Anyone else restarting riding and want to share my ridiculous childlike excitement?

[Elsabob]

Seriously, I feel like that pony-mad little girl again. (I am 32 and have a 6-month old baby, so this is far from the truth). I have booked a private lesson at a local riding school after having a year off for pregnancy/newborn baby.

Yay! OMGosh so excited!!

Also quite nervous because:

a) I had a C-section in Feb, so I'm not sure my stomach muscles are really up to this. I probably should have done some exercises beforehand, but did I mention a 6 month old baby? Yeah that didn't happen.

b) it's a new riding school, it's close by and they do hacking so I really want to like it. Will they have horses that help me learn but also aren't boring plods (don't get me wrong, every riding school should have some good boring plods for beginners to ride, but...well..I find them a bit boring?). Also will I be good enough that they will let me ride the slightly more interesting horses eventually?

c) Will I be able to deal with the frustration that I'm not as good as I want to be when I haven't slept for more than 2 hours in a row since June? (yes, I am keeping track and yes I will remind my son of this when he is a teenager and I have to wake him up). There is a high chance of frustration tears.

Eek, so excited!!

/end_emotional_rollercoaster

 

[DabDab]

Hehe, enjoy!

Tbh whenever I walk up to the barn and hear my horses nicker I'm right back to being a 10yo girl again

 

[Pmf27]

I started up again last week after a five year break and I CERTAINLY share your childlike excitement!

Re. The issue with plodders at the riding school, I made a point of bringing this up before booking a lesson; and I got in touch with every school within a 30 minute drive from me before settling on one!

It might be worth giving them a ring beforehand and checking they have some horses that could provide a bit more of a challenge? I've found that a lot of riding schools are more than happy to get their 'wildcards' out if a customer has requested them and is honest about their riding ability.

 

[ycbm]

I never lose the child inside when I look at a horse. Have a great hack

 

[dogatemysalad]

I vividly remember my first lesson aged 5 yrs and kept telling myself to stop grinning like an idiot, but I couldn't. Many decades later, I'm still smiling. The only difference is that as a child, you tend to only think about how wonderful the pony is. As an adult, you're more self aware and tend to think about how lacking you are as a rider. Banish those thoughts, don't take yourself seriously. A happy rider is a relaxed rider and that's a better ride for the horse.

 

[Trouper]

Your excitement bubbles through your post!!! Just go for it and don't overthink things. As one who returned after a 30+ years break the greatest joy was to discover muscle memory even if the muscles were not as good as the younger self.
Of course you do realise the riding will not be enough?? The fingers will stray to adverts of horses for sale/loan....... just saying.

 

[Norn]

Nope, I'm the same here honestly. Moved to the coast, one thing after another happened and here I am 3 years later. No horse and on a very much unwanted hiatus from the saddle.
I've kept myself busy doing horsey office work, but I'm planning to get to one of my local riding schools soon then move back up to the family area to continue riding properly. 25 turned 10 year old in less than a minute, Pony mags at the ready 😂

 

[Barton Bounty]

You will be fine and love it 😍 i started riding 5 weeks after a c section lol, it wont affect you 😊 have fun🐴

 

[Pippity]

Every now and again, driving home from the stables, I can't quite believe that I've finally, after 40-mumble years, got my own horse, so I totally get where you're coming from!

Just remember that they'll almost certainly put you on a boring plod for the first lesson, just to assess whether your riding's what you say it is. It doesn't mean you'll be on a boring plod every time you ride there.

 

[pixie]

I've just had my first ride in 2 years today (though had not been riding regularly since I got pregnant with my first 8 years ago). Pony was great considering he's been a field ornament for so long. My legs are going to be so sore tomorrow! I'm thinking about booking in some lunge lessons so I can work on my seat while pony and I are getting fitter.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Oh god, I got back into horses after a twenty or so years break and I ABSOLUTELY love it. I can totally identify with you. I have been back in it for about 8 years and I love everything about it. I now have 3 horses and have got used to being the oldest one at events. I am still that horse mad kid, i always was.

 

[Surbie]

I am properly back into horses after many many years break and now have my first horse. I don't do it as easily as when I was a teen, but I do it. I had my third jumping lesson today and my cheeks still hurt from all the grinning. Then I sat in the stable doorway and ate my sandwich with his head above mine. Couldn't have been more perfect.

Hope you have a fantastic time.

 

[Coblover63]

I shut away horses to raise 3 small children and had 21 years away in the end, which was half my life. I went for a lesson, aged 42 and everything came flooding back. I was stiff and achey for about a week after, but couldn't stop getting like a Cheshire cat. I started sharing an ex-racer and bought a fab cob within months. I've never looked back.

 

[mossycup]

Oh I hope it goes well! I'm 16 months on from restarting after not riding for 10+ years - and I'm loving every minute still! You will be a bit frustrated till your body catches up with your brain, but it won't be long till you're on the horses that need brakes applied rather than accelerator pedal down. I've managed to sit three BHS exams this year as well, which I didn't think would happen 🤣

 

[Gillykat]

Every now and again, driving home from the stables, I can't quite believe that I've finally, after 40-mumble years, got my own horse, so I totally get where you're coming from!

This certainly gives me hope But, for now, I'll *cough* not mention it to hubster He'll try to fob me off with a kitten or a puppy!

And in reply to the Original Post....I'm 51 now and haven't ridden since November 2005 Boring reason = lack of finances. Then in the ensuing years I've put on a few pounds *cough* stone so am now focusing on shifting this so I can get back into the saddle once more by my mid-52's I cannot wait!

Have you had your lesson yet? How did it go?

 

[Trinket12]

I learnt the basics as a kid, but didn't really start riding until about three years ago. Now I have my own horse (a dream since I was 4!) and I ride 3 to 4 times a week, and yesterday we did our first ever bounce! I also work/volunteer with horses/kids and in the process of getting certified as a therapeutic instructor.

Some days I have to pinch myself that this is my life, I feel very lucky every day.

 

[aussiekat]

Oh I soooo share your childlike excitement! I was obsessed with ponies as a kid, and have wonderful memories of cantering along the beach – even galloping down sand dunes! (the riding school was between the bush and beach in Western Australia).

Took a few lessons last year while living in the UK, but had a bad experience at the RS. So stepped away.

Then, funnily enough, I started watching a Canadian ranch show on Netflix called Heartland? Have you seen it? It's cheesy, wholesome tele and suddenly BAM, I was OBSESSED again. That was a month ago now, and I can't get enough books, online trainings, videos to relearn everything that seemed to come so naturally as a kid. Went on a hack in the Forest of Dean this week and just loved it.

We're moving back to Australia next month, and I'm SO excited to find a local school and get closer to my lifelong goal of owning my own horse.