Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Or breeding or just keeping horses and ponies at home. If so how do you cope with the work etc.?
Anyone still riding in their seventies or even eighties?
- Thread starter Patchworkpony
- Start date
dreamcometrue
Well-Known Member
I’m 66 this year and interested in the responses you get Patchworkpony. I’m at the stage where I think I need to plan ahead.
Ruddyreindeer
Well-Known Member
Not 70 until November this year, but have 2 to look after. I hardly ride during the winter now, but come summer I shall be saddling up and hitching up the trailer again ( providing we are permitted to!). Mucking out is tiring until I get fit ( usually just before they get turned out for the summer, lol). I have cut my numbers down over the last few years, as doing 5 stables was going to be impossible. No more youngsters either, sadly. It's just a matter of expending as little energy as possible on the unimportant things in life, and using it on enjoying the horses.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Excellent reply thank you. Inspiring!Not 70 until November this year, but have 2 to look after. I hardly ride during the winter now, but come summer I shall be saddling up and hitching up the trailer again ( providing we are permitted to!). Mucking out is tiring until I get fit ( usually just before they get turned out for the summer, lol). I have cut my numbers down over the last few years, as doing 5 stables was going to be impossible. No more youngsters either, sadly. It's just a matter of expending as little energy as possible on the unimportant things in life, and using it on enjoying the horses.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
It’s b***** getting older isn’t it.
Skib
Well-Known Member
I am still riding - or was until Covid forced me and OH into lock down last March. I was then 80.
If I get the second jab and Covid restrictions permit, I hope to be riding again in mid April.
I dont think one deserves any medals for riding in old age. Unlike other people on H&H, I manage by doing no work except grooming and tacking up. That costs money of course but I hack out like a Victorian lady accompanied by her groom and have therefore had freedom to ride first and do what I like. But I love hacking solo too.
I didnt start riding till I was over 60 and didnt regard this as odd. I helped out on a yard for a time but only one afternoon a week and no heavy lifting.
The only thing that has scared me was trotting up for a vet, in case I stumbled and fell. One doesnt do much running at my age. But someone asked me to trot up a horse I knew a coupe of years ago and it was fine because I had by then learned that the horse was very unlikely to tread on me if I fell.
I think weight is important. I have put on a half a stone in lock down and am taking steps to lose it before riding.
If I get the second jab and Covid restrictions permit, I hope to be riding again in mid April.
I dont think one deserves any medals for riding in old age. Unlike other people on H&H, I manage by doing no work except grooming and tacking up. That costs money of course but I hack out like a Victorian lady accompanied by her groom and have therefore had freedom to ride first and do what I like. But I love hacking solo too.
I didnt start riding till I was over 60 and didnt regard this as odd. I helped out on a yard for a time but only one afternoon a week and no heavy lifting.
The only thing that has scared me was trotting up for a vet, in case I stumbled and fell. One doesnt do much running at my age. But someone asked me to trot up a horse I knew a coupe of years ago and it was fine because I had by then learned that the horse was very unlikely to tread on me if I fell.
I think weight is important. I have put on a half a stone in lock down and am taking steps to lose it before riding.
minesadouble
Well-Known Member
My mum is 73 and still breeds riding ponies. She currently has about 15, including 2 stallions.
She lives alone on a 35 acre smallholding and does them all herself with no help.
She has about 8 inside, the rest winter out.
She has said that this Winter she has felt, for the first time, she feels like she could live without them.
She lives alone on a 35 acre smallholding and does them all herself with no help.
She has about 8 inside, the rest winter out.
She has said that this Winter she has felt, for the first time, she feels like she could live without them.
cauda equina
Well-Known Member
Your poor mum minesadouble
I hope things get easier for her with spring on the way; it's crap, feeling that a way of life might be coming to an end
I hope things get easier for her with spring on the way; it's crap, feeling that a way of life might be coming to an end
Onlywayisup
Member
Hi this is my first post on this forum, l am 71 and loving my riding more than ever. This morning l had a lesson with my wonderful trainer and it proved to be probably the best lesson of my life, my aim for this year if allowed is to do a Medium dressage test with my talented AES 16.2" gelding and when l am riding him l feel like l could be 30 again. So come on all you oldies and enjoy the wonderful hobby of riding.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Wow - you are a wonder and SO encouraging. You have really got me thinking about going back to ponies in the future. It is just the mucking out that is the worry as help can be very unreliable these days.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
I think we can all feel like that in the winter. Could she get some help? Even a day a week can be a relief.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Good for you! Do you do you own stable work?
Sir barnaby
Well-Known Member
I am 70 this year, I have 2 horses to look after, one of which I ride 2/3 times a week if weather acceptable, I not keen on riding in wind or rain.
I do all my own work on DIY livery, I struggle a bit with my knees but use knee supports when I ride, my OH helps with fencing and paddock maintenance or any heavy jobs.
I haven’t hunted in 3 years but never say never I may go this year if the situation arrives to make it easy for me to go, as the local hunt meet regularly within hacking distance as I don’t have any transport now.
I do all my own work on DIY livery, I struggle a bit with my knees but use knee supports when I ride, my OH helps with fencing and paddock maintenance or any heavy jobs.
I haven’t hunted in 3 years but never say never I may go this year if the situation arrives to make it easy for me to go, as the local hunt meet regularly within hacking distance as I don’t have any transport now.
planete
Well-Known Member
I am 73 and lost my retired horse a month ago. I now have a very green 13.2 traditional cob and am training him for my really old age. As I do all the work myself the advantage of a traditional cob is that he can live out all the year round and takes very little work to keep healthy and happy. At the moment I do a lot of work in hand with him to supple him and get him responsive to the aids before getting on his back for 10//15 minutes. This is much easier physically than doing all the warming up from the saddle and struggling with a pony who will not bend on one rein for instance or who takes ages to soften his poll and relax his jaw. It is a bit 'a la Baucher' but I have an instructor come regularly to stop me falling into the system's possible pitfalls. I will probably need some help next Winter though as I am finding very cold days have been taking too much out of me of late.
sport horse
Well-Known Member
H. M. The Queen is 94 and she still rides - I guess she has a bit of help!!
ihatework
Well-Known Member
The owner/trainer on the yard where my big event horse was on competition livery (with the resident rider) was 70. Still riding, although only a select few (including mine at the time). I got sent a video of her schooling my boy in a big open field. Impressive enough, but he was a big moving, long, 17.2hh boat of a thing!
M1lbie
Well-Known Member
Just turned 69 and have 2 retired and one ridden, all live on my own land and I look after on my own. OH helps with fencing, rolling, harrowing etc. I hack 5/6 days a week (unless the weather is really horrid) and up until lockdown was going for lessons once a week so that we can improve our dressage and have a little jump to keep us both interested in life. Shoulders give me a bit of grief but I try and ignore them and press on!! Some days I wonder how much longer I’ll be able to stagger up the steep hill picking up poo in the pouring rain and wind but then I get to ride out on a sunny morning and it’s all worthwhile, I tell myself it keeps me fit and gives me a reason to get up in the morning. Hoping I can keep doing it until I’m really old!!!
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
i was riding daily and doing everything myself till i was 72, had to give up my loan horse as i couldnt afford to pay for help and the winters were killing me. i have had 3 hip operations which were not completely successfull and have arthritis in my shoulders, hands and feet so mucking out, poo picking was very difficult. i continued riding a friends horse a couple of times a week to help her out until she sold him. i am now almost 75 and would be riding if i had the money to a) buy a safe horse and b)had the money to pay for jobs to be done....i have looked for a loan but they all want money plus jobs being done and the jobs are the problem for me. if someone wanted help exercising a reasonably safe horse ,i would be able groom and tack up and would be happy to pay for the privilege of riding a nice horse, i am too old to ride a nutter now
oldie48
Well-Known Member
I'm 72 and until recently had my horse + a companion at home. I recently moved my dressage horse onto a yard on full livery and have someone riding her for me as I'm waiting for some medical treatment. I still go up daily and like to tack up and groom, currently she's on box rest with an injury so I'm doing some hand walking with her, which is getting interesting! I'm hoping to get back on board but probably won't compete as she's working med, Adv/med and tbh I'm not fit enough nor do I ride well enough to train her at this level but once she's established with her changes etc, it will be fun to have a play. We've decided to down size as we have 12 acres and a huge garden so my mare will stay on full livery even if I manage to get my health sorted.
fredflop
Well-Known Member
ive no doubt she has help, but I hope I’m active as the queen when I get that old. I think she’s an amazing lady, and a real inspiration.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
i doubt the queen has to groom and tack up but she is doing well to still be riding at her age even if it is a quiet walk. i still find it a worry that she just wears a scarf and not a riding hat...
MereChristmas
riding reluctantly into the sunset
I am 71, pony is at home.
I have 2 friends both mid 70’s with horses at part livery
Friend and neighbour is 81 and keeps her 24 year old part Arab at home.
I have 2 friends both mid 70’s with horses at part livery
Friend and neighbour is 81 and keeps her 24 year old part Arab at home.
phizz4
Well-Known Member
Horse is on full livery (combined age of wife and horse is 99 years and both are still going strong). They keep each other active.
spacefaer
Well-Known Member
A good friend of ours has just hung up his hunting boots - he's in his early 80s. He's been riding since he was a tiny child. There are several other members of the hunting field who are in their late 70s - one of our adjacent packs has a Master who is 78 and still comes out on a horse. All of them have their horses at home and most of them do them themselves. We're tough in Shropshire!
Ive posted this before but I used to work for Lorna Johnstone who rode at the Olympics at the age of 70 - she bought a 4 yr old when she was 83 ? and was still having lessons from Herr Franz Rochowansky at 84 - she was a legend.
Ive posted this before but I used to work for Lorna Johnstone who rode at the Olympics at the age of 70 - she bought a 4 yr old when she was 83 ? and was still having lessons from Herr Franz Rochowansky at 84 - she was a legend.
PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
I am in my very late sixties and keep two horses at home that I ride each day unless it is very windy or pouring down with rain. I go for some lovely hacks and can be out for up to 5 hours.
MereChristmas
riding reluctantly into the sunset
We are Shropshire riders too spacefaer although none of us were born here.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Thank SO much everyone who has replied to this thread. I am humbled by the determination and get up and go of so many of you. I believe that the horse world is full of people who can’t and won’t give up their great passion. To outsiders we all look mad especially in bad weather but I do think it is what keeps so many of us ticking along in old age.
MereChristmas
riding reluctantly into the sunset
I was sent to the gym by my doctors because when I was MOT’d I hadn’t ridden for a while and was pretty unfit. I went at the OAP session times and unexpectedly met with ladies I knew from Pony Club (Mums ), Riding Club and other horsey activities.
After a few weeks the instructor said
‘ I don’t know what it is about all of you but you are very fit.’
In unison we said
‘Horses’
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
What a lovely story thanks for sharing.
dixie
Well-Known Member
My mother is 71 and she still rides most days and competes dressage. She does everything herself and also does mine in the evenings.