When I first got on a horse again I started with a small, older and safe mare – before I got on her, my friend’s daughter, who was maybe 6, rode first! I also rode in a Sensation Western Sport saddle for a while. Treeless, yes, but supportive. When I went back to foxhunting I used a WintecLite D’Lux, which had a deeper seat and the sticky equisuede rather than my monoflap jumping saddle. I will not deny that the first hunt my heart was in my mouth, but my mare was excellent in the field.
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I have been riding a long time and had plenty of falls when younger and it really never phased me. As i have gotten older it seems I am more aware of my mortality, hurt more and longer and take a long time to heal mentally and physically.
Take the time you need. There is no rush. Don’t ride if you don’t want to. If I never rode again I would still have my horses.
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I found a driving trainer with a school horse–a saintly Arabian who put up with my mistakes. After a bunch of lessons, the trainer went horse shopping with me, we bought harness and cart together, she fitted everything to the pony I bought, and she helped me ground drive him to make sure he knew as much as he was supposed to. The pony had been driving all his life, and he continued to teach me a lot when I started going on solo drives.
I probably shouldn’t have bought that pony; the trainer wasn’t with me that day, and I fell in love. He was pretty hot. I had to retire him after about five years (he was already 22 when I bought him), and I started driving my other pony. It was a much calmer experience, and I trained that pony myself.
These days, I’m taking lessons again as I hadn’t driven in seven years. Driving a miniature has been a lot of fun.
There is a lot of instructors out there with a wealth of knowledge, but they can be hard to find. It’s worth the effort.
Rebecca
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I have an older Point two. Of course, I wasn’t wearing it when i broke my back, but it would not have helped due to the way I landed. I got pile drove (driven?) right into the ground butt first in a seated position. And it was totally not my colts fault one tiny bit. I also have a “hard” body protector, but I have not worn both at the same time yet, like they do in eventing. There are so many newer kinds out there, I really like the ones with the neck roll that also inflates. Mine doesn’t have that, and the money for a new one is not there right now, but I think mine is adequate. The times when I have worn it, and come off, it has made a huge difference. You’ll just have to do some googling and looking and do your homework for what you want and what you can afford.
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Just because you take up driving doesn’t mean you have to be stupid about what you do.
I’ve determined that there are two types of people - those that are afraid to drive and those that aren’t. If you are afraid to drive, don’t. If you aren’t afraid it’s a great option for those who can no longer ride.
I drive because I can’t ride; my battered ankles wouldn’t allow it & by now my back would likely be screaming as well. I am fearless in a bike. I get the problem children in the barn. Despite my physical issues, I’m not one to worry about myself. I’m not one to worry period. . I’ve seen some shit; I’ve done some shit. The only thing I worry about is damaging equipment that can’t be easily fixed or replaced.
My mother is getting back into driving. She just turned 81. She drove the pony last fall & again at Christmas (she lives 500 miles away). She stopped driving maybe 10 years ago when her barn situation changed. I think she’ll probably show in a pleasure driving class or two this year.
She’s not going cross country, she’s happy staying in a flat ring or road. The risk of a wreck is low. When she drives, the reins are moved to the Dead Man’s Loop (Grandma Loop in this barn. 
) to take her lack of strength into account. The pony maybe speedy, but she is safe.
Mom is not one to be afraid if a horse or pony acts up. She just reacts to fix it, even at 81. When she stops doing that, she’ll stop driving. The other night she was out in a friend’s barn, checking out his yearling colt. Apparently, the colt has no manners and ended up in her space. She thumped on him with her cane. 
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It is my understanding that riding safety vests are good at protecting from internal injuries, and things like broken ribs, but not particularly good at protecting from spinal injuries. You might ask @RAyers as he is far more knowledgeable about spinal injuries.
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In spite of how I posted (which could have been better worded) - I’m not saying no one should drive. It was meant to say that you if one hasn’t driven one shouldn’t assume it is safer than riding. To your point, be smart about the decisions. I quit driving because of of a job relocation that put me in a place where there were no shows, and I didn’t have a great option to just cruise around. Not afraid personally, just not my thing anymore.
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Very well written! I’ve been badly crunched driving, but it wasn’t my fault and it certainly wasn’t the horse’s fault. It was a freak accident getting hit by my own car when it rolled down the driveway. I thought I might have some residual fear as I hadn’t driven for seven years after this happened (coincidentally retired my horse that day), but when M_al and I started taking lessons together (for her to learn and for me to get back into it), I just hopped into the cart and drove without a second thought. I am so happy to be driving again!
Rebecca
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I started riding as an adult so have always been well aware of how risk adverse riding is. In the past 20 years, I accept it less. Each and every one of my bad falls has been riding around the property at the place where I board. Not at shows or clinics or off property trail rides- always just simple little innocent rides at the barn. One just last week. I’m kind of over it. Just not sure I will do it anymore. I don’t care if my horse is bored or what he would like to do. My safety comes first and if I don’t want to do it or don’t feel comfortable, we’re not going to do it. My guy is 6. Not finished. When he’s 8-9 he will be great. When and if I feel we can do that other stuff we will. Maybe he will get more training. He probably should. My husband is dealing with bladder cancer and I may now have a mensical tear so guess what? Horse can wait. He’s not priority right now. Neither are silly goals. He is a nice horse and nice to ride and I will hop on and do some arena work and we will take it one day at a time. But I’m over feeling like I need to prove anything to anyone especially myself.
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for both you and your husband.
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Your mum is the greatest! 
Try to locate the local Driving Club-usually can be found on Facebook. Not sure where you are located but in North Carolina the Moore County Driving Club is very active-you could contact them to see id they know of anything or the ADS-American Driving
Society
