as long as I can afford it lol
I’m 54. I was a track groom in my 20s, my first horse was a broken-down, 11 year old trotter. Spent my 30s and early 40s foxhunting and doing cross-country trials. Virtually quit riding for most of the next decade until I acquired the horse I have now four years ago - but really only started riding regularly again about a year ago.
Honestly - I felt a lot older and stiffer at 44 than at 54, when I was sitting either at a desk or on an airplane all the time. Decided I was not getting old, period, which meant taking better care of the body I was stuck with. Regular yoga, boot camp and weight training got me fitter than most of the 30 year olds I was working out with, and really helped me try and find my balance in the saddle again.
Lately, I’ve had a lot of joint pain and not-so-friendly reminders of the falls I took in the hunt field. A couple of advil and some stretching helps with that. No way do I ever even dream of complaining at my barn - not when there are a pair of sisters, 78 and 80, who ride regularly.
I don’t have any plans to give it up.
I did NOT ride as a youngster, so I plan to make up for those lost years. And, yes, possibly driving. I had a wonderful driving mentor and friend who is the same age as my mother. She had some physical disabilities, but once up on the box seat, she and her equine partner could do anything. I treasure those years I learned from her.
Not until they pry my cold dead fingers from the reins…
As long as I can afford to. That’s why I’m 70 and still working full time…
[QUOTE=Horselover52157;8288519]
Not until they pry my cold dead fingers from the reins…[/QUOTE]
This.
“If you have it, it is for life. It is a disease for which there is no cure. You will go on riding even when they haul you onto a comfortable wise old cob, with feet like inverted buckets and a back like a fireside chair.” - Monica Dickens
I’m 55 and have been training and riding youngsters and bad actors for over 40 years.
I now have nothing left to prove and am enjoying hacking out my aged Canadian and working with my super quiet 3 yr old hanoverian . I still take in youngsters to start, but my 20 yr old assistant does the first few rides.
I hope to topple off dead some day doing a line of 1 tempis! Or maybe during piaffe
I am 52 and the desire to ride and compete keeps me fit and healthy. I will stop when I am dead.
[QUOTE=paintjumper63;8290219]
I am 52 and the desire to ride and compete keeps me fit and healthy. I will stop when I am dead.[/QUOTE]
well said !! same here
I was 48 when I bought my big girl as a foal. When I sent her to the trainer as a four year old, trainer asked me if there was anything special I wanted her to learn. I said, “This is my old lady horse so I want her to hold still while I get on.”
Danny Dutton did a wonderful job with her and my mare stands like a statue when I climb on. Thanks, Danny, where ever you are.
Yesterday I rode with an 85 year old man who was chaperoned by the 70+ year old lady who boards his horse at her farm. This was riding over hunt country during hound exercises. They set the benchmark and I hope to copy them!!
I want to ride, but sometimes fate has other plans…
First my horse went lame and was retired. With ill parents and a job, I ended up not riding for over five years. I found out this is more significant when you are 60 than when you are 30!
While paying retirement board, I couldn’t afford another horse, so just recently looked into lessons and then possibly leasing. Had a couple of lessons and had a lease possibility. Then I moved the wrong way when vacuuming (!) :uhoh: and hurt my back. Doing a prednisone taper and not able to ride during it. And then my horse colicked and had to be PTS and riding is definitely on the back burner.
I hope to get back to riding. I had planned for my horse and I to grow old and decrease activity together, but it was not to be.
Jackie - Have you looked into therapeutic riding centers? They usually have scholarship programs so that those who need it can access it.
[QUOTE=mtnmomma;7668635]
I’m 70. Just got a new OTTB. Arthritis in my hip makes mounting and dismounting difficult. Looking forward to eventing BN this spring.[/QUOTE]
Wow, impressive!
I’m 55 and although I bought an OTTB almost 2 years ago, I have noticeably slowed down. But I’ll ride as long as I can afford it… which means I’ll work til I die.
I’m 56 and my ottb is 9. I keep joking that there is a market for old lady horses. My husband built a mounting block that you could climb onto a elephant with. First thing taught is how to stand at the block for mounting and dismounting. I’ve slowed down but still jumping and showing.
As long as I can find a way to crawl up into the saddle. I may have to scale back the types of things I do (like starting youngsters–but that’s getting old anyway), but I can’t imagine a life without riding.
[QUOTE=MsM;8290916]
Jackie - Have you looked into therapeutic riding centers? They usually have scholarship programs so that those who need it can access it.[/QUOTE]
I did do a term at a therapeutic riding center. I only got to ride once a week, did not get to ride during the summer AT ALL, and while I did not terribly mind being led on the 17.2 hand behemoth I got put up on I definitely can ride well enough to go mostly solo. Don’t get me wrong, I was very grateful for my term at the riding center since it got me riding again.
Now I get to ride three times a week, I can ride all during the summer, I can ride without anyone leading me (which means I can get the horses walking much faster) and I get all the practice I need to work on coordinating my aids for turns, etc… I did not get enough riding at the therapeutic riding center to help my MS, and there was no way I could get enough riding at the center to help my MS, which is why I started looking for a regular stable. Riding 3 times a week, 30 minutes at a time, is definitely enough riding to help my MS and keep me walking.
I was SO LUCKY to find my present riding teacher. I try to show my appreciation by lending her any piece of tack she needs, giving her tack that I think she can use in her program (bits, bitless bridles, Corrector pads,) giving her my educated opinions on horse stuff, telling about new stuff I learn on the web, and telling her what I’ve learned from the equitation books I read since she does not have enough time to read many equitation books. A few times I’ve also researched some stuff for her on the web. Plus I pay for my riding, usually private lessons, and I ride (for months on end) whichever horse she wants me to help. In return she continually corrects my position, I need this since I do not have a proprioceptive sense and I can lose track of my hands, head and legs. We also have GREAT discussions about theory and applications of the theories and I get to ride her Arabs. I am in equitation heaven. My two other rides I’ve got someone there to help me, catching, grooming, tacking up, untacking, eyes on the ground, and emergency help if needed.
I hope you find an even better riding situation than what I’ve got set up, though I’ve got it pretty good, riding Arabs and an Arab-Welsh, in hunt seat. Can you tell I ADORE riding Arabs?
[QUOTE=MsM;8290916]
Jackie - Have you looked into therapeutic riding centers? They usually have scholarship programs so that those who need it can access it.[/QUOTE]
I did do a term at a therapeutic riding center. I only got to ride once a week, did not get to ride during the summer AT ALL, and while I did not terribly mind being led on the 17.2 hand behemoth I got put up on I definitely can ride well enough to go mostly solo. Don’t get me wrong, I was very grateful for my term at the riding center since it got me riding again.
Now I get to ride three times a week, I can ride all during the summer, I can ride without anyone leading me (which means I can get the horses walking much faster) and I get all the practice I need to work on coordinating my aids for turns, etc… I did not get enough riding at the therapeutic riding center to help my MS, and there was no way I could get enough riding at the center to help my MS, which is why I started looking for a regular stable. Riding 3 times a week, 30 minutes at a time, is definitely enough riding to help my MS and keep me walking.
I was SO LUCKY to find my present riding teacher. I try to show my appreciation by lending her any piece of tack she needs, giving her tack that I think she can use in her program (bits, bitless bridles, Corrector pads,) giving her my educated opinions on horse stuff, telling about new stuff I learn on the web, and telling her what I’ve learned from the equitation books I read since she does not have enough time to read many equitation books. A few times I’ve also researched some stuff for her on the web. Plus I pay for my riding, usually private lessons, and I ride (for months on end) whichever horse she wants me to help. In return she continually corrects my position, I need this since I do not have a proprioceptive sense and I can lose track of my hands, head and legs. We also have GREAT discussions about theory and applications of the theories and I get to ride her Arabs. I am in equitation heaven. My two other rides I’ve got someone there to help me, catching, grooming, tacking up, untacking, eyes on the ground, and emergency help if needed.
I hope you find an even better riding situation than what I’ve got set up, though I’ve got it pretty good, riding Arabs and an Arab-Welsh, in hunt seat. Can you tell I ADORE riding Arabs?
I am 62.
Oh.
Forgot… I will be 63 in less than a month. 5’ nothing. 110 pounds.
Can’t imagine not riding.
Chiro/TaiChiChih/Robax are my friends.
My current mount is a 6 yr old 13hh pony of unknown breeding that I started 3 years ago.
So. Much. Fun.
Just got 2 new ponies here on semi-permanent loan…
Mare is a 13hh, 5 yr old Welsh/QH just being weaned from her spring foal.
I have been told she goes W/T/C… I’ve actually seen photos of her being ridden. She is sensible and sweet. She’ll be another fun project.
The Gelding is a 3 yr old 13hh Section B Welsh. Only gelded 6 weeks ago. He has been backed W/T/C … but I think I’ll leave him to his much younger 20-something owner
I want to join the century club!. I may not ride as much or as hard as I used to, but not riding would be the end of me, I think. 53 now with a 5 year old Paint. I got him to be my old ladies horse.
I love the photos of Queen Elizabeth and her ponies.
There is an 80ish yr old lady who regularly shows Grand Prix at my local USDF shows. She does all of her hauling, grooming, tacking, etc herself. Her ponies are saints. She gets respectable but not fantastic scores–obviously does it for the love of it. I want to be like her when I grow up.
I tell people I hope to die when I’m 80 or 90 because I fell off and broke my neck while foxhunting.
