O/T: Am I too old to learn...

We bought a nice 9 yo Missouri Foxtrotter mare for our daughter recently. She has had riding lessons and is fine with that.

Well, as teenagers go, she thinks it funny that I don't want to get up on the horse. I've only been on the back of a horse twice in my life, both times when I was very young.

So my question is, am I too old to learn to ride? The riding isn't what bothers me, it is the possible ways of landing. My body is not as flexible as it used to be. I would like to show my daughter that her old daddy isn't as decrepit as she thinks.

Christopher

How old are you?

Don't feel bad, I'm about half afraid of horses too. If you do fall off, it isn't that far to the ground........and it's muddy right now. Have some courage.

Depends more on the horse than it does you. I'm 44 going on 90 but ride our horses when time allows. If it's clear in it's head and not out for revenge on a trainer, have fun. If it's anything like our 3 quarterhorses from Mo, just relax and have a good time.

Dave

No, you are not too old to learn.

At 56, the idea of hitting the ground from the back of a horse or anything else doesn"t appeal to me much either. We have to face the fact that we don"t bounce well anymore and injuries take longer to heal at our age.

For a beginning rider, a great deal of whether riding is enjoyable or not depends on the horse. For a beginner, especially an older beginner, the horse MUST be quiet - not spooky or easily excited. A solid, quiet mount gives the beginner time to learn to balance correctly, get comfortable in a saddle, and all the other stuff that goes with horseback riding. I also suggest riding lessens for you. It could be some real quality time if you and your daughter take lessons together.

I cannot stress strongly enough that you and your daughter should wear safety helmets. They cost as little as $30, come in all kinds of cool colors, and can be found at most places that sell horse stuff (Tractor Supply carries them). You can suffer a brain injury falling off a horse that is just walking.

There was a news report a couple of years ago about a young girl, 10 or 12, who had been riding for many years who was killed in a riding accident due to a head injury. The tv stations showed a picture of her sitting on her horse. She did not have a helmet on. What a tragedy. A $30 helmet might have saved her life.

My helmet is the first piece of equipment I reach for when I"m getting ready to ride and the last piece I put away. I frequently put it on before I catch my horse. Please make that small investment and keep you and your daughter safe. It just makes sense.

Here"s a good online website for all kinds of horse stuff, including helmets. www.jeffersequine.com.

Riding can be a lot of fun and a great experience when you just take the time to do it right. Will Rogers once said "There"s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." He is absolutely right.

Enjoy!

I'm 42, but I did a lot of work related stuff in my twenties which I wouldn't have done if I had known I was going to have to start paying for them this soon.

Christopher

I'm a trained rider..military trained(long story) and I stopped riding in my 30s..in my late 40s, one of my friends insisted that I get on and ride one of his plump horses and I did for about 2 hours and then suffered for about 2 weeks from leg muscle pain...nothing serious but if you straddle a chunky horse and ride and your legs aren't used to it, you'll pay.
Ride only if you'll keep riding and your leg muscles build up. If you want to do it on the rare occassion, be prepared to walk bowlegged for a while moaning.
I wouldn't worry about falling off.
I refuse to casually ride now.

At 42, you're a "young whipper-snapper" in my book. Wife took up hunter/jumper (English) lessons in her 50's. I'm close to 60 and now just returning to serious riding on a regular basis.

I'll second what Nancy said about the helmet. It's mandatory at the barn where we ride that you wear a helmet when mounted, even just sitting. It's encouraged to be helmeted while tacking up a horse. Just the other nite, a girl was kicked/knocked over by a horse who spooked on cross-ties while she was wrapping its feet. She had a helmet on and was thankful. I have several helmets that are cracked from tumbles that my daughters have taken over the years. Nothing serious but hitting your head on a rock, fence post or jump can happen if you do happen to fall off. It's all about how you ride, the temperament of the horse, where you ride and......luck.

You can enjoy riding without ever breaking into a gallop or even a canter and do that well into your 70's or 80's. Heck it wasn't that long ago that horseback was a major mode of individual transportation.

It's great exercise and you WILL use muscles you may not have used in a while. Also there is something about the bond between rider and horse. Very therapeutic in my book. Go for it.

Forgot to add - the gentleman (and he is a gentleman) that I frequently trail ride with is 86.

NOOOOOOOO youre NOT to old to learn BUTTTTTTTT your body isnt as good as that young girl either remember............ "The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak"

On the subject what amazes me is how much faster n easier young kids learn then myself over 60. For example, a few years ago as Empty Nesters we took up Square Dancing and me pickin a 5 string Banjo,,,,,,,,, welllllllll grrrrrrrrrr when I see young kids doing the same its sooooooooo much faster n easier for them grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr again lol.


I say GO FOR IT... The things we did with our kids growing up were the best times and now memories of our lives.....

Give a listen to Paul Anka's Song "(Do you Remember) The times of your life" (It has a line "Memories are moments we borrow to spend when we get to tomorrow)

Then listen to Alan Jackson's "Remember When"

Then listen to "And then they do" by Trace Adkins about our kids growing up

If that dont do it listen to Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses",,,,,,, and "The men in my little girls life" by Mike Douglas,,,,,,,,and "Turn Around" by The Brothers Four,,,,,and "I loved her First" by Heartland

You may be in tears but I bet you will take lessons after listening to those lol


Ol John T a true music lover (can you tell I raised a daughter???)

No such thing if you really want to do it.

Vito

not too old to learn but maybe have more common sense now...i rode when i was a kid...dayummm shetland pony that would take off at a full gallop with me onboard and suck his gut in [yeah i know cinch it tighter,i did...still did it] and saddle would roll under with me hanging on for dear life...run around till he got tired and stopped and i dropped off...nope...aint got any use fer horses...my 4 wheeler takes me where i wanna go and back...fuels cheaper [even at 4 something a gallon] than feed and 4 wheeler dont need care when its loafing in the shed.

The biggest factor in the quality of your riding experience is the horse.

You never should have been on that pony if it wasn't safe for kids and obviously it wasn't. Those types of experiences sour people on horses for the rest of their lives. I'm sorry it happened to you.

my dad is 68 years old and used to ride horse all the time until he was in his 30s. Not casual stuff either, jumping and running and all kinds of fun. Quit riding because of family, career, and farm time commitments.
His dad was a horseman, but a driving horseman, and always told my dad "quit riding so much you"re gonna wreck your back." what do you know, when my dad was in his 50s had to have major back surgery.

everyone should know how to ride (and drive) and be confident doing so, but you need to weigh the consequences of how frequent you do so.

karl f

Go for it but go ahead and take the advil ahead of time. That way you won't be too stiff to climb out of the saddle.
I know one guy who is 82 and he still takes his Walking Horse on trail rides. He makes me feel guilty because my Foxtotter has been a pasture ornament lately.

(quoted from post at 09:26:51 11/20/09) I'm 42, but I did a lot of work related stuff in my twenties which I wouldn't have done if I had known I was going to have to start paying for them this soon.

Christopher

Click to expand...

There's a bunch of if's, and's & but's, just have fun. Expect to be a little (lot maybe) stiff afterwards and don't be ashamed to use a sheepskin or other pad on the saddle. You pad it for the horse, why not for the rider?

I usually ride bareback unless on a ride with the wife (don't like anyone watching me hoist my fat a$$ on the horse).

Dave

There's a commercial on the History channel right now for some cowboy show. Says the average life span for a cowboy was 21 years. Cause of death, falling off their horse.

dunno chris tough call. course if the horse had a steerin wheel, roll cage, 5 pt saftey harness and mebbe a set of air bags, could be ok!!! being over 50 if a horse was going somewhere with me, he'd have ta ride on passenger side of the pickup, and dang well better not fool with the radio!!!

I think it would be very enlightening to know the time frame do those stats come from.

No you're not too old. I ride all the time,and train every day,use good boots so your feet don't get hung up in the irons a helmet as others have said. Take it one step at a time and have fun. The FIRST time I ever hit the ground I was 59 and it wasn't all that bad I got right back up.

John

Good call Glenn,
I'm in the mid 50 range and don't want nuthin to do with the wife and daughter's horses - cept every once in a while when they give me the "Pouty" look for more cash.

Sounds like the Howells want to plow some of your ground this year and pick up the extra horses. Don't know if they can "ride" a Red one though. Cheaper then hauling to Texas though so I'm in for a fuel card. Maybe next year for the vacation!

Jim

PS:
Got bucked off the 4 wheeler a couple of times and it did hurt - slowed down since then!

They do make airbag jackets/vests for cyclists and equestrians.Containing a high pressure gas cartridge,they deploy in a fraction of a second,triggered by a tether clipped to saddle.And reuse is just a matter of a new cartridge...prolly much cheaper than a hospital trip.

You can do it. Just take it slow. Don"t try to be a jockey, jumper or barrel racer in the first few weeks, months etc.

Wear the helmet.

I could say "don"t ask and I won"t tell" but I will. Both kids took to it at about 5yrs old and now are pretty good. Qualifying for Youth World in NBHA & champions in our western riding club speed events. Daughter rides both English and Western. Enough ribbons around here to make a quilt.
Ole dad thought he could keep up--wrong!!!
Don"t think you can learn to ride from reading, watching and consuming liquid courage.Find a good experianced (older) trainer and a slow old gelding and you"ll be hooked.
A good forum for older riders is at w w w horsesaddleshop com You know where to put the dots. Look for the forum link and they also have some great tack.

I still would like a good trail ride every now and then but the sciatica only lets me be the groom, truck driver, shcutt shevler and hitching post for most of the shows we go to.

kruser, i flipped my 350 quad over backward on top of me couple years ago, attempting a creek crossing that was waaayyy to steep for my age. younger i wouldnt have had a problem. dang them things are heavy. didnt break anything, but was plenty sore. so the next day i figgured the 3 wheeler would be better to make the crossing. important saftey point.......never hill climb in 1st gear. instead of bogging down, it just flips over backward. 2 backflips in 2 days. took the backhoe out and cut the bank back a little so i can make the crossing now!!!!!