drifterlee you are an inspiration to me. I will be 46 when I start my next show season, on a 11 yr old OTTB who raced til he was 8! I have done all the training myself (for better or worse). He is currently showing at 2’6" and I hope to move up.
I will admit that the hunter ring is starting have some more appeal to me after completing in the jumper ring for years with my retired horse. It’s not that I am worried about the jumper ring, I am just starting to appreciate the slower pace of the hunters, though it remains to be seen if my OTTB feels the same way in the long run…
Keep riding and you do you.
Years ago when I was in my late 20-early 30s, I remember telling my mom with extreme excitement how I had finally jumped a 4ft over in a gymnastic. Her response was " well now you can quit jumping, or at least jump smaller things?’ My response was “hell no, now i want to jump bigger” I made never get to the grand prix ring, or even back up to the 3’6"-3’9" level, but I am having a blast with my OTTB and wouldn’t change it for the world.
On a side note, after a project mare turned out not to be as thrilled with jumping as I had hoped, i thought maybe I could just be happy with doing dressage, needless to say that didn’t last long… i enjoy the challenges of Dressage, but i just need my fences!