I’m another adult that rode very sporadically as a kid under no real program. I was in my early 30s when I decided I would pursue my dream of being a horse girl.
I was able to take some time off of work and do a “working student for adults” kind of gig and learned a ton about horsemanship and wellfare as well as riding various types of horses. My situation is probably rare, but it worked out great for both me and the BO.
I still remember, however, the horrible feeling I had on my first free ride on the saintly starter horse. I couldn’t keep her nose in front of her body. She buckled her shoulder in and walked wherever she pleased around the arena as the 11 year old girls literally cantered circles around me. It was a HUGE lesson in humility.
Luckily, I can laugh and take a joke and stuck with it. I’m one of only two adult riders at my barn; all the other riders are girls and teens. Luckily, my trainer knows I don’t bounce and my bones don’t bend and I’m generally a chicken **** compared to the younger girls. She is relieved to have another adult to teach.
So basically- my ramblings are generally to tell you not to give up and to find a community that you genuinely love. The community around the horses is what makes it a joy or a pain.
