Yes, although I’m a re-rider, I never rode as a kid or teenager, the first time I took lessons in my life I was already in my 20s, once a week for a little more than a year, doing more flatwork, no jumping whatsoever, it wasn’t my interest.
Now, my goal is to jump, is it a little too late? I dream to be able to show someday 
I’m 37; is that close enough to 40 for you? 
I’m working with someone to fix my flat work (I’m horrendous, but she has the patience of a saint and is fixing me bit by bit), and she is also a hunter coach. I’ve already said I’d like to learn how to jump, even if it’s just little speed bumps. I’d also like to show a little once I can get solid at said speed bumps. 
Never too late as long as you keep it fun and safe!
Definitely not too late!!
Right now, I’m trying to get my Mom into riding. When my sister’s pony is rideable again, I’m going to give my Mom a few short lessons as he is very reliable. Who knows? Maybe she can even take a few crossrails with him!
Have fun & be safe!!
I’ve been coming back to riding for only 2 months, but it’s the best thing ever! Last week we were working on a trotting pole “course” - practicing to look up and look where I’m going, and I was in heaven!!! I trot over the poles confidently in two points pretending that I’m actually jumping, how silly was that :lol:
My mom She rode a bit in her twenties on my grandparents (her inlaws) saddlebreds. Then, she started riding again in her mid forties when she started us kids in lessons and learned to jump. Now in her 50’s, she takes 2x a week lessons and jumps (and occasionally shows) at 2’6. If she wanted to she could easily do 3’, but she’s happy where she is.
It’s definitely not too late! I find that adults are more timid than children and sometimes wish to take things slower, but it is entirely possible and I do know people who have done it!
I taught someone to jump for the first time in her 50’s. Don’t rush it. She’d been riding at least twice a week, for several years to really learn to overcome some natural stiffness and develop the strength and feel to be safe if something went wrong. With time though, she could happily jump around a 2’6" course at home or at a show.
I’m so glad to hear. I am very athletic, so endurance is not an issue. But I do have some stiffness, not from nervousness or physical limitations, I have no idea where it came from, but my arms are kinda stiff, I guess from trying not to have posting hands.
Thanks for all the examples!! Keep them coming
Definitely not too late! That’s the beauty of riding! I know it is not the same, but just read an article about a guy winning his class at the TWH Celebration (yes, I am in TN…and this is not about TWHs!). Gentleman is 95 years old. I don’t care what kind if riding you do, but to me riding at 95 is inspiring!
Enjoy it, take your time when you need to, and move along when you need to. My husband just started learning to ride in his 30s and was jumping within six months. He is athletically gifted, I guess! 
Yes!
Yes, you absolutely can! I did some casual riding as a teenager on borrowed horses, but never took lessons and never did any jumping. At the age of 43, I began taking a once-a-week lesson just for fun with my 10 year old niece. Fast forward a year and a half later and I now have my own horse and we are jumping the speed bumps (2’) and doing some local shows. While I definitely am more timid than the kids, especially with the jumping, it has been so much fun!!
I’m 43 in a couple of weeks and I’m proud to say I’m just starting out. I jumped a very small amount when I was younger but I was a greenie by any definition when I started a couple of years ago. I say go for it!!!
My friends mom started riding as a total beginner at 52!
Jumping and showing isn’t really her thing, but her coach recommended that she be competent to jump crossrail-2ft courses, and now she has a lot of fun doing it.
Go for it
I couldn’t bear selling my daughter’s horse when she left for college so I started learning to ride after age 50 and after a total hip replacement. The horse was in an eventing barn so I jumped both stadium and cross country. Its been the most fun I’ve ever had! Go for it, and absolutely you’ll be able to show when you have more experience.
Absolutely!!! I started riding again in my 30s and learned how to jump. I got hooked!! I found my gelding to be much, much easier than my mare. He’s smaller, less athletic, and he had a really good eye. He picked the distances (I had no say!) and he was right every time. Now I’m learning how to jump a horse with extreme power and athleticism and it’s another challenge altogether. Ride a horse you can handle over the jumps, one that will take care of you, and make sure your trainer is capable. Then have a blast!!! God, it feels like flying even at a low height!!
I rode casually growing up – I always wanted to jump but didn’t/couldn’t ride consistently enough to get good enough to jump!
In my early 40s I got my first horse and settled into a h/j barn. I did the Rusty Stirrup division at my first few shows and eventually moved up to 3’ - 3’3".
What I’ve found is that the riding I did as a kid (mostly bombing around bareback) has helped tremendously in terms of balance and lack of fear. But the thing that I really struggle with is having an eye for that elusive “distance”. Most of the people I now ride with rode pretty seriously as kids (h/j) and don’t have an a problem with it at all. Everyone insists that I will “get it” – I’m so ready at this point!!
In terms of your hands and stiffness – try having some lunge lessons. That will take your hands out of the equation and allow your legs and seat to develop independently. Another thing you can do, just as part of your warm-up, is bridge the reins in one hand and do a variety or limbering/stretching exercises with the other – hand on hip, behind the back, out to the side, out in front, over head, forward circles, backward circles, etc.
I have a friend who didn’t start riding until she was 30 and evented through the advanced level and even went clear cross country at Rolex :eek: She’s also galloped racehorses and done the 4’ hunters at A shows with quite a bit of success.
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I have a friend who didn’t start riding until she was 30 and evented through the advanced level and even went clear cross country at Rolex :eek: She’s also galloped racehorses and done the 4’ hunters at A shows with quite a bit of success.[/QUOTE]
THAT is awesome.
I just learned to jump last year and I’m 47. I only did it because my best dressage instructor ever, moved away to NC and I missed having lessons. I bumped into a really nice young woman who I clicked with, but she teaches HJ only. I took some lessons with her and enjoyed the change. I switch back and forth now (and I also do some endurance conditioning in hopes of doing a n LD soon), but I haven’t done anything higher than 2’6", and nothing bigger than 18" at home. I just got a new little TB mare that is really fun to jump so I may be motivated to do a little more but I 'm not comfortable jumping home alone anymore - we fell last weekend at canter after a cross rail and man did it hurt. It made me question what the heck I’m doing and I reset my arena to dressage today…blush
I was in my 30’s when I learned to jump, so why not?
My mother sat on a horse for the very first time when she was 42 (and was terrified). She went on to learn to jump and competed in the hunters up to 3ft! She even worked with a few babies/green ones. Now she lives on a big farm with 10 horses.
With the right training, right horse, and right attitude most anything is possible.
Good luck!
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