But I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge. In fact, I find it weirdly empowering to not only step out of my comfort zone, but to jump right off the cliff.

So, as I neared the tender age of 50 (how did that happen?), I realized just how much I missed horses and riding. I missed hanging out in the barn, breathing in the intoxicating scent of leather and hay, and staring into a horse’s dark, intelligent eyes. And I asked myself, “What are you waiting for?”

Getting Back in the Saddle Later in Life

I grew up with horses and ponies. Took lessons as a teenager. Spent all my school vacations and summer days galloping through fields with my friends. I was obsessed with two things: horses and Bon Jovi.

And then my 20s led me to new trails: marriage, building a business, and a busy lifestyle that eventually crowded out any horse opportunities other than an occasional trail ride.    

And then, one day last year, it hit me: I love riding! I love horses! I had the circumstances to start seriously riding again. And I knew it would be amazing.

Positive thinking is essential, but reality can’t be ignored. I’m 20 years older, my knees are shot from my lifelong addiction to stilettos, and my right shoulder partially dislocates regularly just for the sheer fun of it.

So, as an adult (AKA “older”) rider returning to the sport, I had a few lessons to learn and concessions to make. And if you’re new to riding or considering returning, perhaps these tips will make the transition smoother.

Do Your Research

When owner Amy Miller gave me a tour of SeaHorse Stables in Belfast, Maine—a 30-acre hunter/jumper equestrian facility—I was impressed by the family-friendly atmosphere, the huge indoor arena so I could ride year-round safely, the luxury of heated bathrooms and tack rooms (yes, that matters), and the fact that riders of all ages and abilities are welcome.

I wanted a place where I could get the full experience: grooming, tacking up, taking a lesson, and then enjoying time with the horse after. When you feel at home with your barn family and friends, you are in a much better position to relax and focus on enjoying your lessons.   

Work with a Trainer

A certified riding instructor has the expertise and experience to teach you how to ride correctly, replace bad habits with good ones, rebuild your confidence, match a horse’s personality to your own, and ensure every lesson is not only fun but also challenging.

Up Your Fitness Level

“It is of the utmost importance that adult amateur riders work on their fitness and symmetry out of the saddle,” says Stephanie Seheult, DPT, who specializes in equestrian fitness at Advanced Physio.

“When a weakness is identified, do targeted exercises and stretches, which will help you improve your position and strength in the saddle,” she continues. “Knee-to-shoulder stretches will help relieve tightness in your posterior hip, and side-lying leg lifts with your heels down will work on the gluteus medius muscle.”

To up my endurance and leg strength, I not only increased my cardio workouts, but added game-changing equestrian-based exercises and stretches to my daily routine.

Embrace Imperfection

Riding will quickly teach you the value of humility. I laugh at my mistakes (my two-point looks more like a six-point!) and refuse to take myself too seriously.

When we ditch striving for perfection, the journey to becoming a better rider is so much more rewarding—and a whole lot more fun.   

So I Said Yes

It’s never too late to do something you love. Eighty-year-old Betty Oare finished 8th in the Adult Hunting Championship at the Washington International Horse Show in 2021. Now that’s impressive!

But when my trainer invited me to enter the spring schooling show after just two months of lessons, my first response was, “No. Thanks, but no.”

I mean really … competing in a horse show for the first time ever at my age and less-than-stellar ability? What was she thinking? Wasn’t it too late for me to even consider entering?

Apparently not.

That annoying, competitive, never-say-no-to-a-challenge voice inside my head grew louder: Face down the fear. If you can zipline through the jungles of Costa Rica hanging upside down by your ankles, you can certainly walk and trot on command.

So I said yes.

And was surprised by the level of excitement that began to build in anticipation of the big day. I tackled each lesson with renewed zeal. I rewarded myself with a new show shirt and tan breeches. Most importantly, I smashed down any disquieting thoughts that arose, telling me to leave the show ring to the flawless 14-year-olds with perfect two-point position and ankles that flex like rubber.         

Show day finally arrived. I was riding Jimmy (the most forgiving lesson horse you’ll ever meet) in the first two classes: Adult Equitation Walk/Trot and Adult Pleasure Walk/Trot.

And … we won, both classes! Two blue ribbons! (Full disclosure: only two people competed in my class; my win may not be quite as impressive as you were envisioning.)

I like to think Betty Oare would be proud of me for not galloping away from a challenge just because some people might think you’re too old or it’s too late to try.

I got my first taste of competition. And I liked the flavor. It was a chance to put to the test everything my trainer had been sounding down into my brain, hands, seat, and legs. Will I enter another show? I hope so. Will I keep riding into my 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond? Most definitely!

Because it’s never too late.

This article about riding later in life appeared in the October 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Returning to Riding Later in Life appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

That was until trainers began to always assign me the “difficult” horses and I burned out, abandoning horses completely.

Adult Re-Rider

When I returned to the horse world almost two decades later, it was because, once again, I dreamed of riding horses. I’d wake in the morning, remembering the feeling of freedom and connection and think, “I have to ride again.”

I took lessons, finding that muscle memory quickly kicked in. I remembered diagonals, how to cue the trot, and how to pick up the correct canter lead.

It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once, because as an adult returning to the barn after time off, I had a completely different mindset than when I was a teenager.

When someone asked me to tack up my lesson horse myself, I couldn’t. Growing up at a performance barn in the 1980s taught me to ride, but none of the accompanying horsemanship skills. We had grooms to tack our horses.

I felt embarrassed at my lack of knowledge and ability on the ground. While I still loved riding, I changed my focus to becoming a horsewoman, not just a rider. I took a job as a working student at age 35 in exchange for riding time at my barn. I learned basic horse handling and care, and the reward was time in the saddle.

The Love for Riding

One of the most wonderful perks of working with horses is the ability to mount up and spend time together in the arena or on the trail. There is no better feeling when you are on a horse, communicating without words.

I spent some of the best times of my life in the saddle. For years, I tried to find something that could replace that euphoria, but I drifted back to the mounting block each time.

My trainer is always after me to ride more often, but as a working mom, my barn time is limited. As a result, my trainer is always asking me to get on my pony and give him some exercise.

“He’s bored,” or “He wants a job” are common refrains. I constantly feel guilty if I don’t tack him up and get on for 30 minutes. After all, it’s healthy for him, and no one wants a spicy pony who has been sitting too long.

Getting proper exercise is important for both horse and rider. My pony has lived with EPM for almost 10 years, and keeping him ridden and properly muscled has been a huge part of his wellness program. He has less inflammation, more stability, and a healthier life when he is ridden regularly. For us, riding is one of the most important things we can do together.

Time Out of the Saddle is Important

Riding is only one aspect of horses, and one that perhaps has overshadowed all the others. As a timid rider, I found that the more time I spent working with my horses on the ground or even just hanging out in the paddock, the more my confidence improved.

My Thoroughbred, Delight, was diagnosed with kissing spine. Despite being only 11 years old, I retired him from riding after trying many therapies and discussing it with my wellness team. In fact, his dangerous and aggressive behavior under saddle with a previous owner was how he came into my life.

I dedicated all my time with him to groundwork, earning his trust again and keeping his brain and body busy, all without being on his back. Turns out there’s a lot we can do to have fun and give them a wonderful quality of life that doesn’t involve putting a saddle on their backs.

The Most Important Goal with Horses

One day, I may be too arthritic to ride comfortably. My horses may all be too old to carry a rider successfully. They will still be valuable in my eyes and worthy of my attention.

For me, learning to tack, longe, and do liberty and groundwork helped improve my communication with my horses and gave me a more enjoyable experience in the saddle. The focus on riding was the reason for my burnout so many years ago. Incorporating other methods of connecting and spending time with horses taught me how to listen better, be a more effective communicator, and enjoy the time spent with these animals.

Now with one riding horse and another retired, I can enjoy both animals equally because they require different things for exercise. Whether you choose to focus on riding or unmounted time with your horse, remember that showing up for your horse and spending time with them is the most important goal.

This article about there being more to horses than riding appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post There’s More to Horses Than Just Riding appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.