30something desperate to get back to riding

[mayS]

Hello, everyone! I really enjoy reading this message board. I thought I'd try my hand at posting a few questions. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!!!

Quick overview: I took weekly English lessons when I was in college, as well as taking the university's horsemaship program and working in a stable. After graduation I was unable to continue my horse hobby.

Now I am 32. I DESPERATELY want to learn to ride again. Trouble is I'm out of shape, overweight, and have fibro myalgia. I talked to my doctor and she said it was okay for me to ride... but she can't give advice on what exercises I should be doing.

What are the first steps I should be taking at this point?

Are there any books, videos, websites, etc which have exercises to get the beginning rider back into shape? No luck at my local bookstore without knowing a title.

Also, how can I find a riding school? My phone book doesn't have a section for them. Is there a website somewhere that lists them?

My longterm goal: to become a confident & comfortable rider, to do Western pleasure riding, and to perhaps eventually try out for ring-jousting.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please help a mature woman find her way back into horseback riding. I'm kind of lost at the moment. :-)

[KarinUS]

I just started a fitness program because with it getting dark so early I will barely get to ride during the week.
See if you can find a Pilates tape. Pilates is very good for core body strength.

If you don't have a listing for riding school, maybe you can visit a local tack shop. I bet they either know who gives lessons or even have a local equestrian paper.

Good Luck!

[galadriel]

Can you ride a bike? Fibromyalgia is nasty stuff :( If you can bike, that might be a good way to start getting into condition. My husband has been riding his bike for local transportation, and it's done terrific things for his horseback riding.

If riding an actual bike would be too much, what about a reclining exercise bike?

Kegel exercises might be something that you could do more easily than most anything else. And they do help you with trunk strength.

Something to try:
Make sure that your posture, whatever you're doing, is correct. Don't hunch, keep your shoulders back, keep your back straight. This will make it second nature to ride with your spine straightened and your shoulders back. The less effort it takes you to sit properly, the more effort you can expend on other things (like following the movement of the horse and making sure you're both comfortable & happy :)). This is something extremely simple that anyone can do (I hope...I know, fibromyalgia is NASTY) and can make riding much more effortless and comfortable.

[TeeBrown]

Hi, just a thought to find a riding yard, have you looked on information boards in tack shops (equestrian shop), they always have people who are in the know. Or local pet shops for your nearest stables. Just a thought. Hope you find one as it's one of the best sports around.

[Kady A]

Hi - as an out of shape and somewhat overweight 40 something I thought I ought to offer some support. After years of being in the wrong career I gave in to the stresses of life and persistent illness and had a breakdown. I have a bowel condition that can make life a bit difficult (without going into too much gory detail). I started riding again and now own my own horse and work at an equestrian centre. I've just started a yoga/pilates class which is making a huge difference, I suffer from persistent low back and abdominal pain and I definitely feel relief from the stretching exercises we do. We have a client who comes for lessons who also suffers fibromyalgia - she assures me that as she enjoys her riding so much it helps her to distance herself from the discomfort and just generally makes her feel good.

I hope this helps a little and I really hope you get back in the saddle soon.

[jayne45]

Hi Mays! If it helps, I've only just started riding at the ripe old age of 45. I don't even know why I suddenly decided it was a good idea - but now I'm hooked. I started my first lesson back in August and it completly floored me ( only half an hour) every muscle I had and didn't know I had ached. I'm basically a bit lazy and will avoid the gym and such like if I can but what works for is, a little gentle yoga and plenty of stretching - especially inner thigh.
I would be interested to know how you're doing and if you,or anyone else could give me some pointers along the way - still have loads to learn. Maybe someone can tell me how I can improve my leg position - I have a real problem keeping them far enough back, without hurting.

[friedegund]

HAHA!!!

I have found my soulmates!!!!

37 year old rider here!!! I have a month of hacking and THREE whole lessons under my belt!!!!;) My instructor asked me how long since my last riding lesson, I looked at her and said "How old are you?" She replied 22.......I said "At least that long!!!!!"

Rode as a child and teen, owned horses and was a real daredevil, galloping madly up highways and riding bareback, then I moved to the city, went to college, got a job were I sat on my ummmmmm....seatbones 10 hours a day and spent the next 15 + years accumulating stress and body fat!!!!!

One day, like all of you, I thought, life is short. I NEED to learn to ride again. Now, I too am out of shape, my legs are like cottage cheese, but thankfully I am healthy (ish). I have been riding stationary bike trying to get muscle tone back, as well as a eliptical cross trainer.


oh........and in last month???? I have LOST FIVE POUNDS!!!!!!!
:)

Keep riding all!

[kedwards]

Good for you! I started in my late 20's and quickly became very passionate about it.

If you want to enroll in some lessons, don't delay. Yes, it will help to do some other fitness and stretching work, but you can do that concurrently (i.e., you don't have to be superfit to start a first lesson). Of course, you won't begin where you left off, I don't think anybody does. Go in with a fresh mind, as if it was your first lesson ever, and enjoy it for what it is. I find even just walking on horseback relaxing and therapeutic (mentally and physically).

As others have suggested, try your local tack shop for some suggestions on nearby lesson programs. You can also ask if there is a local equestrian paper or magazine. If so, these will often have plenty of ads for barns and lesson programs. Then, go visit a few of them. Talk to people there to see if you like the atmosphere, look around, observe some lessons in progress, etc.

[MI Horsey]

well, the internet is a great way to find stables ,schools and barn as well . I found my current and last barn on the internet .Ironic part is the barn i ride at is two minutes away from my house and I never knew it existed ,so instead I spend an hour driving to my old one and paying a fortune in gas (and lessons , because now i just work them off :D )this move has saved me about $200 a month (wich goes straight into the horse fund :cool: )
So anyway,getting back on topic here , thre may be some horse related messageboards in Maryland ,you get some great information of those local boards . worth a shot

[kedwards]

Oh yes, I just noticed you were in Maryland. That will be an easy place to find barns, it's horsey country. Try this site:
http://www.equiery.com/

It is a Maryland horse magazine and includes a list of boarding and lesson stables by city.

[laura jeanne]

There's a good book called Yoga for Equestrians that shows you various yoga postures that are good stretches and strengtheners for riding.

I started at 52 and tried to get in shape ahead of time with gym and yoga. That was a year and a half ago and now I ride twice a week for an hour lesson each time. I'm thinking of starting pilates but may buy a tape or something instead of taking a class.

How are you managing your fibromyalgia? My daughter was also diagnosed with this several years ago. She was using a wheelchair for about a year and now she hardly has any symptoms and has a little 4 1/2 year old son. She only has a problem when she gets really tired or sick or hurts herself somehow.

Go riding and have fun and post something about your lessons.

[rella]

Hi mayS,
I don't know where in MD you are, here's a link to some schools in the area:

http://directory.google.com/Top/Sports/Equestrian/Riding_Stables/North_America/United_States/Maryland/

there are also a lot more than that in the Upper Marlboro area as well.

Good Luck !

[mayS]

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I've bookmarked the web pages, and I'll start calling the stables in my county this week.

Experienced riders may not understand it, but it helps so much to get a little support when someone is first starting out. It's scary.... not that I am scared of the horses themselves, but it's scary to always worry I'm going to do something wrong. Maybe because I'm not 16, 100 lbs, and an athlete I worry I won't be accepted in the horse community.

laura jeanne: I'll look for the book you suggested. Thanks!! With fibro the docs around here usually can only suggest good diet, keeping active, and certain antidepressants to help sleep. The drugs don't work for me. The horses are what are keeping me active! Without them I honestly wouldn't get out of bed sometimes. However, I am TERRIFIED of falling off the horse. I don't mind a few bumps and bruises, but the fall could trigger a flareup of the fibro. This is why I want to work extra-hard on being in shape and having good balance before I'm spending alot of time in the saddle.

KarinUS: I am taping a few of the pilates shows with my TIVO. I'm not quite sure what makes an exercise pilates or not, but I'm going to figure it out.

kedwards: Thanks for your words of encouragement. I've already asked at the local tackshop, and they didn't know who I could call. I'll look to see if there is a local equestrian paper. Good idea.

friedegund: Your story sounds just like mine. It's so great to hear from someone like me. Thanks!

And thanks to everyone else who replied. :-)

You guys are wonderful. Without the encouragement of people like you, I'd be a wreck from all the worrying. I can't thank you all enough for all you've done.

[laura jeanne]

MayS

I have not fallen off because all the horses I've ridden have been so nice. My daughter found that swimming in a heated pool allowed her to move and get some exercise without pain. I think she went to the Y.

[sheilap]

One more suggestion... You might try to find a theraputic riding school in your area to help you deal with the fibromyalgia issue. They very well might have dealt with this problem before and might have some helpful suggestions (i.e. excercises.)

Good luck!

P.S. I'm back to riding at the age of (eeek!) 36. It all started with me getting my daughter (age 9) lessons, and well...the rest is history. I don't have fibromyagia, but I'm a bit older than the other teens at my barn and a *slightly* (ha ha) different body type than them!! :rolleyes:

[PPasoLuvr]

Originally posted by friedegund
HAHA!!!
I have found my soulmates!!!!
37 year old rider here!!! I have a month of hacking and THREE whole lessons under my belt!!!!;) My instructor asked me how long since my last riding lesson, I looked at her and said "How old are you?" She replied 22.......I said "At least that long!!!!!"


LOL, you sound just like me. I just got back into riding, althought I'm not sure if 30 is "mature". ;) I took English lessons when I was a kid but nothing formal since. I'm in Western lessons now just to get some seat time in but most of the people taking lessons at my barn are kids. The girl I take semi-private lessons with is 10 and the teacher couldn't be more than 22. I feel like a dinosaur. ;)

I'm exhusted after my lessons and have to take it back down to a walk sometimes because of horrible side cramps. When they make me post without stirrups I'm walking funny back to the truck that night. ;)

May, a search on google turned up a couple of sites that might be helpful for you
http://www.horserentals.com/maryland.html
http://www.delmarweb.com/maryland/horsestables.html

The internet is a wonderful thing! How did we ever live without it?!

[PPasoLuvr]

Originally posted by mayS
Experienced riders may not understand it, but it helps so much to get a little support when someone is first starting out. It's scary.... not that I am scared of the horses themselves, but it's scary to always worry I'm going to do something wrong.


This is so true. I'm probably driving my horse friends nuts with all my questions! ;) As much as I adore horses I'm terrified of owning for the first time. I don't want to screw anything up.

Reading all that I can has helped a lot to boost my confidence. The more informed I become the better I feel but positive reinforcement from other equestrian never hurts :) I've signed up on 2 other horse boards and so far have found people to be supportive and helpful.

Best of luck to you.

[denise42]

Me TOO, :D
I started lessons when I was 41 and am now 45.
Prior to that I had ridden as a kid.
I had let myself get VERY out of shape ( we are talking weight watchers here ) So at first I was pretty sore. I started going to the gym in an effort to become a better rider. I think thats funny as I never wanted to go to the gym before I started riding.
I ask questions of everyone, and am sure some of my barn buddies are quit tired of it .. LOL
Seems like I can't make the smallest decision on my own, I have to run everything by everyone first ..
In an effort to not look dumb.
I know what you mean about feeling like you may not fit in.
But quite honestly, I have found the best bunch of people , since I took up riding. No one has made me feel like I don't fit in, and they answer all my silly questions.
I do not regret one minute of it.
:p