For those of you that took a long hiatus from riding, what do you wish you’d remembered during your first lesson back? I’m sure some of you have great advice and stories!
I had a few false starts after my 12 years off. I was in so much pain I didn’t want to start again. Then I started doing a weekly yoga class for a while before I re-started and it made all the difference in the world. Almost no muscle pain.
The problem wasn’t in my brain. It remembered perfectly what to do and what it was supposed to feel like.
The problem was my body, which kept telling my brain, “I don’t know what the f— you’re talking about.” :lol:
Don’t even try to remember anything other than left, right, stop, and go forward. The horse is different, the trainer is different, your body is different. As others have said, the connection between your riding brain and your riding muscles will be spotty at best.
Bits and pieces may feel natural to you and you’ll think happily, “Oh, it’s coming back to me now!” but… not. 
- Stretch your leg and groin before getting back on, or you will regret it for a week.
- Yes you still have ‘muscle memory’. Unfortunately it is your brain’s memory of what your muscles were like 20 years ago, not what they are now… you will have to actively read and re-adapt to what they are now.
Forgive yourself for any & all errors you make. You’re not the same rider you were as a youngster, so it’s easy to get discouraged if you keep comparing yourself to that. Just revel in riding again, and have SO MUCH FUN!!!
Also, don’t be stupid and go riding for hours your first time back. It hurts. :lol:
I’m not a re-rider, but began as an adult. After taking lessons at a few different barns I finally ended up at one that was a little more picky with regard to position and aids, etc. I found it impossible to shut up - I just kept trying to explain why I did things wrong, or if I made a mistake I’d say “oops, ok, that was my fault” as if the trainer couldn’t see that. Finally the trainer had to actually say something like “the more you try to explain what you can’t do, the more it takes away from what you CAN do”.
So I guess I would recommend just listening to the trainer and not trying to explain anything (e.g. "I know I can do this but it’s been a long time…) If you’ve chosen well, they will know that anyway, and can see it as well.
Most of all – have fun!
Like others said, take it easy - those muscles aren’t what they used to be! During my first couple of months back, my trainer told me that she could tell I knew what I should be doing, but my body wasn’t cooperating the way I expected. Which was completely true.
Also, don’t be embarrassed to ride schoolies. It’s SO much easier to come back on a been there/done that horse than to try to deal with any goofs or wiggles while also trying to figure out where the heck your leg is and keep your center of balance.
The thing I remember about my first lesson after a 12 year hiatus was how confused the lesson horse was. My trainer was in stitches. From the horse’s perspective, I must have felt like a rank beginner - my balance was off and my leg weak - but he was startled that I anticipated and corrected him from trying to duck out at the gate and kept him from drifting off the rail.
Just be prepared to be completely embarrassed. 
What BeaSting said, except worse for me - the last time I started back again, I was on an event/H/J type horse; I’ve always ridden saddle seat. Talk about different languages!
FYI, it takes loads less leg to ride saddleseat. Any time I’ve gone back to that, I’ve had no problem picking back up. A couple crappy rides to get back in the swing of things, then I’m good. Unfortunately, there’s no one close to me with a horse.
I so wish I had a pair of johdpurs!
I was doing a 1 hour Jennifer Kries workout per day, pilattes/yoga/ballet. It is all done lying on your back. No downward dog or push ups or anything like that.
I excelled so much in my lesson I was put into an advanced lesson that night. No johdpurs so I wore jeans and I added a belt which I am not used to.
45 minutes of rising trot and canter and I made it to the 40 minute mark before flagging.
Not one ache or pain from riding…except the jeans took skin off on both lower legs and the belt took skin off my stomach and that hurt like merry **** for days.
I teach a lot of adult re-riders.
They often get frustrated in the first few months as they KNOW they can do better, but their bodies just won’t cooperate! Give yourself some slack: it will come back to you, just not as quickly as when you were a teen.
I also have trouble convincing them to take it easy the first lesson back…but they understand why 2 days later when they are unexpectedly quite sore!
[QUOTE=SuzieQNutter;7975092]
I excelled so much in my lesson I was put into an advanced lesson that night. No johdpurs so I wore jeans and I added a belt which I am not used to.
.[/QUOTE]
Get a pair of under passes or tie downs. http://stores.hartmeyer.com/underpasses-adjustable-snap/
Cheaper than a pair of jods - if you keep your jeans pulled down they rub less.
**or find a pair the thingies to keep kids from losing their mittens and change the middle out with 4 or 5 inches of elastic.
Lol Red Mares. I went to the Park Ridge Adult Riders (PRARG) Carboot sale.
We picked up a never used, fully mounted. Been in someone’s house for 30 years, black old style County Dressage saddle that fits my boy and you just sink into it and could do sitting trot for ever for $80.00. A brand new double leather black lunging cavesson for $20.00. A shaped girth for $15.00. Brand new Thomas Cook Sticky bum johdpurs for $30.00 each. A leather pair of riding boots for $8.00. Brand new leather riding gloves from $5.00 to $15.00 each. Brand new leather side reins for $10.00 and fly masks for $5.00 each.
We bought from the first 5 stalls when we usually go to flea markets and walk past stall after stall after stall. By the time we reached the jodhpurs, I tried them on, got them put to the side and we left to go and get more money.
I had recently bought a new helmet and lunge reins, so I feel so rich every time I go to ride! (It is a lovely feeling).
One of my first few lessons back, I went to dismount at the end of the lesson and my legs completely gave out from under me and down to the ground I went!
My advice…don’t do that! :lol::lol:
Don’t video yourself for a while. It may take a long time (in my case not even yet after a couple of years) to start looking like you belong on a horse again. So easy in youth. Grrr!!!
I was off for 25 years and took my first “re rider” lesson at age 42. What I remember: the lesson was on a Icey and was taught by his owner who was a friend of mine (she was a qualified riding instructor, though eventually I decided that her style and mine were not a good match.) I was VERY sore afterward!
As I progressed a bit more, the big change in my body over those 25 years was tough to deal with. I was heavier and especially MUCH more top heavy (had gone from an A cup to a D cup.) I did have good muscle memory, but it was laid down on a much smaller and more lithe body. But the pain and the struggle were worth it.
I just had a five-year break, and I wish I’d remembered how much I was going to hurt the next day…
I hear 'ya. Last week I was back in VA and got in my first ride on a full WTC horse in a year. In my cheap breeches. Mostly posting and sitting trot.
And then went to the ‘ladies doc’ the next day. Yes, I had some 'splainin to do.
[QUOTE=NoSuchPerson;7974224]
The problem wasn’t in my brain. It remembered perfectly what to do and what it was supposed to feel like.
The problem was my body, which kept telling my brain, “I don’t know what the f— you’re talking about.” :lol:[/QUOTE]
Yup that is it exactly!!
