Rumtytum
Have Marmite, will travel
Sorry in advance for the long post...
I'm 62 and started riding just over 12 months ago after a 45 or 47 year gap (can't remember exactly). And I'd never had a proper lesson. But after a camel ride on holiday in Dubai I decided it was time to get back in the saddle - or regret not trying for the rest of my days.
So In October 2016 I started at a friendly local RS, private lessons with a great instructor who sussed my character and pushed me hard enough to progress but not to destroy my confidence. Spring 2017 brought a fall plus broken rib from a friend's rather nervous TB (never rode her again, I wasn't sufficiently competent and she was destroying my confidence). As soon as I could was back to my comfort blanket horse at the RS where, in July, I had my first ever competition - Intro B dressage - and came 3rd of 9! I almost fainted with shock. Two more comps and two more rosettes since!
I feel very grateful and lucky to have found such a wonderful RS, fab instructors, and my absolutely gorgeous RS horse. I love him so much, for his patience, for that first canter, for jumping those 60cm cross poles, and more than anything, for the confidence he has given me. Priceless. To me he's the best horse in the world.
For anyone hanging around this website (like I did for months) who is perhaps thinking of starting/restarting riding: get going! Don't put it off until it's too late to discover what you could have achieved...
I'm 62 and started riding just over 12 months ago after a 45 or 47 year gap (can't remember exactly). And I'd never had a proper lesson. But after a camel ride on holiday in Dubai I decided it was time to get back in the saddle - or regret not trying for the rest of my days.
So In October 2016 I started at a friendly local RS, private lessons with a great instructor who sussed my character and pushed me hard enough to progress but not to destroy my confidence. Spring 2017 brought a fall plus broken rib from a friend's rather nervous TB (never rode her again, I wasn't sufficiently competent and she was destroying my confidence). As soon as I could was back to my comfort blanket horse at the RS where, in July, I had my first ever competition - Intro B dressage - and came 3rd of 9! I almost fainted with shock. Two more comps and two more rosettes since!
I feel very grateful and lucky to have found such a wonderful RS, fab instructors, and my absolutely gorgeous RS horse. I love him so much, for his patience, for that first canter, for jumping those 60cm cross poles, and more than anything, for the confidence he has given me. Priceless. To me he's the best horse in the world.
For anyone hanging around this website (like I did for months) who is perhaps thinking of starting/restarting riding: get going! Don't put it off until it's too late to discover what you could have achieved...
