35 year gap assessment lesson

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Friskey

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Oct 28, 2026
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I had an assessment lesson last Weds after not riding for over 35 years. I rode from 8 to 15 and then found my social life took over.

Im 6ft tall and around 13 stone so was put on a big cob gelding, guessing he was over 16hh. Anyway mounted ok using a block. Was surprised how much came back to me and was able to change rein, trot over poles and canter. All good, instructor said its all there just needs refining.

I think it had gone so well i was a little over confident and coming to dismount was offered mounting block but i decided i wanted to try myself. Unfortunate i rushed and got my leg caught on the cantle twice managed to get leg over but fell backwards onto my back. Hurt my back and was pretty dazed. Feel such a bloody fool.

I want to go into group lessons going forward but instructor just told me to contact person who deals with bookings so im not really sure what my ability group would be.

The disasterous dismount has left me questioning if i should carry on, im worried about dismounting now.

To make it worse i didnt wear a BP.

Any advice or words of wisdom please.
 
Hi and welcome to NR.
I hadn't ridden since I was 15 and I was about 33 when I had my next ride lol
I was quite cautious and it was a lovely hack but I asked my other half to help me down - he'd already dismounted and could help. The pony was only about 14.2hh but she did feel such a long way up to me! Sounds like most of it came back to you so if you enjoyed it then don't give up. If you have a bp wear it next time. I always wear one, even for the little bit of plodding I do on my old mare. Just makes me a bit more confident. I'd phone them and ask which group the teacher has recommended you join. Hope your back is okay.
 
Hi Trewsers thanks for the welcome and your comments

Ive never been a nervous rider, when i think of some of the falls i had when younger but i still got back on. I guess its being much older we tend to think of all the wgat ifs...

I was offered a BP to use. Ive never worn one they werent a thing years ago but with hindsight i should have worn one.

Im going to have another lesson or i will be forever wondering if i dont.

Thanks
 
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Healing vibes for your back.
If you decide to carry on definitely worth investing in a bp.
I've worn one for 15 years plus now. I bought a new one a couple of years ago and love it, I hardly notice I'm wearing it really.
 
I would definitely say give it another go. I suspect the assessor will have told the booking person what group you are most suited to ready for when you call.

Don’t worry about the fumble when dismounting, it can happen to the best of us! I’ve been riding non-stop for over 40 years, my own horses have been in the 15hh bracket for the last 20+ years, rode a friends big 17.2 and did the same thing getting off, different saddle with a high cantle and misjudged how far away the ground was! It happens 🤷🏻‍♀️
 
I bet that your muscles were starting to tire, even if excitement meant you didn't feel it, and that contributed to not clearing the saddle. I doubt using the mounting block would have made any difference, it may even have made it worse since you could have fallen across it.

For what it's worth I've had the odd dismount off my own cob where I've got caught up on the saddle and got stuck or had to make a grab at him to stay on my feet, often when something has caught his eye at the last second so I suddenly have my lean forward blocked, but once or twice because I've just got it wrong when I've been tired.

Don't let it put you off, but wait until you're right before you get back on. Would you be able to dismount in the school so you have a safter landing if it does go wrong? Maybe with someone within reach to stady you if you need it?
 
Jessey said:
I would definitely say give it another go. I suspect the assessor will have told the booking person what group you are most suited to ready for when you call.

Don’t worry about the fumble when dismounting, it can happen to the best of us! I’ve been riding non-stop for over 40 years, my own horses have been in the 15hh bracket for the last 20+ years, rode a friends big 17.2 and did the same thing getting off, different saddle with a high cantle and misjudged how far away the ground was! It happens 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Thank you. I could kick myself it had gone well up to that point. I think it scared me a bit to be honest. The horse had played up a few times, kicking his legs out and refusing to go over the poles when trotting, i managed it but i dont know, i guess being much older you are more aware of the risks...never thought id hear myself say that ! Im a bit worried about getting off next time.
 
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carthorse said:
I bet that your muscles were starting to tire, even if excitement meant you didn't feel it, and that contributed to not clearing the saddle. I doubt using the mounting block would have made any difference, it may even have made it worse since you could have fallen across it.

For what it's worth I've had the odd dismount off my own cob where I've got caught up on the saddle and got stuck or had to make a grab at him to stay on my feet, often when something has caught his eye at the last second so I suddenly have my lean forward blocked, but once or twice because I've just got it wrong when I've been tired.

Don't let it put you off, but wait until you're right before you get back on. Would you be able to dismount in the school so you have a safter landing if it does go wrong? Maybe with someone within reach to stady you if you need it?
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Hello and thank you. My mid back area was twingeing through rising trot and canter, i had to stop and walk a bit. Not using the muscles for riding in years im probably a bit unfit. Id done a few stretches leading up to the lesson and i walk 1/2 hours a day with my dog but not much else.

I used to do yoga which i think i may go back to it may help with flexibility. My back is still not right and my glutes are sore, to be expected. I will wait until my back is ok then book another lesson see how i go.

The lesson was in an indoor school so it could have been worse. I will just have to take it easy when dismounting. Im thinking maybe leave left foot in stirrup may give me the leverage to clear my right leg over but dont want to fall with foot still in stirrup so need to make sure i can hold myself up to get foot out before landing.

I think i sometimes forget that in my head im still that teenager but the body is getting old !
 
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Friskey said:
The disasterous dismount has left me questioning if i should carry on, im worried about dismounting now.
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I started riding age 61 and at my first lesson an elderly gentleman returning from a hack, fell when he dismounted just as you did. The RI immediately told me that that was not going to happen to me and she taught me the cavalry dismount, where you dismount, swinging your right leg over the cantle while your left foot is still in the stirrup. Ideally you need someone to hold your horse while you dismount this way,

There are other threads on this and it is late at night - but I always dismounted this way and only once toppled backwards. Error on my part as one can hold the cantle and slither down the side of the horse.
There are old threads on this with possibly a video which was sent me by a cavalry officer.

The alternative is to dismount onto a hgh riding block but I always felt this was more risky than my sliding to the ground method.
Best to try it in a soft sand school first to teach your horse to stand still for the dismount as RS horses are not used to clients dismounting that way. But the three mares I rode long term all learned.
 
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