I started riding again when I was forty after 20 years. I thought it was going to be easy, that I’d remember everything I’d learned as a kid. If you never forget how to ride a bike you’d never forget how to ride a horse.
Wrong!
I got four lessons for my 40th birthday and headed for the barn with my new breeches and helmet (not surprisingly my 25 year old helmet I’d been lugging around in case I needed it disintegrated when I picked it up). I got to the barn and realized right away how much I loved the smell of horses, hay and yes, manure. Grass in grass out I always say.
I rode Bailey the babysitter. The only thing babysitting about her was I was pretty sure she might be to fat for me to fall off, although I gave it a good try nearly bouncing off the left side then the right as I trotted around with no control.
That was 10 years ago and I now have my own horse and ride everyday. In the past couple of months I’ve met a few of us older people who are coming back to riding or even riding for the first time and I realized there are lot of us out there who can help each other get rid stiff muscles, fear and learn all the wonderful things about loving horses.
This is for us!
Love the blog Janice!
Myself, being the new rider to the barn, can attest to sore muscles that I never knew I had. I was never active in sports. I did love my bike and love to walk.So, getting on a horse at 51 was something I always wanted to do, but never had the time,money to do it. Now, I may have more money then brains, but I love it! There is a saying I believe about myself now,”Born to ride, forced to work”. Isn’t that the truth.
I, too, love the smell of the barn.I could live there, funny, I can clean a barn for hours, but I hate cleaning my house.
If, your a horse person, I know, you understand.
Here’s to all us riders, 50 and over…..We maybe getting older, but age is all in the mind!
Janice, love the blog!! A comment to Dressage Disgrace……it is clear that no precinct of competition is free of mindless, discompassionate idiots. Shame on the trainer, shame on the FEI.
Ciao, babe!