Starting out at my age

[RichardL]

My wife and I decided to take up something that we could do together, I suggested watching football would be a good idea but it didn’t get the response I expected, can’t think why.

However after reading a very interesting article in Men’s Health magazine about the health benefits of horse riding we decided that we would give it a try.

We arranged to start a beginner’s course but before we did we managed to get a couple of private lessons in before the start of the course.

All I can say is why didn’t I find horse riding years ago (we are both now in our 50s). I really enjoyed the private lessons and having just started our group lessons I am really enjoying everything about it. Although the technical terms still escape me and as for All King Edwards Horses etc, well I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it eventually.

Upto now I have used mainstream clothes and boots for my lessons and hope to buy ‘proper’ gear as time goes on. There is one problem that requires immediate attention especially after my last lesson. Is there anything on the market that keeps delicate bits in place and out of harms way (I’m wincing just thinking about it)

When I got to our first group lesson and introduced to my horse for the hour, Monte. My first thought was that I should get air miles just for being up that high. Thankfully he was an absolute angel and looked after me very well apart from the one small mishap, mentioned above, which was nothing to do with him.

We found the school very friendly, helpful and very busy. As you can imagine I was the only male on the course, talk about performance pressure. I can’t understand why more men don’t take up horse riding.

Anyway I have my next lesson on Sunday so hopefully do some shopping before then.

[Perdita]

Welcome to New Rider Richard:) And congratulations on starting to ride! Sounds like you're having fun already. Riding is a brilliant way to help keep you fit and healthy - all that fresh air , and it really is a lot harder phsyically than many people seem to think - it is definately not just sitting on a horse, and I'm sure you'll have a few muscles that tell you about that :D
Feel free to ask all the wise folk on here any questions, no matter how trivial they may seem. Everyone on here is so friendly and willing to give advice and share good and bad times with you.
As for shopping, well, hat, boots and jods are the first buys. And protecting....yourself.....;) I think you can get some special briefs that have padding in the appropriate areas!
Mail order catalogues that have some, you can also order on-line...
www.robinsons-uk.com
www.rideaway.co.uk
Hope this might help, and I hope you continue to enjoy riding for a long time:)

[judyl]

Well done to the 2 of you taking up riding in your 50s. This is a sport that you can continue to do well into your 70s and even more!

Now, I'm not sure whether it was in the Mature Riders section or the General section but there was a very long thread about 'protective' gear for male anatomy. Perhaps you could do a search?

My other half rides and the only thing I can suggest is that you wear close fitting, supporting knickers. I know you can get padded knickers but there're mainly for the bum area and I think they're for ladies anyway.

Happy hunting :D

[kedwards]

Welcome to the board and to riding. It's a wonderful sport, isn't it? Be careful though, it is very addicting and your body develops a tolerance to spending money on horse related items. When I started, I too thought twice before buying my first pair of paddock boots. As your tolerance increases, you will need larger and larger purchases to fulfill your horsey needs.

Sorry, I can't help with the other matter. I have heard men talk about using athletic cups when riding.

[Stella2]

Good for you Richard - its true about the horse related shopping, still, I shop much less for other things now!! I bought my other half the edition of 'Mens Health', having tried a number of other stratagies to get him into the saddle. He did read the article, but still claims "its never going to happen"! "did you learn anything from the article?" I asked. He thought for a moment and replied "Mmm, more women ride than men". "Thats it?". "Yes, thats it". I give up!

[galadriel]

For starters, there was a rather amusing thread recently on special male riding equipment ;)
http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15658

Congrats on taking up such a rewarding sport. Riding is all about learning to communicate with the horse...and if you ask in a way he understands, he'll try so hard for you :) Such a difference from a car; the horse has its own mind, but usually wants to please, wants to be "good" for people. So heartwarming!

This is a great forum for talking about riding...starting out, years of experience, coming back after a gap, anything :) We're here for you. The people are delightful and knowledgeable, and wonderfully supportive. Welcome to NR.

[Wally]

Fun isn't it? especially when you find a horse who will look after you.

About technical terms, ask, ask and ask again, the second your instructor uses a term with which you are not familiar ask, I desperately try not to use them, when teaching, in this day and age it is not necessary, horses have feet, they come in front and back pairs left and right, not fore and hind, near and off.

I may use a term but always with an explaination to go with it. It really can overwhelm some folk, this dreadful horsey secret language.

Frances and I often have a laugh when things are going pear shaped or generaly turning to manure, we use language which is not horsey:D :D :rolleyes: and Frances will often ask me if what I just called Iacs is a BHS term!

[RichardL]

Many thanks to all of you for the welcome and the advice. I managed to find a tack shop yesterday and my wife managed to find a good pair of boots and jods. However I found it difficult to find anything for men so I am still looking. Some good ideas about protecting delicate bits and I will try a few of them and see how they work for me.

Stella2, did you point out the key quote in the magazine article that went something along the lines of 'where else can a guy go where he gets to see lots of (generally) young girls in very tight fitting clothes' even without the health benefits that would have worked foir me.;)

My next lesson is in a couple of hours and I can hardly wait. I can see my whole week just becomimng a preamble to when I can ride again. Long may it continue.

[kedwards]

I can see my whole week just becomimng a preamble to when I can ride again.

That was exactly how I felt when I first started and was doing weekly lessons. It was about all I thought about the rest of the week.

You'll have to post and let us know how that first lesson goes.

[Peace]

My next lesson is in a couple of hours and I can hardly wait. I can see my whole week just becomimng a preamble to when I can ride again. Long may it continue.

Uh-oh - sounds like a serious case of incipient horse-addiction!:D
I got to this point sometime last summer, and by October had bought my own horse! Watch out!;)

I don't understand why more men don't take up the sport, either. I figure the best things I can do for my young nephews is to teach them to ride horses and dance well. They'll be covered up with women for the rest of their lives!:cool:

[Stella2]

I did point out the quote about all the women in tight jodpurs, men be out numbered by woman 20 to 1, it made no difference!! what can I say? .......

[FRED]

Welcome Richard, it seems like there are many male riders who wish they hadn't left it a bit late to start.One guy started at 60 where I ride, and Jonto is gettig close to 60 and recently started.
To be honest I had missgivings about the 'horsey set' but there easily avoided if you understand what I mean, they spell off 'owfe' to give you some idea what I mean!
I have to laugh how the ladies here know so much about thing private......anyway,
Robinsons have some good male riding underwear, it doesn't have to be padded!! ladies. Things just have to be supported properly for ridding activities! amongst many other sport.

I'm not keen on jod trousers, but wear them at instructors request for lesson, I find mole skin jeans just so much more comfy and wear short boots with half chaps.
I love my Mountain Horse boots, but there seems to be a bit of controversy about them, but if stirrups are correct size you will not have a problem freeing foot from stirrup.
I treasure my HM seat saver too, no aches or sores even after 4 hour rides.It helps your saddle position too, no polishing saddle anymore and helps you stay aboard.
Good luck next lesson.

By the way ladies, im afraid most men are afraid of horse because they have a 'brain' the horse of course!!{ im speaking out of knowledge learnt being an employer}, personally Im sure happy and glad horse have a brain.
:)

[Jane.A]

Welcome! There are quite a few places who stock mens riding apparel. Try www. derbyhousesaddlery.co.uk, www.horserugs4u.com has some great bargains in their sale, www.rideaway.co.uk, www.horseandrider.co.uk, www.equestrianclearance.com they have saddlecraft elite mens jodhpur boots at half price, £30 instead of £65, as I have just got some for my husband, they are really excellent boots!www.discountsaddlery.co.uk also have some bargains in their special offers section. My husband really liked Gorringe stuff, but he no longer rides ( he hung up his boots when we lost his horse ) so if you are over 6' with a 38" waist I could no doubt rustle up some breeches! He is now my no1 groom.

[mikka]

Hi Richard, welcome to the board! It's nice to see other mature riders taking up the sport and wondering why they waited so long. It's a lovely pastime. Do let us know how you and your wife get on in your lessons.

[RichardL]

Hi Guys and Gals,

We had our second group lesson yesterday. I was again on Monte the giant. The instructor kept telling him he was a handsome devil, at least I think she was talking to the horse:D My wife was on a white called Chloe who was good but did seem to have a mind of her own, very much like our granddaughter Chloe. Must be something in the name.

We did quite a bit of rising trot today and thankfully I had all my bits fairly secure so no problems with that. Monte did break into a canter at one stage but being so big he only needed a few steps to get to other end of the menage. Thankfully I was still on board and according to my wife there was a big grin on my face.

Thanks for the tips on sites to look at for mens apparel hopefully as the weeks go by I will slowly get myself kitted out.

Its Monday morning and I'm stuck in my office thinking about yesterdays lesson and looking forward to next weeks. Roll on Sunday.

[Wally]

Shame you cannot have a shot in one of Heather's saddles. These have a very flat seat design which I am told, is better for men as the risk of crunching bits in rising trot and canter is much reduced. But as a female I can appreciate that some saddel designs are just not nice. Too much depth in the seat and rise up to the pommel.

[mikka]

How interesting that you'd canter so early in your riding career. And how amazing that "Chloe" is your grandchild's name. And, how awful that you can't find good underwear, even having searched for such.

You've posted three times and each one seems to have an underwear issue - is there anything specific we can help you with?

[RichardL]

Not an underwear issue as such. This time I felt quite secure. The few shops I've been to seem to have the appropriate underwear for sale but so far not in my size. It may be also a male 'fear' issue of self injury.:eek:

The canter was quite accidental as I was supposed to be doing a rising trot. The instructor seems quite pleased with the speed of progress for the whole class of six. Although I'm sure part of that was encouragement for the whole class.

As for help and advice I can probably use all the help I can get. Such as what type of hat to go for? What type of boots?

All help and advice greatfully recieved.

[mikka]

Ah, I see. It's a size issue.

[judyl]

You'd be better off with short boots and chaps (gaiters) to start with as they'll be more comfortable and when you're up to competition level, THEN you can get your long leather boots!

As for hat, why don't you get one of those ventilated ones with slits in them, very similar to cycle helmets? One thing you will find is when you ride in summertime, your head sweats something awful and flat, greasy hair when you take your hat off is not a good look!!!! :D There's quite a few makes now that do them, it's just a case of trying them on to see if they're comfortable.

You realise now your life is going to whizz by waiting for Sundays? How is your wife taking to lessons, does she enjoy riding as much as you? Maybe later in the year when you've had a few lessons, you can think of going on a riding holiday. That'll bring you on in leaps and bounds (hopefully not literally!) :D

Best of luck and keep us all informed.

[RichardL]

Thanks for the advice.

I have to say its been years since I've had to worry about looking good, married now so don't have to:D

My wife is less demonstartive than myself but says she is enjoying herself although she does appear, to me anyway, to lack a little confidence. This probably means she will end up a lot better than me as I tend to have too much confidence in most things, but I'm sure my horse will bring be back down to earth if I get too cocky, hopefully not literally.

The holiday idea is in the back of our minds and moving to the front very quickly. Like most little boys I always wanted to be a cowboy :D

[Cathy Reynolds]

Try http://www.jodsfortheboys.com/ for jodphurs/breeches. They are designed for men!