returning to riding after a long absence?? help!!

[izo]

hi, I've just decided to have some refresher riding lessons.. after years of being out of the saddle, (my gorgeous horse died in 2003, at the age of 35, but was retired for about 5years!!) ...so I haven't ridden properly for at least 10years :eek: (save little 'treks' on holiday) ..my partner has just started lessons (he had about 5lesson 3years ago..but we have had a baby etc and life just went mad) sooo.. he has started learning, my daughter is desperate to ride on a horsey (no-where will take her until the age of 4.. she's nearly 3, so we have a year to wait!!) but now I am thinking, I will be left behind (except in my head, so I had better get my bum back in a saddle!!) ..feeling a bit nervous, my old man was a dream to ride, he made me a good rider, rather than me being a good rider, we just 'clicked' ..any encourgement please??? and how many times in your life do you get the chance to 'click' with your dream horse? or have I had my chance? :confused:

any good stories to share with me? am I going to feel like a cowboy when I get off? or a fraud when I get on?? I'm still really confident with them on the ground, it's just eyeing up the saddle.. arrgh help!!
thanks xxx

[MelanieD]

Its amazing how quickly it comes back to you once you get on board :) I had a long break from when I was a teenager to when I could afford to pay for my own lessons as an adult. One good idea is to not give too much information when you book a lesson, say something like 'I used to ride a bit' and make it sound like you've done less than you have and then there's no pressure to look like a great rider straight away or to remember the names of everything.

[cwb]

Second that!

Just buy yourself some new jods/boots/chaps and book that lesson - you'll be hooked again immediately and won't want the first lesson to end.

You will find that, if like me you were taught to ride gripping with your knees, it is a big no no now.

Beware - once hooked again you have had it!!

And, yes, there is another dream horse out there you will click with....

[izo]

thanks for replies, yes I have been reading a few books.. including Heathers 'E/E' !! God I forgot how much there is to remember!! :) xx

[Cobgirl]

Goodness I had a 40 year break and came back last year! I am also only 2 years off of 60! Take it easy on yourself and as others have said, book a lesson and see how you go.

I rode regularly as a child up until I was a teenager. Could jump and XC, but hey I fell at canter when I first tried and still don't have that wonderful sticky bum seat I had years ago. I guess you lose confidence as you age and don't have the same elastic joints either!

I ride once or twice a week for an hour or so, do simple exercises in the menage. Lots of riding without stirrups, lots of circling and basic arena patterns, figures of eight, serpentines etc. Boring but necessary to develop good legs and steady hands. I part loan a horse and have RS lessons on her, but the main thing for me is doing it in my own time. I hate to be rushed, so if I work out a plan for myself in my head, I like to go into the sand arena and work like that. Set myself small targets and don't expect too much of myself and above all, enjoy being back in the saddle!

Best of luck!

[Alle]

I think you'll get right back into it easier then you thought. As for another dream horse out there...sure. :) Whilte you were very lucky to have found one dreamy hoss, there's no reason you won't find a second. :)

[Joyscarer]

I had a break of over 15 years and a lot has changed since I last rode.

The key thing is to go back to it because you enjoy it. So be open and honest about your experience, hopes and fears and then relish the experience and have fun. The improvements will come but don't be tempted to critique yourself, that's your RI's job based on what you hope to eventually acheive :D

[sancho]

Ditto whats been said so far - go out there and enjoy yourself.

[Werehorse]

I had a long break from regular riding over my university years. Getting back into it can be quite frustrating at first - I found my brain remembered what to do but the muscles took longer to grow back! :D So I would KNOW what to do and how it should feel but my body couldn't actually DO it. For a while at least.

Take it easy, don't give yourself a hard time, smile and ENJOY it.

(I've just had a years break again due to personal circumstances and I have a lesson booked for saturday!! I shall try and take my own advice :p)

[kusha]

Good for you going back and nice that your OH wants to join in. I started back 6 months ago after 20 year break and am having more fun than I have had in years.

Main advice is to take it at your own pace - don't be pushed too far too quickly. This happened at the first 2 RS I started back with. I have now found the ideal RS and am doing lots of serpentines, 8's, circles, rein changes etc. Although I did jump initially I (at the first RS) I wouldn't recommend it until you have your seat and balance back. There's no hurry after all.

I also started back with a friend at my current RS we booked lessons with just the 2 of us which enabled us to do lots of good and varied ground work. We have now moved to group lessons but plan to book the occasional private one to target specific skills. Hoping to book one to get back into jumping soon.

As I say that was 6 months ago and there is a huge difference in my riding. My first few lessons were spent constantly battling with my stirrups - either foot to far in or foot slipping out. Now I seldom loose my stirrups. I was also all over the place in canter.

As for pains and aches? My first few lessons were far to intense for me so I was sore for days and days. My legs also gave way with muscle fatigue every time I dismounted - another indication I wasn't taking things at the right pace. As soon as I moved RS and moved things down a gear I have had less discomfort. Main problem now is hips but hopefully time will rectify that.

Hope you have a great time when you go back. Keep us all posted on your progress!!

kusha

[jinglejoys]

I started riding again after a 35 year gap after loosing my nerve as a beginer.I found the sweetest natured hinny and rode her for 4 years until F&M in 2001 and then retired her.
I'm having to back my Spanish boy Malaga (Formally Mad Malaga but not mad any more thanks to Parelli) and have just got the confidence to sit on him.I'm only doing the Passenger lesson but Boy! I can't remember sitting astride a saddle as being so ouch! I'm sure I'll stretch my muscles enough again but I did feel it the other day!!:D

[izo]

I am hoping to start in 3weeks time, I am really excited but a bit nervous, I used to know no fear!! (hmm!! how times have changed!!) my o/h is greatly looking forward to me making a fool of myself and being able to snigger (I should of been a bit more sympathetic to listening to his grumbles of aching muscles!!) I see loads of things have changed now, yep I learnt to ride with the 'gripping' of the knees and to look down between the horses ears.. I believe you don't do that now? so where are we supposed to look now? (I think it is back to basics for me!!!) wish me luck!! xx

[jinglejoys]

izo I'm glad you were told to look between the ears too but was that when you were a kid, because I think I know the answer as it was something that puzzled me on returning to riding.
The "new" thing I have been told is to look at the horizon which probably came to the same thing when you were small and looking between the ears but when you are an adult "looking between the ears" causes you to look down.
I find it very difficult to look at the horizon and ride a circle because my eyes tend to lock onto some object and then I find my eyes moving,maybe I'm too tense.
I just did another session with Malaga this afternoon and re read the instructions again.I reckon the reason I ached so much last time was because was reverting to gripping with the knees instead of just relaxing,I felt a lot better after this afternoons' session:)

[izo]

jinglejoys.. so much seems to of changed, I try to keep up reading horsey books, and riding books (big fan of Heather Moffat) but doing it in my head is going to be a bit different to practice!! oooh I'm dead excited but dead nervous.. not sure which is winning yet? how easy is it to loose the 'grip with your knees' mentality.. which to be honest I was never much good at (always got told off!!) hoping that will be in my favour? also wouldn't it be great to 'inspect' the instructer riding? I would be a lot happier taking instruction from someone whose riding style I admire.. or am I just being a bit fussy and choosy?? I am hoping my body keeps up with my mind!!!! (in my mind I can still fly along the beach bareback with no reins!!!! not too sure I am up for that anymore lol!!) xx

[jinglejoys]

I agree with the idea of inspecting the instructor idea! Not easy if you ride a mule though as I don't think there'sa choice in the U.K.
I'm more interested in Western/N.H. type riding though.When I had my hinny I did try two classes.One was with a western instructor who totally ignored me (a thing you get used to if you've got a mule!) but the other was with Bruce lawrence who treated me just like the others in the class.
I'm just carrying on doing my own thing at present with the Parelli Dvd's etc.
The only way I can describe the stopping gripping with the knees thing is to ride like you are riding bareback and not rely on the stirrups.Also the best bit of advice I've been given is "If you don't feel safe don't get on--If you don't feel safe get off and correct the problem on the ground" It's helped my confidence a lot as I learnt in the days when "You must always get straight back on",that's what made me lose my nerve in the first place!

[kturner]

dont know if this will help. i had a 20 year gap after having a bad time in my 20's with a horse.

bought a pony for this children and started having lessons myself because i was determined to get over my fears. of course once a bought the pony for them, there was no going back.

i started at a riding for the disabled, because i have bone and muscle problems. their horses are so docile that you can spend time getting your balance back and no worries of them mucking about. after a few of those lessons i ventured to a normal riding school and found that on those and on my next two that i bought, things are totally different.

they seem to see the pictures in your head.

by that i mean, instructors tell you where you look you will land!!! they are so right. in the last 5 years everything i have rode, has seen the pictures in my head of taking off = and what do they do?= exactly that, take off.

i am sure horses are far more telepathic than we give them credit for. a quiet mare may know that is what you are worried about and not do it and try to keep you safe, one of mine was like that. ALL the other thought that i wanted to do ' the pictures i was having'.

any one else have thoughts on this. can they read our minds and do just what we dont want?

[izo]

lol!! going back to my pony Izo, yes he read my mind completley (yeah I know the arguement for well if you are thinking about cantering at the next corner your body starts giving the signals to the horse before you have actually physically moved etc) but I like to think its a bit of both, both on the ground and in the saddle Izo always seemed to know what was needed!! depending on his moods, ..he was mostly generous and did what I 'wanted/thought' but other times he could be a bugger.. one that sticks in my mind, was taking a young group of riders out for there first big hack, I was leading and panicking about them falling off, so I was riding half twisted to see what was going on behind, ...he decided he had never seen a shetland before and spooked as we went past shetlands field.. you can imagine what the kids where like, he had deposited me in a muddy puddle flat on my back,,and I swear he sniggered!!! so yeah I agree they are telepathic (God now I have to try and clear my mind of nerves and falling!!!! lol!!)

[kturner]

if it helps, when i or the children are nervous of our pony playing up, we know he reads our minds, if you think of trotting off he goes without us giving any signals. when one of us is on him we speak in code like 'do you want to T now. or do you want a C' - for trot or canter because he knows the words. we also have to clear our minds when we are nervous.

we sing, or do TIMES TABLES. the most difficult ones you dont know. or start adding or subtracting with each other, firiing lots of questions at the rider. we take turns riding him. anything to keep your mind off the pony. it works brilliantly you forget you are riding,and so relax and so does the pony. the minute you lose concentration though and start to think canter and fall off again, he immediately takes off in canter.

so we have to constantly keep our minds off riding when we are riding. that sounds weird. i think we just have a sensitive pony!!

[Kizzy's mum]

I think the funniest thing has to be dismounting when your legs just crumble!!! :eek:

Then - trying to drive home - where you have to physically push your legs together to press the clutch and break in :D - classic!!!!!

I've stopped lessons since I bought my horse (last week) though - and as she's such a gentle plod, I don't have any pain at all - well - except cramp in my hips because of sitting with my legs so wide!

My advice - stretch before the lesson..........and afterwards...........I don't care what all of the whipper snappers think - they'll need to do that one day too! :cool:

[kusha]

Glad I'm not the only one with crumbly legs. I forgot about the driving home after my first lesson in years. Would have booked a taxi in hindsight!!

[colettybetty]

lol!! going back to my pony Izo, yes he read my mind completley (yeah I know the arguement for well if you are thinking about cantering at the next corner your body starts giving the signals to the horse before you have actually physically moved etc) but I like to think its a bit of both, both on the ground and in the saddle Izo always seemed to know what was needed!! depending on his moods, ..he was mostly generous and did what I 'wanted/thought' but other times he could be a bugger.. one that sticks in my mind, was taking a young group of riders out for there first big hack, I was leading and panicking about them falling off, so I was riding half twisted to see what was going on behind, ...he decided he had never seen a shetland before and spooked as we went past shetlands field.. you can imagine what the kids where like, he had deposited me in a muddy puddle flat on my back,,and I swear he sniggered!!! so yeah I agree they are telepathic (God now I have to try and clear my mind of nerves and falling!!!! lol!!)

Wonder if Izo and my first mare, Santa Fe, were related ? She sounds just like him, telepathic, fun and with a naughty sense of humour, but mostly very kind. |After losing her 2 years ago, I got another horse and thought' Heck, I've got to start using aids again, instead of her reading my mind.'
Amazingly, Fox, her successor, is brilliant too, very different but I love her like Santa Fe.
Good luck with getting back in the saddle, I'm sure everything will click back into place, although your muscles may not be so accommodating at first ! For what its worth, my only tip is, don't think too much when you are riding, just relax and feel your horse moving under you -just like you used to with Izo.