Hey, just started riding lessons!

[chuckley]

Hey, ive been reading this forum for a couple of months tryna get my head around horse riding and finally plucked up the courage to have a riding lesson on my birthday. SO GLAD i did it!!!!

am I too old to start riding at 23 tho with ZERO knowledge?? coz dont most people start as a child??

anyway i found a really great school in london (through recommendations on here ;) ) and have booked another lesson this week!

i am VERY ignorant when it comes to horses and terms so every thread i read on here has me running to the dictionary to find out what the hell ** all on about. LOL!!!!!

i hope to continue riding and contributing to this forum forever.

just thought id introduce myself :) x

[titch_]

23 to old?? NO

My mum just starting to get back into at 43,

Lots of people on here started when they were alot older than you :)

[*Sez*]

I think we used to have a thread of common terms and abbreviations for newcomers...

Welcome to the forum, though :D It's great that you're starting to learn to ride, and I believe there are a fair number of members who were adults when they realised they wanted to be around horses, so you're not the only one!

[Hippyhorse]

Hi and welcome, your enthusiasm is great I can feel it beaming of the screen at me. As others have said there are a fair few on here who didn't take up riding till they were adults, that or rode as a child and have returned to it later in life. Good luck with the next lesson!

[christinarina]

Hi - I've just started at 34. I always wanted to ride since I was a little girl but didn't have that privilege. I'm loving it although finding it hard and frustrating!

Look forward to sharing our progress!

ChristinaX

[Grinyer224]

my dad said that when he gets his finances sorted he wants to start riding - he's 46.
i'm not exactly a child at 16 and have only been riding 2 months - first lessons are the best though aren't they?

[storm35]

Hello Chuckley, i am 39 and on my 4th lesson, as i always wanted to ride when i was young, but never got round to it, now my kids are up a little apart from my 3yr old, i take lessons with my 2 daughters who all love riding.

[JustJas]

23 is not too old at all.
Look forward to hearing about your progress.

[JadeUK]

hiya just thought i'd say i'm in the same boat but i'm 21 it's great tho isn't it! i'm hopeing to make it into a careeralso so ahve a long road ahead of me good on ya!:D

[horseygal90]

23 - Too old? You're only 5 years older than me ;)

Have you been bitten by the riding bug yet? (The first lesson normally does that, it can take up to the third though :p)

[molly34]

ONLY 23? You're still a baby!! :D
If you want some inspiration (and to feel really young) have a flick through the mature riders forum, and check some of Skib's old posts.

There's a glossary of abbreviations here (http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78493) which should help a bit.

[christinarina]

Hey Jade - what kind of career in riding are you interested in? Just curious!

ChristinaX

[OldandNew]

I started last year aged 60 - never having ridden before. As Molly34 suggests - look at some of Skib's posts. She has been a great source of inspiration and encouragement to me. At 23 you have nothing to worry about - believe me!!!;)

[Wally]

If we use words you don't understand, shout at us! :D

[Rokx]

My mum started riding lessons when she was 45, so you're definitely not too old!
Good luck, hope you continue to enjoy it!
xx

[BlackBess]

Hi and welcome to the forum Chuckley. I didn't take up riding until I was 30, having wanted to have lessons since I was a child but never having the opportunity. I knew nothing about horses when I started, but I've gone on to have my first part loan and I'm loving the learning journey. Welcome to the wonderful world of horses and I hope you have many lovely moments to come.

[chuckley]

thanks so much for your kind words people! i truely appreciate it. your all so nice n kind!

well i had my second lesson yesterday and wellll it was just me on my own as no1 else turned up so i had a private lesson on the cheap! i did so much that i didnt do in my 1st lesson! i rode from one arena to another, saw how they put all the stuff on the horse in the stables, saw more experienced riders and observed posture and techniques and sctufff.

umm did rising trot with reins as she thought i was 'ready' :D ) and also rode on my own practicing the rising trot, whereas b4 we had a leader all the time. and when i got off the horse at the end she taught me how to pack away the equipment and i lead the horse back to the stables!!!! OMG i did sooooooo much. she went into so much more depth. i was so excited and left a firm fan of horse riding.

when i was getting my stuff a dude asked me how long i had been riding, and i said it was my 2nd lesson and his eyes popped out his head! he said i looked like i was more advanced. i was so so happy :D

i remember reading that it takes people up to 3 lessons to really 'get into' riding. my second lesson was the turning point for me! ive requested the same instructor next week as she was amazing!

my thighs are BATTERED tho! never got that after my 1st lesson but today im sorrrrrrrrre as hell!!!!!

[Grinyer224]

thanks so much for your kind words people! i truely appreciate it. your all so nice n kind!

well i had my second lesson yesterday and wellll it was just me on my own as no1 else turned up so i had a private lesson on the cheap! i did so much that i didnt do in my 1st lesson! i rode from one arena to another, saw how they put all the stuff on the horse in the stables, saw more experienced riders and observed posture and techniques and sctufff.

umm did rising trot with reins as she thought i was 'ready' :D ) and also rode on my own practicing the rising trot, whereas b4 we had a leader all the time. and when i got off the horse at the end she taught me how to pack away the equipment and i lead the horse back to the stables!!!! OMG i did sooooooo much. she went into so much more depth. i was so excited and left a firm fan of horse riding.

when i was getting my stuff a dude asked me how long i had been riding, and i said it was my 2nd lesson and his eyes popped out his head! he said i looked like i was more advanced. i was so so happy :D

i remember reading that it takes people up to 3 lessons to really 'get into' riding. my second lesson was the turning point for me! ive requested the same instructor next week as she was amazing!

my thighs are BATTERED tho! never got that after my 1st lesson but today im sorrrrrrrrre as hell!!!!!
people say have a radox bath. for me i just go on an hour walk with the dog - the walking helps the pain loads - you'll still be stiff but you should be fine after about 2days.

it is always best to have private lessons since you learn so much more as you obviosly found out. my RS dont do group lessons at the mo since they only have one horse for schooling (others are livery) but they are looking for cobs.

i was actually sold on my first but have been on a horse b4 that.

[Trewsers]

I love reading about people's first riding lessons, makes me smile and reminds me of the happy times I had just over 4 years ago when I took it all up again after a 20 odd year break!!!

[beakysian]

Hey, ive been reading this forum for a couple of months tryna get my head around horse riding and finally plucked up the courage to have a riding lesson on my birthday. SO GLAD i did it!!!!

am I too old to start riding at 23 tho with ZERO knowledge?? coz dont most people start as a child??....

I started riding for my 23rd birthday in April ;) I've done a dressage test and I'm learning to jump - definitely not too old!!!

[chuckley]

people say have a radox bath. for me i just go on an hour walk with the dog - the walking helps the pain loads - you'll still be stiff but you should be fine after about 2days.

it is always best to have private lessons since you learn so much more as you obviosly found out. my RS dont do group lessons at the mo since they only have one horse for schooling (others are livery) but they are looking for cobs.

i was actually sold on my first but have been on a horse b4 that.uno i was still walking funny come weds! and i had my lesosn on sat mornin!

im gonna stick with the group ones as no1 else turns up at the first mornig slot so i get private lesson for the price of a group one :D

x

[chuckley]

I love reading about people's first riding lessons, makes me smile and reminds me of the happy times I had just over 4 years ago when I took it all up again after a 20 odd year break!!!at least u started young... when u got back in the saddle i bet it was like gettin back on a bike.. u never forgot how :)

[chuckley]

I had my 3rd lesson this morning and moved onto trotting without the 'stirrips?!'

WOW WOW WOW its so much easier! my heels down toes up is natural without stirrups. as soon as i went back to stirrups my feet went back to toes down heels up :( i sooo need to practice!

there was 2 of us today, the other girl was on her 5th lesson so was more advanced, but i learnt alot from watching her as she had much better posture control.

we did constant trotting and rein switching which was amazing as i hadnt done continuous trot to that level in lessons b4.

then at the end she let us pack up the 'equipment' on the horse and let us lead it back to its stables on our own and lock the door!

felt like a DWEAM! :D