Anyone else started again after a long break?

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WestCoast

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Had a horse as a teenager (well large stroppy pony really) for about 4 years. Had to give up when I went to uni due to an allergy problem. 27 years later a miracle has happened and its been sorted (long story involving a treatment for something else entirely).

So I've just started again and I'm hooked and spending ages looking at the for sale ads. I'm 45, working 4 days and we have nearly paid off mortgage so could afford and have time to do it, but am rusty to say the least. First time back on and the instructor had me cantering and popping over fences but I could hardly move for a week. :)

It's so frustrating. Started taking weekly private lessons and will throw some weekend hacks in. Any guesses how long it will take for me to get to a standard where I can consider owning again?

Might start to have a look at local livery yards with next spring in mind as I suspect the good ones will have waiting lists.

Paula
 
I had a pony till I was 18 and went to uni. Didn't ride again till the beginning of this year when I took on a part loan. I loved it but the horse was not suitable for me so I decided to buy with some very experienced friends who were willing to keep me right. I bought Quinn 2 months ago and it's the best thing I did. My riding is pants though, I find canter as difficult as I did when I first learnt so I'll be booking some lessons . if your already having lessons and know what your doing then your in a better position then I was. So why not go for it :-)
 
I used to work with horses, then had a ten year break at 23. I did exactly what you did - found a local riding school, and when the instructor heard what I did before she had me cantering and jumping.. I had to sit in a hot bath for hours to be able to keep moving!

When I moved home, my friend (and old instructor) told me about a great local eq centre, where I started having lessons once a week. After a month or so she told me of a horse for sale that would suit me. I didn't buy that one, but it did get me looking, and I bought the next but one that I saw.

As long as you feel confident riding again theres no time limit as to when you should start looking. You will probably be amazed at all the changes to horsey equipment and care though!

Welcome back to the world of being dirty, skint and smelly!xx
 
Yup. Stopped every day riding at 18 but rode in hols etc and competed on a friend's when I could. Then only treks etc until five years ago. Then bought a baby and now having lessons, going v well if only I could sort my position going trot to canter... My four year old is amazing, had her more than three years and she is a star!!
 
:) Sound like I'm not alone. I know what you mean about equipment - jodhpurs are just soooo much better (although the 45 year old bottom certainly isn't). I actually still had my old gear in the back of the loft and my old ones are hideous. Hats though - can't believe how much wider they are. My old one was a piece of plastic with 1/4 inch of foam inside.

I want to be at least vaguely competent as I'd like to be able to do a nice, kind all rounder justice.

I think my husband is a little taken a back at how grubby I come home after a lesson. :)

Paula
 
You need to speak to FionaM12 on here, she has been through exactly the same (allergy and all) and now has the most lovely little chestnut mare. I'll make her aware of this thread :)

I don't think it will be long at all :)
 
I had a 10 year break from riding, apart from helping exercising hunters occasionally and the odd ride here and there. Although I wasn't every the bravest of riders I did a lot of competing and hunting before I had children.

So when I decided it was time to buy a horse again I thought I was going to get back on and gallop off around a cross country course, but NO. It was like starting to ride again and as for jumping - I can honestly say that even now I don't like jumping, but that might have been because I have had 3 horses in a row that didn't/wouldn't/couldn't jump over 2' 3" - if I had bought a schoolmaster sort of horse that had taken me over it might have been different.

The stiffness and tiredness doesn't last long, you soon start exercising those muscles again and it all fits into the day like it used to. Just be easy on yourself I think and have some regular lessons so you get back into the groove in the right way. Good luck
 
I'm 33, from the Caribbean, rode lessons here for 8 years, stopped for exams at 18. Was offered a share 2 years ago, took 2 rides and got tossed off, complete with smashed hat and magnificent bruises.
I'm going to be migrating to England in a few weeks (dependent on work) and will be starting off with family in Hemel Hempstead/St. Albans.
This has re-ignited my horse madness. I'm determined to do this properly and want to restart with good lessons (after I lose some stubborn weight). Thus I have signed up here !

(I have also been stalking horses for sale in hertfordshire, even though I know I won't be able to afford one, but I can still dream):p
 
Welcome back in the saddle! After many years away from horses, as soon as I had my first 'fix' I was totally addicted again and its wonderful.

For me, the pain subsided after about a month of riding twice a week. I think how long it takes before you feel ready to own another horse depends on your confidence, fitness and application... the more you ride, the quicker it will be.

Another thing to consider is what you want to do in the future. It is easy to 'under-horse' yourself by buying quickly, when in another 6-9 months you may have developed greater confidence and ability and want a horse that is more capable of going that little bit further.

I wish you all the best for whenever the time is right.
 
rhino said:
You need to speak to FionaM12 on here, she has been through exactly the same (allergy and all) and now has the most lovely little chestnut mare. I'll make her aware of this thread :)

I don't think it will be long at all :)
Click to expand...

She's bay actually! ;):D

My story's very similar to yours, OP. I had my own back in the 1970s but was very ill thoughout my teens and eventually had to give up. My allergy was about as extreme as it can be (emergency ambulances to ICU extreme) so I had to stay away from horses. For over three decades.

Like you, though, the allergy has faded with age. I still have asthma and allergies, but not nearly so badly. I came back to riding two years ago in my mid fifties. I bought my lovely Mollie a year ago.

If I had the last year to do again, I'd do things differently:

I wouldn't rush into buying quite so quickly.

I'd take my time and buy locally instead of what I did: relied on a friend who chose her for me and delivered her (long story).

I'd probably buy a gelding. ;):D

I'd but calm temperament before looks.... :rolleyes:


But then, if I did all that, I wouldn't have my gorgeous Mollie. :D

OP, you are just a youngster compaired to me. Sounds like you're a much better rider too (as are most people). If horses make you happy as they do me, go for it!
 
30 years since l owned my own, we have 2 horses that my daughter competes at dressage so not a numpty on the floor but l so wanted to ride, 6 weeks ago i looked in horse and hound and went to see a gorgeous 14.1 blue and white gentleman and he is!!!. Bought him and l have had a fantastic 5 weeks,l have wasted the last 30 years craving the urge to get on a horse and now l have!!! l have cantered for the first time in years and jumped :))))
l think you need to find the right horse but dont waste time!!! Get on and ride its fantastic!!!
 
Thanks for the advice Fiona - I do have the feeling I shouldn't rush into anything and I certainly agree about the temperament. :)

Paula
 
rhino said:
Doh! Of course she is :o :o
Click to expand...

And here she is. :)

isla.jpg
 
Thank you all for the welcome, and thank god for the internet :) I've been able to keep my hand in by following blogs and forums since I stopped riding, so I'd like to think that I'm not completely fish out of water. Fiona, she's lovely !!! Good job on everyone for scratching that horsey itch :P
 
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Actually, I wish I'd discovered HHO before I bought Mollie. I came here two months after I'd bought her when I wasn't coping well, and everyone here's been a great help.

Really though, if I'd spent more time discussing my intentions here and picking up knowledge and ideas, I might have had an easier time. No-one would have talked me out of buying though, my mind was made up, but I might have gone about it in a different way.
 
I had a seventeen year break with no contact whatsoever. However I tried a friend's loan horse and it was like riding a bike. I got a cob that I shared with my daughters, then a loan pony for daughter before getting a horse. The thing I had to get used to was all the new ideas and being on a yard instead of keeping at home. However I'm not as confident as I used to be, and I'm on another break again. Hope it's not for 17 years! Good luck you won't regret it. Mi think if its in your blood, it stays in your blood!
 
FionaM12 said:
And here she is. :)

isla.jpg
Click to expand...

She's beautiful.

I think sometimes you can over think things in life. Sometime if you go with what life gives you it can bring great joy. The pony I had as a teenager was a little wotsit and I dreamed of an obedient horse that would just do what I asked. But it taught me the pick myself up, dust myself off (literally) and try again.

Paula
 
I did this.
I started riding at 4, and had my own pony and then a horse as a child/ teenager. Horse had foal, started that and sold on, then at 16/17 I went away to college and basically never went home. Mum kept and rode horse until she was retired and that was that.
Circumstances then meant that horses weren't an option for many years,and although I was still very much a horse lover, I got very out of touch with things.
As I got older and moved back to the sticks, I started seeing horses everywhere, and the bug bit back, HARD. I went to a riding school to see if I could still cut it about 5 years ago (so roughly 20 years out) , and was surprised that I could still ride, albeit not very stylishly!
Helped out at school for rides for a few months, then my current horse came up for loan.
I snapped him up and a year later, I bought him.
I was very lucky as I didn't have to do the "horse hunt" as such, and he really is a doll.
I find it frustrating as I was a good rider as a kid, but my balance and fitness will never get back to how I was, but I am enjoying him so much, and although I am competent, I am having lessons just to try and smarten my riding up a bit, and improve my balance etc.
I just can't believe I managed to live without a horse in my life for so long!
 
i lived and breathed horses until i was about 19 but then moved to London and then Bristol and had nothing to do with horses until i was 30, went on a 2 hour trek in wales with my cousin for her birthday and the love was rekindled! Bought an 18 yr old TB when i was 33 and a pony for the kids 6 months later:D Now have 3 horses and 2 ponies and don't regret a minute of it:D I don't bounce as well as i used to but i try to avoid unplanned dismounts by taking the gentler approach to riding, no more wild gallops round the woods jumping anything that got in our way:eek:
 
Yes, me too.

I've had 20 years out from owning a horse and now in my forties, I started riding again at the local school last August and am now looking for a horse to buy. I found a fantastic one I really fell in love with but he didn't pass the vetting :( so it's back to looking again.

Of course, I am looking for something calm and just nice to be around, so although I've answered a few ads and have been to look at two more horses after the one failed its vetting, I think I'm going to stick to passing the word round horsey friends for a while, to see if any horses they know come up for sale. It's just too difficult knowing whether people are telling the truth about horses that are advertised for sale and I had a very nasty experience on one of the horses I tried that has knocked my confidence a bit.

I think I'm also going to insist on having any potential purchase horse on trial before I buy it too.

Having said all that negative stuff :p I am glad that I'm getting back into it and can't wait to find the right horse for me so that I can enjoy all the things horse owning has to offer!:D
 
I rode from the age of 6 part loaned a pony at the riding school and worked for rides from the age of about 10 until I was 17/18. Had a break then for about 10 years (had a years riding lessons when I lived in London). Then about 3 months before my 30th birthday my husband announced he wanted to buy me a horse for my 30th! I went to a local school for some lessons and set about finding the right livery yard for when I found my horse as I knew I would need some support at first.

The yard I found was great the extremely knowledgeable YO and her daughter who was an AI were around most of the time and they really liked helping new owners and giving advice. I learnt/ remembered a lot from them but I also think I have learned a lot from being a horse owner. I expect people will tell you to share a horse but I am not sure that is always the answer as you are looking after someone else's horse and doing things their particular way. I think if you can find a yard similar to my first yard (the one I am on now is very similar) and just go and spend time there/ help out even if you are not quite ready to own your own you will learn/ remember a lot.

Sometimes it's better being thrown in at the deep end though and as you have previous experience I would say find the right supportive yard and go for it!

I always helped/ help my yard owners out with little jobs as a way of thanking them for their help even giving them an evening off occasionally :)
 
Continuation to my previous post...

Beware though, within a year of me getting my horse after ten years of not riding I had four of them and had spent a fortune on building my own yard! :D
 
I rode a lot as a child.up to 16,then had to stop. Took it up again, bought a pony, at 48 & have never looked backed. All those wasted years but just got back on as if I had never been away. Funny thing though, there were no aches & pains just the thrill. Enjoy.
 
yes me, I owned 2 from the age of 10 until 19, when I decided it was time to rest for a while. had my children and got married. Then this year a friend of mine offered for me to go and ride her 17hh mare. So off I went needed a massive mounting block lol and rode her mare, who messed about major. However I was hooked, I was offered a part loan at my local stud farm and now have Gerry 4 days a week, He is a 15hh Gypsy cob all feathers lol. He is great to build my confidence on as I feel very safe with him. The plan is to now save for 8 or 9 months then buy something again.. Even have my autistic son helping me with mucking out etc.:)
 
Gerry sounds great. It's fantastic that your son is getting involved with him as well. I think all kids/teenagers should spend time around animals.

Having done some more reading I think that a share might be my best bet to start with as I do have one day off during the week.

But first I have to get my riding up to scratch :)

Paula
 
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