Newbie with a question!

[Justie B52]

Hi everyone,

Just came accross this site by accident and it looks really helpful :)

My question is am I too old & am I too....err....heavy to start riding again?

I'll be 34 on Saturday, I'm just 5' 2" but I weigh 10 1/2 stone :eek: (the diet is on going if you know what I mean ;) )

We've recently moved to the North East and now my son is at nursery school; I have a bit of free time and fancied gettting back into riding again. It's been many years since I last rode. I had my own pony when I was 14 but I had to give her up when we moved. I think I've only ridden 2 or 3 times since then.

What do you think? Should I give it another try or do I spare the poor horse?! :)

Also, anyone else based around the North East? I've not had a chance to make new friends up here yet......

Hope to chat soon.

Cheers for now

Justie B52 x

[racipaci]

Hi Justie B52

Welcome to NR.

Nope, you are definitely not too heavy to ride! most ponies are quite capable of carrying that sort of weight, they're definitely tougher than they look! and any good riding school will make sure they put you on a horse that is the right size for your height and weight so that you are not overhorsed.

Book a lesson and let us all know how you get on, you'll soon get the hang of it again and feel like you've never been away from it! :D

Good Luck

Rachel

[LinzCos]

Hi and welcome to the site.

Not too old and not too heavy - by a long way!!

I am 43, 5ft 6in and weigh 12 st. I started riding again last year after a break of 25 years with only the odd ride in those intervening years. I now own my own horse and a couple of ponies for the kids and I'm having a great time :D

Get some lessons and start hanging around the stables. You will soon regain your confidence and make some horsey friends. The weather is jsut starting to improve and the clocks change at the weekend - what better time to start riding again!!!!

[Esther.D]

I am 27 and weight almost the same as you and ride a 13.1hh pony so you are certainly not too heavy! And as for age, I have heard of an 85yr old lady taking her first riding lesson! :D

Welcome to NR.

Oh and hello fellow northener - we have regular NR meets in Co. Durham as there are loads of members in your area..I am not really a north easterner as I am in west northumberland, but near enough..

[horseyrose]

Hi, welcome to NR!
You're definitely not too heavy, I'm bigger than you and ride ponies so you will be fine!
I'm in Newcastle during term time, always up for a meet-up! :)

[Purdey33]

Hi,

I am the same weight as you and coming up to 34, and just getting back into riding over the last year :)

I have ridden my son's 12 hh Welshie, she carried me easily and happily... but I fell off :o

Well done for getting back into riding again :D

[MeMe]

Hi welcome to NR :D

God no your not to old and def not to heavy!

Hope you start again and keep us updated with your progress :D

[Showjumper]

10 1/2 stone is nothing. And your age - pah! Spring chicken compared to some people I know :)

Get out there and have fun! :)

[larri]

Well if you are too old and too heavy to be riding I'd better be hanging up my boots and cancelling the instructor for tonight :p

Hi Jutie BTW - there are loads of NE'sters - hope you get to meet up!

[Crazyhorse]

Definetely not too heavy or old. In the lesson before mine this morning, I was talking to a lady who said that she never expected to be taking her first jump and collecting her bus pass at the same time!

[vjwuk]

Go for it, I was 35 when I took up riding and bought my own horse last year at 40, I was 13 stone when I started (OK so I am tall 5'11 but sitting weight is height irrelevant) and am 12 stone now(benefits of mucking out etc.).

We have a man of 70 who rides at our yard, age is only in the mind. Have fun

[Yann]

Go for it!

I'm the same weight as you but 6ft tall, send me a bit:D

[EMMYOH]

I'd say go for it and stop worrying! :D

Welcome to NR. Where abouts in Co Durham are you?

[Kanuma]

god i want to be your weight!!! im 5ft 4 and 12st and i regularly ride 12hh ponies! go for it!

[Justie B52]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement :)

I'm now looking into all the different riding schools in this area, I'll let you know how I get on, Hubby said we can go and check some places out this weekend :D This is amazing as he doesn't know one end of a horse from the other and as horses don't have engins it's most like to stay that way too! LOL :rolleyes:

I've found my old riding boots and they fit but the jods will have to go in the "One day I'll get my bum back in those" pile! :(

For all the North East posse, we're just outside Newton Aycliffe a bit up from Darlington. Anyone know of a decent riding stables in Co Durham? I don't mind traveling but I really want somewhere where I don't feel like a total muppet!

Thanks once again for all your kind words & support, you're all stars!

Chat again soon.

Cheers

Justie

[larri]

Good luck with the search Justie....and you never know the OH might be persuaded, mine would love to ride more, but doesn't have the time at the minute - and theres nothing like sharing a hack on a lovely summers day :D

[Alle]

Good luck in your search! I started back riding 1 1/2 years ago at 43 and am still heavier then you although I did drop a few. :) You'll get your bum back in those breeches, you'll see. :D

[nicci1234]

hi i started riding again in jan i am like you 5ft 2 and was 10 stone 3/4 but am down to ten now the pony i usally ride is 14 hands and he copes fine well he hasnt moaned yet!! good luck

[horseyrose]

I've heard that Ivesley is good, although I've never ridden there.
The place I ride at (Tilery in Ponteland) has a 'sister branch' in Durham, South Causey EC. I've heard mixed reports on them but again have no personal experience. Here's their website http://www.gohorseriding.buzzsites.net/

There's more on this site http://www.bhs.org.uk/where_to_ride/north.htm although I haven't heard of any of the others. Hope you find somewhere good!

[nirikina]

I'm so jealous - I wish I was shorter then I could ride those cute little ponies too! At 5ft 7in I usually get the thoroughbred types - tall and slimline just like me :o

Best of luck and let us know how you get on. And if your hubby doesn't want to ride, he can be in charge of taking photos! :D

[NoviceNic]

God no you go for it Gal. I weighed 11 1/2 stone when I bought my cob last August. Now after daily mucking out and riding 3-4 times a week I only weigh 9 1/2 stone :D . I am 34 this June and am only 5ft2in. I returned to riding when I was 30 and it is the best thing I have ever done. I am obsessed with my horses. ;)

[Cheko]

I agree with everyone else here - no you're not too tall or heavy. So......enjoy and good luck to you.

[Justie B52]

My hubby, Rich, nearly fell of his seat when he saw how many of you lovely people had replied! He's big into bikes & model aeroplanes but his forums are not as lively as this one :)

Thank you again for all your support, it's been a huge help, so much so that we've already been to one of our local riding schools to have a chat.....sadly not too many people about but we did get the price list.

Full morning tomorrow too, Rich has said he would come with me to find the other local schools to see if I can find one I like :D .....not worked out why he's beeing such a sweetie about this though?!! I guess it's to stop me moaning about him stinking of plane fuel and bike 2 stroke ;)

Will keep you all posted on tomorrows events and see if I've managed to book some lessons :eek:

Take care & Ride safe!

Justie B52 x

[Cheko]

:cool: Really do hope you find a school that suits. Keep us all posted. All the best.

[Drummers mum]

Welcome to NR, I haven't read all the replies but I know I will be saying the same as them.

Go for it, it will be the best thing you ever do!!! you are NOT too heavy! I weigh nearly 10 stone and ride Drummer my 12.2hh Dartmoor :eek: (poor lad, lol!) You are also NOT too old, I'm 30, came back to riding as an adult and bought Drummer just over a year ago! :D Best thing I ever did!

[MadMumInKent]

Hello Justie and welcome :) Please don't worry, find yourself a riding school and go for it! I had the same concerns (see my thread "Hello I'm new and have a question!") and everyone was really helpful and put my fears to rest. I've just now just come home from lesson 5 where I was happily cantering up and down the school, having come back to riding aged 35 after a couple of decades away from it! Go for it and enjoy yourself! :D

Jo

[Wobblydeb]

Hello and welcome from another North Easterner :)

No. You are NOT too old, and NOT too heavy. Hey, you're a short arse ;) but I don't think any pony or horse will complain ;)

I've heard good things about Ivesley, although I've not ridden there myself. Someone from here rides there, although I cannot remember their name at the moment! ooops...

[artemis]

Hi welcome. I'm from south Northumberland, so fairly close. Go for it. :D