't advertise. It has mainly been word of mouth. The last lady seemed lovely but got a new job and I ended up tacking up and untacking the pony. It was just more trouble than it was worth. I wouldn't dare advertise, I've dealt with enough people through Marketplace to know better 🤣

Ha! Fair point, you don't want to be dealing with the crazies by advertising!!

@Purplehonesty2
What a beauty she is! We're in similar-ish circumstances, Ive just started riding my daughter's pony after a very l o n g break from riding. (I'm older than you though - 49)

It's good that you already know your horse from loaning, no surprises!

I've not ridden for 25 years and am desperate to get back to it. However I'm still overweight.

I've seen lots of people talking about weightloss and I wondered what weight I need to be aiming for in order to be able to ride. I've always preferred big, heavy horses and that's what we always had as a family but I'm curious.

I was 85kg which was the maximum limit at the riding school I ride at. Now 81kg and trying to keep going down with the riding as both motivation and exercise.
So it depends on whether you are going to be riding school horses with a max weight limit across their total horses, or riding one you have got/found yourself and/or via private arrangement.

Well yes and no, I only had her a week when she went up for sale so had to make a very snap decision!

As she is a total nerve bag and needs restarting I went with a leap of faith and I hope it pays off.

The riding school she is at seem to love her and are hopeful we will manage to get her sorted.

I'm 55kg and share a 14.2 Irish sports X with my 9yo daughter. She's a bit big for dd yet but I thought as she grows she would be a good family horse and last us as long as we both want to ride.

Are people finding they are sore getting back in the saddle? I remember going for a canter lunge lesson and could hardly walk for a few days after! My thighs!!

Just popping in to say hello. I returned to riding after 20-25 years of just the odd hack or trek about 15 years ago. I've ridden fairly regularly since and it's been, on the whole, a delight.

I'd just like to encourage anyone going through the sore arse and thighs stage - it is worth it!

@ithoughtisawapuddycat the general rule of thumb for how heavy a rider can be for a horse is the rider plus tack should not exceed 20% of the weight of the horse. Personally I feel that 20% is pushing it - my horse weighs 560kg so using the 20% limit you could put someone of around 100kg on him which would be far too heavy for him to carry comfortably. I’m around 63kg and to be honest I think I’m at the upper end of the weight range that I think is right for him.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the big, heavy horses like Shires and Clydesdales were bred to pull heavy weights not carry them. Their backs are often surprisingly weak and they often don’t manage well with heavier riders even though under the 20% ‘rule’ they’d be fine.

Hello all,

3rd lesson today. Started to learn the rising trot. Went well and very enjoyable. Only scary part was a fly was bothering the horse so he did a enormous shake! Nearly fell off! I've been looking at Murthwaite Green as well. Thinking of booking for next year.

Thank you to the posters who advised about weight. A big range and some interesting points. I'll never get to 65kg but 85kg is potentially achievable but some way off for me yet. But a good target to aim for with the motivation of being able to ride again. My dream is to go to the heavy horse centre in Cumbria as they do beach rides.

Not the same as riding I realise but a lot of riding schools offer yard experience days/ part days or similar.

Could be a good thing to try/ as a treat in the meantime!

Personally I know building in lots of milestone rewards helps my weight loss focus! Plus hands on familiarity with the horses and yard is never a bad thing.

Just back from a lesson. Back on the smaller (and lazier) horse today but I felt much more in control and he was much more willing to do what I asked so hopefully that's a good sign I'm improving.

Felt like a good lesson anyway.

Luckily it was their indoor school and there was a bit of breeze so not too hot for the horse. Although the Instructor mentioned she's cancelled all lessons for at least the first half of next week.

Anyone else out riding today before it gets really hot?

So jealous you’ve been out riding. It’s not too hot her today (in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿) but they’ve just moved my lesson on Monday to early in the morning and definitely no jumping. It’s meant to be hot, even for us where it normally rains!

well done on your lesson, sounds like you’re achieving loads. Love that feeling of improving and achieving more each time 😊

Thanks @Tinkerbell1281 I hope it's reasonably cool early on Monday for you!

Riding turns out to be my happy activity, it puts me in such a good mood for days, but I think you are rights it's partly the satisfaction of seeing improvement.

Your jumping sounds great, I never tried as a teen but I'd be keen to give it a go now. Would you ever (or do you already) enter any competitions?

Sorry, I don’t know how to reply without quoting your whole message! 😩

I totally get that - riding is my happy place and however I feel before a ride, I am always so happy after!

I don’t know how I went 23 years without any riding at all - So glad I have got back into it.

I did some competitions (only Pony Club level) as a kid, so would love to do something again. The place I ride at has a X-country course, show jumping etc, so they do competitions in the summer.

Honestly, when you’re ready you should try jumping - it’s the ultimate high ☺️

what do you do/enjoy mostly in your lessons?

@Tinkerbell1281 (if you type a @ all the posters On the thread pop up and you can select which one you want to mention)

Lol I feel the same, in hindsight there has been absolutely nothing stopping me riding as an adult and I'm quite annoyed with myself that I only thought to start again now!

To be honest my lessons are predominantly her correcting my previous bad habits and turning me into a tidier rider with better posture and habits. I'm only riding once a week and only very recently so I haven't progressed far yet!

Love the idea of a bit of jumping!

@Hereforthedramaz sounds like a lot of my lesson too - Good to get all the bad habits and bits and pieces ironed out! Do feel very lucky 🍀 to be able to ride again, and intend to continue for the rest of my 40s and beyond!

Love this thread too!

I had a lovely lesson this morning before it got too hideously hot. My instructor got me cantering over a pole on the 3/4 line so I was working on picking up canter in the corner, getting a good rhythm, riding away straight after the pole, not cutting the corner and then picking up trot as I got onto the long side. I hadn’t done that exercise for a few weeks and I was really pleased with how much more controlled and accurate it all was this time round.

I’m going on an adult pony camp at the riding school the week after next and I’m determined I’m going to be jumping by the end of that 🤞🏻

@Pleasedontdothat that sounds like a fabulous lesson!

Riding into the corners is a big focus of all my lessons so far!

Adult pony camp sounds amazing! How long is it, what types of things do you do?

@Hereforthedramaz It’s three days with a flat and a poles/jumping session each day plus bits of stable management etc. On the last day there’s a tack and turnout competition and this time we’re doing a musical ride which I suspect is going to be utter chaos 😂. I don’t get so much out of the stable management bits as I’ve been looking after my daughter’s horses for several years but it’s still enjoyable

@Pleasedontdothat adult pony club sounds amazing. They have pony club for kids and teens at my riding school in the week and summer, and I always wish I could sneak in 😂 Awesome, I’m v jealous of that!

@Pleasedontdothat lol the musical ride sounds particularly intriguing!!

After doing a bit of power googling to see if there is anything similar locally I did find one but I did come across an equine and spa day! Consists of a morning "meditation" hack in the forest, back for a lunch and then a few hours in their heated pool and hot tub.