Taking the plunge again

[madoldbat]

Well, I've finally done it. Having watched DD (10)ride and get a pony and getting progressivly more ous I've booked myself for a lesson after > 30 years (yes I am that old). Am torn between visions of jumping straight back on and bolting cantering off in a controlled manner into the sunset and completely petrified.

Anyone got any handy hints?

enjoy!

(that tends to be my advice for most things in life though, maybe someone more useful will come along shortly, to check you have a well fitting hat up to current safety standards etc)

Hey good for you. I got back on after a 10 year gap. The only thing I found had changed was my bladder weakness after 2 kids - rising trot is never like it was. . .

I am now reliving my youth again, got my own horse now, cantering on verges etc. I even fancy re-reading the Jill books. Or is that a step too far ?

Hmmm, see your point re bladder weakness. Get the Tenas out then. Would love own horse but DH says (understandably) to loan rather than buy initially just in case, especially as have been saying on another thread how little time I have to myself ... Would def help with lack of exercise.

Used to love the Flicka books and the White Horses programme (Belle and Sabastien I think) Grew up dreaming of a kennel of Irish Wolfounds and stables of Arab horses. Have got a smelly labrador (lovely though) and a small Welsh pony with the cheeck of the devil. Harsh reality, who needs it?

Ah well its a slippery slope loaning you know. I loaned first of all and then recently took the plunge and bought. Be lovely being able to go out on rides with your DD though

I teach a few novice adults and I would say don't be too hard on yourself and set lots of smaller goals along the way to your bigger goals, then you can tick them off! eg rising trot for one long side, then all the way round, going without stirrups etc. I find that several of them get frustrated very easily, especially those returning to riding. (I do too when I can't get to go often enough!) Try to fit some other fitness in during the week too - easier said than done though. It is natural to be more cautious but this thinking approach can actually amke a beter rider in the long term as you want to understand things thoroughly. Just do as much riding as you can, if yo have found a sympathetic instructor.

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I know every bit of my poor old bod will ache like merry hell. Dd appears mortified at the prospect I think it's the thought of me making a total arse of myself in front of her friends that does her head in. But hey, what are children for if you can't humiliate them sometimes....

Well done for getting back on!

To give you my timeline:

After a 14 year break - illness/injury turned in to boys/drinking/smoking... I returned at 28 in the spring. I spoke to my instructor and said "please go easy on me, I've not ridden in 13 years". After bunging me in a group lesson with cantering and trotting without stirrups I slithered down at the end of the lesson and said "oh my god, thought you were going to go easy on me?" He replied - "well, didn't fall off did you?"

In the September I booked a riding holiday through the Canadian rockies and knew I needed my own horse. By November she was home with me.

I've started riding as got at my 3 year old. But I've never ridden more than the very occasional pony trek before this year so it's all new to me.

Fortunatly the riding school instructors are very nice about it, and I'm encouraged by them that I can do this. But I do ache today

Well. I've done it. Exhilerated! Walked trotted and cantered (a bit, well more flopped around really). Topped it all off by failing to get my leg over(oor err missus) and slithering off onto my backside leaving a very large wet muddy patch on my poor aching bum. Booked next week though!