how long will you ride horses?

[walktrot]

[QUOTE=paulosey;8291844]
I want to join the century club!. I may not tide 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.[/QUOTE]

A woman locally made the Century Club, but she sort of “cheated” because she was only 65 and was riding a 35 y.o. horse.

I’d sort of like to make it. I’m 67 with a 21 y.o. Paint gelding who is in stupendous condition. If we can both make it 6 more years, we’re in…

[hundredacres]

Wow, this thread puts things in to perspective for me. I’m 49 and wondering if I should quit because I lost my heart horse…

Hell, I could look at it like I’m just getting started!

[over60]

I am hoping my wonderful QH stays riding sound for at least another 10 years, he will then be 27 and I will be 79. I intend to keep riding him as long as his health/soundness permit. I will then retire him and look for another teenager to carry me for another 10 or so years

[CHT]

This topic has been on my mind.

I have my two girls, with the youngest being 5. I plan on them being my last riding horses, so that gives me 15+ years in theory.

However, I am not sure my body will last that long. So in the meantime I am trying to do what I can to make sure my younger horse is marketable (my older horse is more ergonomic to ride and would be harder to sell I think), and to make them both more disability friendly. I am hoping that I can get my older one figured out a bit more, so I could at least lease her to someone when riding gets too tough, as I really don’t want to sell her.

For now, riding is good physiotherapy and motivation for me to keep going, but I think when the time comes I will be ok not riding, and instead focus on other aspects of the industry such as judging, working show offices and volunteering for clubs and at shows.

[BasqueMom]

DH thought after my present two pass on, no more horses. Don’t think so, dear.
Did I tell you about the Morgan/Freisan cross who rides and drives I’m drooling over.

Started riding again this year after a 12 year hiatus and ended up a therapeutic school. Am dealing with half a left foot these days and mounting a little interesting (so far large mounting block and a little help). They gave me a big 16.3/17.0 hand
13.0 year OTTB who had evented. Am what they call an independent (no one leads me after the first few lessons). Signing up for fall session. They take 2.5 months off for the summer heat so a few steps back.

Basque is 25 but don’t know if he will make to a few more years for our century ride.

[Kyrabee]

I turned 60 this month. I am still riding but health issues have me pondering whether to give it up. At this point…only pondering:concern:. I have had major issue with regaining healthy locomotion and my fitness is so poor right now. Before all my unsoundnesses kicked in, I was ready to make the leap to second level…you know into real dressage. Right now I would be hard pressed to make it through an intro test. BUT…that can be changed:yes:.

I hope the issue with my left foot is resolving and I can get into some real exercise. I am not happy riding with my current fitness level. I love to train and train seriously and that just isn’t happening right now and hasn’t for the last 2 years. Doodling around on the trail or worse, an arena just isn’t where it is at for me. I have gotten myself in shape before and I can do it again. I would really like to do a century ride. Only 14 more years (I am 60, horse is 13) then that can happen:winkgrin:.

Susan

[Winding_Down]

oh silly girls! I am 59 and I ride better now than I ever have. It is about base fitness and taking care of yourself, and not about your chronological age.

I am winding down from 6-8 horses to 2 only because I do get tired doing all of the farm/barn labor, and I am trying to branch out from just eventing to include more social activities such as fox hunting. Did a 2* in 2013 and the only reason I am not eventing at the ULs now is because I have young/green horses that are not ready for that.

So there is really no planning that can be made at this point. When your body gives out then you will wind down. Otherwise, just ignore people when they make those admiring comments such as, “Wow, you are amazing!” and your realize they are marveling at your still riding at a ripe age. Phooey, all a bunch of Hooey.

We should stop thinking about age and just kick on. That being said, I do think about my age a lot only because I do feel more tired after laboring on the farm - but when I am in the tack, it is the furthest from my mind.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I have several friends in their 70’s who still ride nearly daily and take packing trips and all sorts of things.

I know another woman in her 90’s who still rides.

I plan to ride til I fall off and die.

[Mukluk]

I’m almost 52 and I plan to ride until I’m 82 and then I am going to keep riding until I’m at least 92. From there I’ll add another 10 years. And see how it goes:D

[Ajierene]

Jane Sleeper is 65 and still riding around the upper levels of eventing. I always tell my trainer I plan to make Rolex one year and I have a good 30 years to get that good. My filly is 4 now, she has about 10 years to figure out how to read a cross country map and get me from one side of Rolex to the other.

[Zu_Zu]

FOREVER ~ I’m RIDING over that Rainbow Bridge !!!

FOREVER !!!

I plan to RIDE over that RAINBOW BRIDGE !!! :lol::D:winkgrin:

[Rusty15]

I thought this was going to be about one of those “aren’t you a little old to still be in the horsey phase?” comments that we all love. In all seriousness, as long as I am physically and mentally competent enough to ride, I will. I have gone one year of my life without horses (NOT by choice) and I quickly discovered that I can not mentally function without them. I was an emotional wreck-grumpy, moody, antisocial. Just lost all motivation to do anything. My warning to my future spouse will be “horse crazy Kendra is a lot easier to get along with than horse deprived Kendra.”