Ah, gotcha.
So, made an offer yet? 
Stop it! Its so tempting. Do we have any reriders near there!?!?!
I love that this is one of the longest recent threads on the forum!! It makes me feel like I am not alone. Appoligies, I didn’t read all 29 Pgs, but does anyone else feel some sadness for days long gone when you realize you need to prove yourself in an area you onced exelled?
After a 7yr break, I have been ridding myself of cobwebs on topics that were imprinted in my brain. Once, I could recite the Pony Club book - now not so much. All that said I have been happier in the past 6wks than I have been in years.
I’ve heard it’s in my blood - I feel alive again so this is a lifestyle choice I am willing to make!
Hey, good to see another new face!
I can’t speak for everyone else, but the last time I rode prior to my rebirth, was in 2000. At the time, cantering was my favorite gait, and fave thing to do. Now? It’s a little scary. God only knows, I’ll trot a 18" jump (and have a horse jump it like it was 2’) and I’ll be fine. Spooks? Handle them just fine. Get up enough courage to canter an entire lap – if at all? Nope. :-\
spacytracy: Not sure about the area or if we have any reriders. Although, I have to admit, that little pony (mini-horse?) looks right up your alley. And the price! I wonder if its her size that’s limiting her price, or if there’s something else maybe? (Not to cast doubt, but she is pretty cheap for what she can do.)
Brefly, I think we ALL have probably felt (or feel) that way! Some are in the midst of that feeling (ME!) and I think some have had it and are like, forget it, I’m going to have fun no matter what!
I struggle with riding with college girls. In my mind, I’m their age. In my body, I’m 32, with a husband and a kiddo, a chronic disease, a job, a house, a small farm, a dog, a cat. IE - not much time in the day for perfecting my skills.
I think there comes a time when you realize that your body isn’t what it used to be, and that’s ok! Bigger picture, what am I trying to PROVE!?!?
Opus, according to the website, they are closing down? So Im assuming thats it? And the fact that there’s probably not much of a market for a 15.1 hunter (even though I personally DONT want a huge horse).
Brefly22 - I know how you feel I just started riding this past July for the first time since the mid 90’s. I there is so much that I just forgot and am trying to re-learn or remember!! Our bodies and brains don’t quite function the same way!! I don’t even remember thinking so much about what I was doing only doing it!! But like you said it is a life style choice and I have not been happier in years making it!
Opus1 - I feel the same way about cantering. I have not even cantered yet and I am in no hurry to!! There is a lot I can work on at the walk and trot. (as I am learning dressage as opposed to hunters like I used to ride)
That is what I love about this thread we are all here to support each other.
By the way, I look at the horses on New Vocations web site and fall in love regularly!:lol:
[QUOTE=Brefly22;6058605]
I love that this is one of the longest recent threads on the forum!! It makes me feel like I am not alone. Appoligies, I didn’t read all 29 Pgs, but does anyone else feel some sadness for days long gone when you realize you need to prove yourself in an area you onced exelled?
After a 7yr break, I have been ridding myself of cobwebs on topics that were imprinted in my brain. Once, I could recite the Pony Club book - now not so much. All that said I have been happier in the past 6wks than I have been in years.
I’ve heard it’s in my blood - I feel alive again so this is a lifestyle choice I am willing to make![/QUOTE]
I guess I feel more that I wish I were as fearless and as “bounce-able” as I once was. After a few years of re-riding, I think my actual riding skill is about as good as it ever was–but maybe I’m deluding myself! :lol:
So, you too are a former Pony Clubber? Tell me more! I am a graduate of Glastonbury PC, the New York Yankees of the New York-Upper Connecticut region. (This is the 70s we are talking about–I believe GPC has dwindled to a shadow of its former mighty self.) After all these years, snips from the old Manual of Horsemanship are still embedded in my brain. “Wheat is a thoroughly bad food and should be avoided.” I don’t know why I remember that one: I guess I always wondered what would happen if a horse actually ate wheat!
Keep riding and enjoying! I have been “re-riding” for about 5 years and have loved every minute! It gives me peace of mind and a welcome respite from the stress of “real life.” There is nothing like the peace horses can provide.
[QUOTE=Opus1;6058212]
For me – and I know she’s all over the place now – Jillian Michael’s first book is what helped me lose a good 25 pounds the last time I tried. It is a lot about diet, but there’s a nice, thick section about exercises, many of which you can do with little or no equipment. I bought the book when it first came out and absolutely didn’t regret it.[/QUOTE]
I see this is available for $2 for my Kindle, so I may order it. I’m going to do a bit of shopping around. USNews & World Report put out a program for middle-aged people a couple of years ago–I may try to find that as well.
I would really like to report to people on what I do and get some encouragement and (when necessary) stern reminders.
edit: Found the link to the USNews program. Here it is in case anyone else is interested:
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/features/a-10-week-workout-routine
This thread has been great! I’ve been lurking for a long time, but finally decided to register and post.
I took about 9 years off; I had a pretty bad fall over fences (well, actually, into a fence) a few months before I quit, and although I did jump a little bit after that, I spent the last couple of months doing dressage. Life (and college and living abroad and graduate school) took over, but about 3 years ago I became friends with a woman who was looking for somebody to ride with. She started riding at 53, bought two horses, and we went riding once or twice a week for a couple of years. Her punchy little POA gelding was the only thing that kept me sane in the middle of a series of personal and professional crises. He’s Mr. Personality: short legs, wide as a barrel, can open horse-proof bolts, loves, loves, loves to go on trails.
Last March, an OTTB fell into our laps, so I now have a long-legged project! I had ridden quite a few OTTBs in my earlier days, but never one who was so recently off the track. He raced for a LONG time, and his brain was a little fried when he first arrived, but we’ve taken things really slowly, and that’s been great. He has unlimited turnout and we go on lots and lots of trail rides; not only did he have absolutely NO idea how to go downhill,but the first time he ever had to step over a teeny tiny log, the poor guy stepped over with both front feet, stopped, and jumped over with his back end. So it’s been a great journey for both of us: he’s figuring out that I’m not going to push him to do something traumatic, and I’ve figured out when to push and when to back off, although it did take getting dumped in the dirt for me to figure that out. But the first time we cantered a real canter, up a long sloping hill, I was in tears. It was just so wonderful: all that athleticism, all that willingness…
I feel ok with all the ground work, all the walk/trot stuff, and ever better about the canter, since we’ve been working so much on brakes, but as soon as teeny crossrails get involved, I go to pieces. I’ve taken things slowly to accomodate his anxiety… I guess this is an opportunity to take it slowly to accomodate MY anxiety!
Anyway, it’s so great to read about other re-riders! Thanks, everybody!
Welcome, leonine! Glad you decided to take the plunge and join us. You’ll get plenty of support here. Your Appy friend sounds as if he was just the ticket, and I love that you have an OTTB to work with, Wish I had one!
Will took forward to hearing more about you!
Welcome to all the new re-riders here on the thread, and happy new year! We all share the uncertainties of returning to riding later in life, even if we are at many different levels with our riding.
Four years ago, when I first bought the pony I have now, I can remember asking the girls at the barn to hop on and canter her a bit before I did, because she could be speedy. Now I’ve reached the point where I can actually laugh when she has a (small) happy buck, and when I had two falls recently I didn’t panic, I was able to think about what I did wrong, what I needed to do to fix it, and I was able to ride through my nerves to jump again.
Getting the right horse is of paramount importance, so take your time spacytracy. But you know that already 
I work very hard at improving my riding, even though I have no intention of ever showing. I’m glad to have this forum where I can share that with people who won’t find it silly.
New year, new re-riders to share with!
Welcome! It’s great seeing new people pop up just to post here!
I guess this is an opportunity to take it slowly to accomodate MY anxiety!
Funny enough, I’ve been reading threads (here and on other boards) about how trainers deal with young students who don’t want to X, or are scared to. A common theme among them all is to just let the kids continue to do what they’re doing, with no pressure, and let boredom be their guide. As in, eventually they’ll get bored with just doing flat work, or just doing walk-trot, and they’ll want to go on to the next level.
That’s kind of the approach I’m taking with cantering. I think it’s working, because I’m getting antsy just trotting around. I figured I’d let boredom/curiosity be my guide to what I feel comfortable doing. There’s no pressure from me (or my trainer) and I don’t beat myself up over not cantering. I figure it’ll come soon enough.
Welcome leonine!!!
Opus - you nailed it. I feel the same way - some days all I do is trot - working on that danged leg o’mine. Some days I will canter a little. And some days, I will go over a teeny x rail just to see if I can relax.
I ride with a great group - there is another lady like me; some are kids jumping anything and everything, but we all support each other - which really helps.
Welcome leonine! This thread has been a lot of fun and inspiration. The more of us who participate, the better it is.
I saw this on a thread on Off Course and thought it was helpful:
[QUOTE=coloredhorse;6059163]
Another thing you need to remember – and I see this often in students and experience it myself, as well – is that there WILL be times when YOU see no progress. Your instructor probably sees that you ARE improving, and this is where you need to grit your teeth and trust the process. You may also find times when your skills seem to be sliding backwards. Hang in there! This often happens before a major breakthrough! Then you will coast a while with steady improvement, but if you are still working hard on your riding, you WILL continue to experience plateaus and periods of apparent backsliding. This is where those brief conversations with your instructor come in helpful. (I recall one such discussion ending with my instructor saying, “Yes, fine, we can agree, you suck right out loud! The thing is, you are now sucking at a higher level, so can we just be happy with that?!”)[/QUOTE]
Well I am taking the plunge and starting riding again after four years. I gave it up to support my daughter’s riding career and now that she is riding for a trainer which pays all her showing expenses and she got a scholarship to college, the funds for me riding are now there. I told the trainer I may need to go back on the lunge line. I am hopelessly out of shape and hope I do not look totally pathetic. I also told trainer no sneaky pictures to post on Facebook. I do have to get some half chaps, paddock boots and some saddle tight. I do have a custom Antares that was made for me, so that should help some what. I am 47 and rode a lot as a junior and young adult. I am glad there is this group. We need all the help we can get.
Welcome, PonyPenny!
About 2 or 3 months into my weekly lessons, my trainer had a camera in the ring. At one point, it was pointed at me, as I was posting down the middle of the ring. My eyes got real big, I tensed up, and said ‘What are you doing?!’ Trainer, nervously: Umm, nothing. She put down the camera.
Almost eight months later, she took a photo of me riding in front of a pond. I said: Ummm, can you send me that photo? And she posted it on Facebook. I was a little horrified, true, but I think it was good, as it’s the first photo taken of me riding in nearly 12 years. (Even if I complained I looked fat.)
I haven’t worked my way up to videos yet. Maybe in a couple months.
==
Speaking of related posts in off-course. Philosoraptor posted a thread about how working out improved their riding far more than anything else they’ve done:
Welcome to all of the new folks, and happy 2012 to all!
My 2012 goals got totally trashed in mid-December when an MRI revealed that my TB would be on stall rest for at least three months, and not rideable for up to a year. Ouch!
So now I’m riding unfamiliar horses, and trying to keep up with the much younger people in my lessons. I’m 56. The good thing is that I will get used to riding different horses.
So far, two days into 2012, I’ve done great on exercising! Support is much appreciated!
Enjoying everyone’s contributions this New Year’s, and all the new members! Terrific! Also great to have some weight loss support here as well. The mirror in our indoor says it all. :eek: I looked at the COTH new fitness FB page starting under the Off Topic thread this weekend, and thought it looks like a lot of young 'uns. So glad to hang out here with our “in” crowd.
Enjoy returning to read of everyone’s adventures. Cute horse pics there, ST. I know just how you feel… Glad you’re back in the saddle, JT - yes! And thanks to all for the exercise book links.
I have to say, my favorite part of reriding, is taking a whiff of neck daily…which I have to do surreptitiously as I’m afraid if they catch me, they’ll think I’ve lost it. I’m just making up for lost time.
So my last couple of days have not exactly gone smoothly…
After a lovely warmer than normal weekend, today hit that freaking cold they warned about. Got B’s (another OTTB - long race career - a year off and started work in Sept, Leonine…:)) blankets washed this weekend. At the barn yesterday, as usual even though it was warm outside, the barn was cold - put B on cross ties and picking up his feet whistling as I went - until I got to his R ft, and his knee was blown up. :no: Fortunately, just a reaction to a scrape, and having to stand in the stall, but it was ouchy when touched. Still rode lightly to get him moving. He was not off - just blown up from standing. E-mailed BO to please leave him in today. She didn’t get it, and this morning he was turned out in the knee deep half frozen muddy paddock.
Poor guy was not allowed in the run in by big bruiser chestnut, and stood in the paddock with his legs spayed out, afraid to budge. Wouldn’t respond to me & once I got his attention, wouldn’t come for the carrot. I had to yell at two trying to bully their way through the gate, throwing little chunks of ice to keep them away, and then plow through the muck to pull B back out with me - and it was 9 degrees out! :eek::eek: Then hoping to walk him to get him loosened up, I found the BO’s pony loose in the indoor. :no: So I just put the poor boy back into his nice warm stall, with his nice hay, and the carrots I had for him, went home, yanked off my icicle laden jeans (must remember to send note to Beans thanking them for keeping my feet dry at least :yes:) and got a hot cup of tea! :sigh:
Now that he has this blown up knee, I’ll have to ride him daily to get it back down in the morning. Am in the middle of nowhere, and this is the only place with an indoor - they do have a good vet, blacksmith, competent trainers to help me with his training, and lovely trails, but the mud, the cold barn, and the icy ways of going are extremely trying. Crossing my fingers that we both make it through this winter in one piece!
