Skib, when I used to compete a lot I was a livery at a very popular show centre so I had no transport problems and it was so easy to take part in whatever I wanted, usually one dressage and 3 or 4 showjumping a month. Then I moved from there and the horse I had then retired so everything fizzled out for a while. When I got Mac, which will be 9 years ago on Friday, I got the itch to try dressage again and did a few shows now and then when there was something within an easy hacking distance, we didn't do too badly. My RI lost her horse so I offered her Mac to do some dressage and she did really well with him. she qualified him to go Hickstead and we took him there,won a novice championship and won several times at Elementary level. I enjoyed all the preparation for shows and generally being a groom for my RI but I still have this itch to do it myself. I shall never be as good as her obviously but if I can get my hip sorted soon I hope to try again before next winter.
I know two other ladies which are older than me, one is bent double with arthritis but still rides and does all her own mucking out and so on because she doesn't trust anyone else to do it , the other was still doing dressage but I haven't seen her recently, she may have just stopped for the winter.