A question for the more mature rider......

TicTac

TicTac

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what would make you decide to ' hang up your boots' ?

I am a lady of a certain age ( sshhhh, did somebody say five oh ) I currently have 2 horses and I have been riding since I was 9. Have owned a horse continuosly for 41 years and I also work as a stud groom. Horses are my passion but there is no doubt about it, my mind is often more willing than the body :-( I am very fit though and slim and I do ride my horse about 5 times a week at the moment but often wonder what will be the reason to make me give up riding.

If I'm honest it will probably be the aches and pains that get worse rather than better, but my mare, bless her, since her KS op is a different horse and now much more content to look after the old lady on top rather than try to dump her, so as long as I can ride her safely then I think I will always try and haul myself onto the back of a horse. After all they have been part of my life for such a long time why would I possibly want to give up horses, go travelling and drink plenty of fine wine! lol
 
I also wonder after I feel achey from doing too much , but a lady up the lane from me poodles round on her mare and she must be 70. I think that is the answer , find a mount that is happy to wander round the block and lower your ambitions. Unfortunately my lad isnt that horse yet.
 
As a 48-year-old-this-year who only started riding again 6 months ago after a loooong break (and now have my first horse - yay!) I am well aware that my knees and ankles don't stand up to hours of hacking anymore.

I'm looking for another horse - my boy is 26 and 20 minutes walking 3 times a week is his comfort zone - but I think a nice plodder for a hour or so will be very welcome :)
 
I am 42 and my TB (who could easily do eventing etc.) is now quite happy to go at my pace which is only riding once or twice a week. Dont worry, I am sure your horse can slow down when you are ready to slow down and in the meantime it will keep you fit. I just wish I had your energy!!!!
 
kirinsam said:
I also wonder after I feel achey from doing too much , but a lady up the lane from me poodles round on her mare and she must be 70. I think that is the answer , find a mount that is happy to wander round the block and lower your ambitions. Unfortunately my lad isnt that horse yet.
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Lower your ambitions, and you hit the nail on the head by saying this. I think that is so true.
 
I'm 50 too and have to admit that I've had days when I've wondered the same. My last youngster was supposed to be my last. Thought I was too old to be bouncing around. Bought myself a 'been there and done that' horse. Love her, she's great, but when a friend was having problems with her newly backed mare, I found myself agreeing to have her for a year and blimey, is she fun ! I still get excited about seeing a baby grow up into a nice animal.

Heck, as long as someone can throw me on board, I'll still be riding. You're a long time dead.

Whats that saying- '' Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO! What a ride!”
 
I think it is all in the mind, my mother was still hunting at 79 years old (albeit only going to the meet and then in for a couple of hours on her 28 year ok'd pony) and only gave up hunting when old pony was pts. She was still hacking out up until last year aged 81 on an ex gynkhana games pony and only gave up because she sold the house with land, so pony went back to owner and mine in livery. You are never too old, am sure if you can be active it is good for you same as with old horses.
 
Im 45 this year (gulp) and only started riding 2 years ago.
My boy (hes now 8) is with me for life - hes a cob and likes the easy life anyway so he doesnt complain - he does need more exercise then i can physically ride but i lunge him.
He is happy, im happy and he is healthy.
I really do believe you are as old as you feel - being 50 is nothing now, its still young!
Love and enjoy your horse - do what you can not what others dictate - enjoy xxx
 
I've been riding since I was 11 (with 8 years away when I was married) and still enjoy it plus the caring, poo picking etc. Some days the aches and pains are too much so I'll lunge instead and the painkillers are pretty good tho' don't take them all the time. Hope I never have to give up - would love to expire on the back of my horse lol!
I'm 63
 
I will only give up when I can't physically get on and off, and as we have a mounting block that sister had built when she broke her ankle, for her to get on and off her 17hh Clydie, it should be a good while off yet :D
 
My mum hung up her boots aged 73, and then only because her ultra sharp completely bonkers mare reared up and came over backwards on top of her in a ditch. Mum hurt her back badly, but otherwise would probably still be riding highly unsuitable horses. So much for getting a steady neddy :D Mind you she was one heck of a horsewoman

Not sure I'll last that long, it would help in either of my nags could walk without limping :D
 
Good God you are only whippersnappers ! why all this talk of hanging up boots?

I only got my first horse at 46 having started riding lessons at 39.
I'm 59 this year and enjoying every minute of my riding .

I don't jump much , just small jumps or pop the occasional log or something in Trec. I just think I was a bit late learning and am not supple enough or fast enough in my reactions when I never really learned properly , so I'm safer not doing rounds.

I have some arthritis and am always a bit sore , but better when I ride because of the exercise. Going riding gets me going in the morning if I'm sorer than usual I just take a couple of painkillers .

In our RC we have a 75 YO woman still riding with two new hips and a 60 YO winning hunter trials and events , her horse is 20 now so she's not doing those anymore. An ex member in her 80th year is doing a sky dive for the hospice in a couple of weeks .

So let there be no more talk of hanging up boots.:D
 
horserider said:
Whats that saying- '' Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO! What a ride!”
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Touche :D love it!
 
No intention, Not as gung ho as I was so my days of happily sitting on anything are long gone. However, I have just bought a new baby 5 year old to go back to eventing with me so fingers crossed he works out (particularly as I haven't sold my other horse yet!)
 
Am nearer 70 than 60, everything aches, have lost most of my bottle, and know that if I have to get off on a ride I won't be able to get on again. But I still love it, my naughty cob is with me for life, and so long as she and I can saunter round the lanes I'm happy. I still have liveries, and I love being around horses. The outdoor life keeps me healthy, the horsy fraternity round here are lovely and I have so many friends and acquaintances through my riding. Give it up - never!
 
Ok, so I'm only 32, but sometimes feel like 62. My father-in-law is now 63, has broken nearly every bone in his body twice from falls out hunting. He whips hounds, and still thinks he's 21. He had a triple by-pass last june 12 months, and docs had told him even before that, when he broke his back, to pack it in. But of course, he didnt. He got kicked out hunting on 3rd jan, and the bone in his leg, between his knee and ankle, (was never any good at biology), came out through the skin, that had started to heal nicely, and he got a blot clot in his leg, but that didnt stop him. he's back riding now with 3 weeks, even though he is only returning to work on monday. He will never give it up, he loves it too much. Now his choice of horse has changed, to something a bit steadier, as he does know that he needs that type of horse now, but has little time for the "quiet ones", he still wants to be first out over everything.
i'm a big chicken out hunting, so def wont follow in his footsteps in that regard, but I do hope I'm as enthuasistic about horses when I'm his age.
If you feel up to it, keep going, when I started hunting, at 16, there was a very elderly gentleman hunting and he was 83. So you probably could expire on the back of a horse, all going well. Hope you are still riding in 20 years. Best of luck with it!!!!
 
horserider said:
Whats that saying- '' Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO! What a ride!”
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Oh YES! That is my intention.

:D

I'm knocking on a bit now, riding is for fun, I do it when I want to, not because I have to.

The best thing about getting to the 'more mature' stage is the ability to say "Sod 'em all" and do what you want, for yourself, and feel good about it.
 
at 52 i intend to ride as long as poss can , my horses are my life ,cant see what i will do with myslf if i dont have my horses, i suffer with alsorts but when im riding it all goes away till i get off lol .I will start to do more driving when i cant ride .
 
you only have to look at some of the top riders to see how age doesnt matter, Mr Whittaker Mr Todd Mrs King !!! get some inspiration from them, from what I hear at shows it's the youngsters that seem to moan more than us oldies !!!
 
I'm 52. I only took uo riding at 40, so I reckon I have some catching up to do. After Pickle was pts last year I weighed up buying a sensible older horse v a youngster & decided on a youngster on the basis that in my late 50's I probably wouldn't buy another & hopefully a youngster will keep me going longer!
 
I only got my first horse at 46 having started riding lessons at 39.
I'm 59 this year and enjoying every minute of my riding .
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I always loved horses but never got the opportunity to take riding lessons when I was young. My parents thought horses were for frivolous rich people. :rolleyes:

It wasn't until I was 39 that I had the money and leisure to start taking lessons. Weekly lessons became biweekly lessons. And then my addiction spiraled out of control and I found myself purchasing a Welsh mare. :eek:

She was probably way too sharp and fast for me in the beginning, but we persevered and now we do everything together. I've had her three years. I'm 46 now, she's going on 15. I waited my whole life for this and I'm not giving up any time soon! :D

I have great experienced friends who take us on adventures, like long distance rides and beach rides. I think it will be many more years before we're content to just pootle around the block on a loose rein. ;)
 
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For me it is the winters that I am finding really hard rather than the riding.
I do have a daughter and friends who helped me out this winter when I broke my hand on the ice (walking to the horse!) I have arthritis in my hip, struggle to get on and off. My mare is perfect for me. Pushes me just enough out of my comfort zone to be interesting but is safe and sensible for me.
I am in my mid 50's never so much as sat on a seaside donkey until I was 47. I like someone else on here had parents who thought horses were only for the rich and famous.
We don't do anything wonderfully skillful. I will never be a great rider. I can't ever imagine not having my mare to go to see everyday. She brings my days alive.
 
Ha Ha - I am 53 this year and got my first horse last year. I've ridden other peoples horses all my life - I was able to realise my life long dream after my boys finally left home! Was going to get a teenager to plod about on and ended up with a beautiful 7 year old pure bred friesian! :D
 
I'm closer to 50 than 40 but would love to get back into eventing (too chicken atm). Whenever I go to events to watch there are heaps of older ladies riding far far better than the youngsters. The aches are a bit of a pain though. Try alka saltzer xs tablets before you get on - miracle workers!
 
monikirk said:
Ha Ha - I am 53 this year and got my first horse last year. I've ridden other peoples horses all my life - I was able to realise my life long dream after my boys finally left home! Was going to get a teenager to plod about on and ended up with a beautiful 7 year old pure bred friesian! :D
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Oohhh can i have your Friesian please..That horse is lush.
 
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