Who else started riding at 30+ for 1st time ever?

[gallop_on]

What made you want to ride?

I started riding for the first time when I was 31 years old. Im 33 now. I was never fortunate enough as a child to have riding lessons and never had the chance to sit on a horse even though I was a horse mad little girl and honestly believed I was going to get a pony every christmas.

I never really gave it a thought through my teenage years and into my twenties, it was when I hit my 30s that I thought life was passing me by and I wanted to do something I had always wanted to do. So I had a riding lesson and after that Im totally addicted.

A lot of people have ridden as a child then got back into it later in life but I had never sat on a horse till that first lesson.

[plod]

I didn't get close enough to a horse to touch it until I was 30 and didn't sit on one until a year later. I;m 33 now.

'Can you come and help me at the field' was followed by thinking 'why is something THAT size scared of me? I am cuddly and friendly!' then 'oh look it remembers me! Did I remember polo's?'

I never used to have pets. Now I have two. How did that happen?! :confused: I rode a horse for the first time due to some barracking, and because it was something daft I hadn't done before. I didn't expect to actually enjoy spending time with 3/4 ton of horse! There's nowt so queer as folk...

[KarinUS]

I missed your cut-off ;) I was just 28 when I had my first lesson.

[vince42]

Started at 35, closest I came to a horse before that was at 8 years old on a donkey at Scarborough...

Then (remember I'm over 6 feet tall) the first horse I get on I can't see over his saddle - the look on my face when they brought him out I'm told was priceless.

Hooked from that moment on :D

Slightly off topic - We just passed SVQ Level One Stable Management today! YAY!

For the last several months been taking a group of young people 1 day a week for the level one course at my school, so I did the course too. Of the 6 + that started 2 girls went the distance and passed today :):):)

Vince

[Grace O'Malley]

Me :D I started riding at age 41; now 52 and finally bought my own horse about a year and a half ago :cool:

I had been on a few trail rides as a kid with girl scouts and the like, but never took any lessons or anything like that.

[c2b]

I first ever sat on a horse a month before I was 47 :rolleyes:. I now have my own short fat hairy native and am having the time of my life. :D

[Kittycat]

First proper riding lesson at 37, although I don't really count because I used to badger my mum & dad to let me go on a hack whenever we were on holiday, so I had been on horses before (soon found out that wasn't really riding...) :)

[OldandNew]

I started riding a few months ago and I'm 60. I adored horses from babyhood and always longed to learn to ride but it was never possible (mainly financial). Apart from a couple of "pony rides" at the seaside, I'd never sat on a horse.

When I turned 60 I decided that "life is short" and I was going to fulfill my lifelong dream. I'm loving it and it has filled my life with happiness to be doing something I've longed to do for the best part of 60 years!!! :D

[Abserd]

Ohh i'm having PC problems - just posted a reply and halfway through my PC decided to come out of the internet grrr:mad:

Anyway, **deep breath** i will try again! I too was the epitomy of 'pony-mad child' going on donkey rides at the beach and pony rides at local fairs. My parents didn't drive and had a disabled son to take care of, to be fair they indulged me as much as they could - horsey books, mags, ornaments etc. But i wanted lessons so bad!! At 18 a few of my friends had a few lessons and they paid for a birthday hack for my 21st but that was it. I drifted away due to more pressing matters at the time - studying, work etc. Then 2 days after my 30th birthday i had a little incident at work and spent the next 6 weeks off work with stress and depression. Since moving to the area i live in now and seeing riding stables not far away i was finally spured (ha, spured geddit?) into action and rang up. Nearly 2 years later i've now started progressive riding, passed level one, and am meeting up with other NR's on Sunday!! What a difference a decade makes :rolleyes:

Ok, now trying to post, here goes...........

[Skib]

I am posting this for the record because I dont think there are any medals for starting late. I believe that riding should (these days) be looked on as a normal hobby for retired people, good for our minds and bodies alike.

My RI and eml and other first rate teachers have taken the time and trouble to help older people to learn to ride but such instructors are rare. I was 62 when I started and my RI at that time did everything to discourage and disuade me, particularly from hacking out.
Now my OH has begun riding aged 67. He is not the oldest beginner my RI has had. And he is lucky to be regarded as normal.
I dont think it is particularly wonderful of him. At some point he changed his mind about riding and decided it was after all something that he wanted to do. He enjoys every lesson, thinks it is money well spent, and never frets.

[muddyjods]

I'm 33 now, started lessons about 2 1/2 years ago but had a year break in the middle. I did get put on a couple of "just get on and stay there" hacks when i was about 12 or 13 tho.

I never even asked for lessons as a kid, i don't think, because my folks were already stretched paying for music (piano & violin) lessons for me and i knew without raising the subject how badly the request would go down!!
It's really comforting to hear about other "late starters" - especially you brave souls who've now got your own horses. Skib i agree that it *shouldn't* be regarded as "odd" to want to take up riding at any age, but it's just the nature of the beast (!) that adult learners are always going to be very much in the minority.

And personally i find it really hard to shake that envious "will i ever catch up" feeling when i see the tiny kids cantering fearlessly over jumps in the next door field!

[chunky monkey]

I'm not quite 30 yet. But riding has given me so much freedom and a new lease of life.
I first rode my neighbours little shetland when I was knee high to a grasshopper. My neighbours who were elderly, then sold it. I was really to small to remember the rides I had back then, I was only one or two. During my childhood I never really thought about owning or riding a horse again.

I didn't ride again till about 3 years ago when I got a job working for guy which owned a livery yard. The liveries kept saying I ought to have a go but no one actually offered me a ride, apart from one person, eventually. The first horse I got on was 16.2, had hunted and jumped. Not an ideal first ride, but the horse knew that I was inexperienced I'm sure. I was so nervous but some how it was really relaxing. The horse took good care of me. Three years on and I now have my own horse. I haven't had any lessons, only the guidance that my friend gave me.

[Trewsers]

I had ridden (not that much I hasten to add) as a child and early teens, but it wasn't until my lovely OH insisted that we book a hack in Cornwall that it all started up again aged 34! (am now 37). However, he had never sat on a donkey or pony until he was 34 - and my goodness, how addicted he is!!! Something just "clicked" right away and he has never looked back - he's had his ups and downs with Joe (he was hoping to compete jumping him but sadly Joe cannot jump anymore) but at the mo they are happy just trundling along out hacking! (Me thinks another neddy will be in the pipeline early next year!). Good to hear you are enjoying it - I too was a little like you - I convinced myself I'd get one if I wished hard enough - used to wish I could find a "stray" one......hehehehe.......

[Belle1]

My OH started to ride at 31, and bought his first horse at 33 :)

[Mina]

Me! I started having lessons at the age of 31, and have now been learning for about 2 and a half years.

Like many of you, as a child I loved horses and dreamed of having riding lessons, but my parents had no interest in taking me for 'expensive' and 'dangerous' lessons :rolleyes:. I had the odd ride on friends' ponies, but riding always seemed to be something that 'other people' did but that I could only dream about, and I guess ended up just feeling beyond my reach on a financial and practical level.

Thank goodness for maturity! For me, as my twenties passed I started to realize that hey, I can actually do anything I want, and even if things such as riding lessons are relatively costly, there's always a way!

My push into riding was having an 'off chance' riding lesson with a friend a couple of years ago. Suddenly the fact that I *could* have lessons, and it *wasn't* that big a deal struck me. I resolved to have lessons somehow, and managed to find somewhere to ride despite a/ living in London and b/ not being able to drive.

So good luck to all of you, and feel proud of your achievements :)

[Noblesteed]

I started age 40. Had always loved horses and dreamed of riding out in the countryside, just me and my horse! As a kid my favourite movies were cowboys and my favourite books were about horses. Anyway, I never grew out of it, and then I moved to Leicestershire, after always living in cities and towns. There seemed to be horses in every other field and a riding school in the next village so I finally began! Now I still ride once a week at a riding school and I also have a share in a fabulous 15.3 irish gelding who I hack out twice a week. I still have ambitions; owning my own and competing at Le Trec and endurance. I probably wont get to do those till I'm into my 50s, but then I'll have the time, the money and the freedom.

I think these days it is not unusual to do things later in life, when you have the freedom and flexibility after family life. Lots of older folk are intent on spending the kids inheritance, and why not? I still want to do my gap year! Missed out when I was 18, so will probably do it when I'm 58! My husband has also fulfilled some of his ambitions; getting a motorcycle again and now he races motor cars too. I think age is no barrier, in fact a distinct advantage!

[Chestnutter]

I've just started at 37. It's a bit of a case of role reversal for me and my daughter! She started riding at 7 and we've had loan ponies, recently buying one of her own. For the first couple of years although I helped her out with the stable duties I really couldn't see what she saw in it. Since we bought our Chester however, I've grown to know and love him and feel a bit jealous of the bond they have! I'm now looking for one of my own as I'm taking lessons and really have "the bug"!

[Teehee]

I started at 21... but I was a owner at 31!!! Does that count? :) I must say on my part I found it a bit weird since I was the only adult my age... most of the other students were in between 9-15 and then the other adults were usually 45-50... so I did feel like the odd ball there... but hey... I made my dream come true... I learnt how to ride properly....!!! :D

[curlycal]

I started riding just over a year ago at 45, I have loved horses all my life, but we were too poor for me to learn as a child. Boys, marriage and children then prevented me, but I have had weekly lesons for just over a year, and was hooked after the first one :D

Cal x

[Selle Francais]

What made you want to ride?

I was a horse mad little girl and honestly believed I was going to get a pony every christmas.

That makes me so sad, Gallop, I shall bear it firmly in mind as my grand-daughter gets to riding age - whatever her useless parents think! :cool:

(ps started at 45, own horse at 51, love him to bits!)

SF

[coverblown]

43 for me. 51 now. still feel like a beginner.

[horse_converted]

i started when i was 28 which is close enough i say lol. My riding started over a deal with horse_crazy :D. we had a deal saying that if i got riding on a horse with her she will go on a dirt bike with me. :D but she stil hasn't been on a dirt bike with me. but then i got hooked to horses. and a few months later i had to give up dirt bikes since I went blind in my good eye :mad:

I owe my happieness to horse riding thanks to horse_crazy!! :D t hank you very very very much horse_crazy :D :D :D

[gallop_on]

Its great to hear about all these other people around my age starting to ride. I was not indicating that I thought I deserved medal but was interested to find out how many more are like me.


And personally i find it really hard to shake that envious "will i ever catch up" feeling when i see the tiny kids cantering fearlessly over jumps in the next door field!

My thoughts exactly, I have dreams to do something cross country in the future but will see.

I think that if I had children I would certainly encourage them to go horseriding. I look at all the kids on the yard and they have a really good social life and I think looking after a horse encourages them to be more independant and gives them confidence.

[LauraHats]

Not 30+, but 26 and been riding for almost a year.....same story really, always loved them as a child (when i wasn't even allowed a dog!:D) and forgot about it for a while as a teenager, younger adult then just thought now was the time....and yes, I get so frustrated watching the little kids do amazing things! also, the dog is nearly two now as well!:D

[laura jeanne]

One of my daughters always had this on her Christmas list:

live horse
TV with stand

hehe

[wanabe]

Laura Jeanne! Have you updated your profile to point toward your new email addr? I've sent you a couple of PMs.

[PurpleUnicorn]

I was 30 when I started properly. I was horse mad little girl (weren't we all!) and just got to cuddle friends' ponies occasionally, and rode on holiday when possible. Had to wait until I was earning enough on my own to be able to afford lessons, and I'm now 37 and still loving it! :D

[elaine@dow-evan]

Me me me:D
I was 47 when someone I know took me to meet his lovely horse, the delightful Domino. I didn't intend to get on her...all I though I wanted to do was feed her carrots and brush her...but I was gently encouraged to sit on her and off the three of us went for a walk...wow! All my "horse-mad litte girl" dreams were rekindled and I have been having lessons since the end of May. And I'm still 47 lol:)
I'll probably never be able to have my own horse - unless I win the lottery - and I am very aware of the fraily of the human body, so I don't look forward to falling off...but lets hear it for the adult beginner rider!!

[PurpleUnicorn]

:Dwell done elaine!!:D How's it going?

[laura jeanne]

wanabe, sent you a pm.

[D&D]

i started at 31 and im 33 now :) and still alive ;) and loving it x

[poohsmate]

Started at 40, bought first horse at 42, The best horse ever.... and thanks to him we did our first BHS pre-novice event when he was 14 and i was 44:D:D

[helen.e]

Not quite 30, but will be in November. I started riding last September after watching a TV documentary about horses and riding. I wanted to ride when younger and had a couple of lessons at age 7 but had to choose between riding and gymnastics as I couldn't do both. Dad was a gymnastics coach so I chose to do that and stopped riding.
I've wanted to learn to ride ever since and finally got the chance last summer when we moved house and I found a great RS just down the road. I try to ride once a week and love every minute - I wish I could go every day!
Went to a local show last weekend and felt incredibly envious of the tiny tots riding their own ponies and looking so confident!
Owning my own horse is now my long term aim and I'm starting an NVQ course at my RS in September.

[cwb]

I was 40 when I first rode - I was on a training course and another student suggested a group of us go to the local stables for a lunchtime ride, after that half hour I was hooked! I rode on and off for 5 years but never really progressed past trotting, only one or two trys at canter.

Then two years ago I made a friend with a Danish lady who keeps and rides horses and I was given one of them to ride while she prepared another horse to go to a competition. I remembered the theory but the practice was very rusty! It wasn't helped by the fact that every time I asked for a trot, I got a canter but after a while I quite liked it! The horse always slowed to a fast walk round the corners then cantered down the straights - definitely looking after me!

A couple of weeks ago I took my grandaughter to our local RS for her first lesson
http://www.octarine-services.co.uk/mollieriding.jpg
and decided to take it up again myself, so last Friday was the first time back on a horse for a lesson in 15 years, yes I am now 59!

The half hour was on a public lesson but 9:45 on Fridays is not popular so I was the only rider and got all the RIs attention. Walking and trotting aids worked fine as did the halt - rising trot was riddled with double bounces to start with but eventually settled down and we were trotting over poles on the straight and round 20m circles in the end. I also got to put the horse away which was a nice touch.

Boy did that 1/2 hour go fast!! I can't wait to get back there next Friday!

As a matter of interest, how many others on here are men? I seem to be the only male rider at the RS! I also found that getting decent jods, chaps & boots was a pain as most of the nice gear is aimed at the ladies...

[HorseyMum#1]

I never rode a horse besides pony rides until now.

I bought my daughter her first horse and she teaches me how to ride on him!

I am up to post trotting a little bit now. I first trotted in january this year, which was on my daughters horse on the lead.

Now I can trot holding onto my monkey grip off the lead!