Is it possible to become horsey as an adult- so much to learn!

[bravelittletiger]

I've recently started riding again after riding as a kid (not very well and only for a couple of years- I'm not from a horsey family) and im totally hooked!! I spend every lesson grinning from ear to ear and feel high as a kite afterwards and find it completely clears my mind and relaxes me. Im fantasising about one day loaning or owning my own horse. Im trying to ride as much as I can but obviously that's not a lot as it's expensive and the lessons near me are hard to come by anyway so im getting probably half an hour a week. So my first problem is how to get more access to horses riding and care.

I bought a couple of horse magazines yesterday to get my fix until my next lesson and was a bit overwhelmed by the lingo and how much there is to know about horses. Is it possible to become horsey now or is it too late as there is just too much to know?! Will it always be obvious I'm not from horsey stock?!

Of course it’s possible but to be brutally honest, disposable income and a lot of it does help.

Events are good, I think Olympia is massively overrated and expensive, but HOYs, your horse live, BE events, demos (I think Geoff billington is doing a “tour” soon - he is fun!), Hickstead (I think there’s one show left before it closes for the season?)
have a look on British showjumping/British eventing/British dressage websites and see what is local to you.
If you enjoy being arsing freezing in a field with people with a lot of money but lacking in sense of danger, the point to point season will be starting again soon - essentially the Sunday league of horse racing.

If you can affford it an adults riding holiday or course will likely be really beneficial too.

Glad you are enjoying it! You could look into whether your yard does BHS(British horse society) training courses, there are plenty for leisure riders as opposed to career focused ones. If not, some of the books for the courses would be good anyway, eg stage 1. Also, the pony club manual is always useful!

is there ANYONE in your social circle who has a horse? It's very hard to learn the basics (handling, stable care, even something as simple as mucking out and changing a rug) without a horse to practice on, and someone to tell you what to do.

I've seen many a loan/share come unstuck because the potential sharer could ride to an extent, but had no idea how to tack up, muck out, change rugs etc, or even the confidence to handle a horse from the ground - not their fault, their riding school had taught them to ride and that was as far as it went.

I'd say stick with your lessons for now until you feel confident in all paces, jumping, basic schooling and then look for a share and be honest with the owner that you have much to learn about handling/stable care but are desperate to learn. There could well be someone with a quiet well behaved horse they would like exercising and who is willing to teach you the ropes.

My brothers girlfriend actually has a horse and has even offered to let me ride him but I've felt a bit shy especially as we don't know each other that well. But you're right I need to bite the bullet and see if I can go along and ride but also crucially learn skills of stable management and all the other things you mention. Only thing is she has him on full livery so she only goes down to ride. I've also just started going to a new yard and they were a lot better with teaching me the basics when I went last time. The instructor was very much like "right- show me how you tighten the girth" etc and made me do simple things like change my whip over properly which I've not had at my previous school.

Thank you! I'm off to do some googling right now!

This is great advice too thank you- I'll have a look at what my yard offers and see if I can get a second hand manual.

I have a pony out on loan who is on a mix of part and full livery, but his loaner still does a lot of stuff when she's there - grooming, mucking out, bringing him and turning him out and obviously tacking and untacking, so even if your brother's GF has a horse on full livery, it is unlikely she just rocks up at the yard and is handed her horse already groomed and tacked up so she can just get on and ride. I'd ask her if you can tag along a few times and have a go at mucking out/skipping out, filling a few haynets, making up a feed, grooming etc.

I started riding at almost 50!

I am about to go on a riding holiday for a week doing daily lessons and hacks. I am hoping they will show me more as well about getting the horse ready, fed and everything else which is not really covered by usual riding lessons.

You could also go and help at a Riding for the Disabled group, you'll get taught all the leading, grooming, tacking up there in a really supportive environment, they don't expect everyone to be horsey and know it all. Handling horses on the ground and learning their behaviour is great experience if you want your own eventually.

I'm also a returner to riding having rides very casually (I.e badly as a child!) - in fact we have a nice thread on here for lots of adult returners or newbies and it's lovely!

I've also been thinking about the next step from weekly lessons to spending more time around horses and a pps suggestion of volunteering with Riding for Disabled is an amazing idea! I've just found there is one very locally to me so I'm going to get in touch.

I'm also constantly on the lookout for adult pony days at local stables to get more familiar with yard stuff! As you say OP my instructor is pretty good at getting riders to remove tack and turn out etc.

Thank you that's a good point and actually would be a nice way to get started in the hope I might be able to ride him when me and the horse and the girlfriend all know each other a bit better! Asking to go along and help her with him for a couple of hours when I can rather than asking to take her up on her kind offer of a lesson seems less cheeky!

Your holiday sounds dreamy! Where are you going? There is a trekking centre near me who does day hacks and even overnight hacks which I've got my eye on for when I'm more confident.

The suggestion of riding for the disabled is a good one too thank you- I know my local school is quite heavily involved with it and has lots of sessions so that might be a good thing to help with on the weeks I can't ride.

If you

Whoops accidentally posted too soon. You could volunteer to write for dressage judges at a local riding club or competition centre. It's a good way to meet fellow horse lovers and you learn a lot too.

Are there any rescue's near you or riding school who will take a wiling volunteer, they can show you the ropes, for the basic yard / horse care maintenance.

Yes, it absolutely is possible!

Stick with the lessons, make sure you get to a good level of competence. Ask to ride the fierier horses at times so you can learn to handle some unexpected quirks. Go on hacks etc. Get competent enough.

Ride your brother's girlfriend's horse. Offer to help out with it if they go away.

Join the local horsey Facebook groups. Ask if anyone locally needs help with their horses (be up front about your experience & competence/confidence). Round here there are loads more people looking for help than there are riders available.

I came back to riding in my late 30s. In my early 40s I found my first pony share, and now I ride & help out with 4 thoroughbred crosses. It's been a real learning curve for me but the owners have all been fantastic and taught me so much.

I will probably never have my own horse, but this situation is perfect for me right now. I can give the owners some help & time off, and I've only got a couple of days commitment to fit around my work & family.

Also, head over to Instagram. There's a very healthy middle-aged horse-women population there. Loads only coming to riding in their 40s too. It's very supportive and lovely!

Have you heard of horse and country tv. It used to be on sky but it’s now a streaming service with an app. They have lots of programmes on a whole range of subjects from basic instruction right up to top level.
Have a look into doing your BHS exams, stage one is very easy.

I've never even heard of that- it sounds very interesting.

I have to admit though I'm a bit short on time as I have two toddlers and a full time job so weekends are mainly reserved for the kiddies!

This is all good advice. Do you have any Instagram page tips so that I can have a look?

Your set up sounds ideal and is very encouraging to think you've come on so much and made yourself a horsey life in only a few short years.

Im in touch with my brother's girlfriend about her horse now- she's actually looking for someone to part loan him although obviously that's too soon for me to take anything on like that. I've told her I'll go down to help and/or ride anytime I can. It's the stable management etc side of stuff I know next to nothing about. I had to really work out how to get a head collar on my horse yesterday when I had finished riding! Clueless!!

Googling it now- thank you!