Can we fess up to our ages, and how we keep going??

[Borderreiver]

Great to meet you all! At 59 I rode my Welsh cob this morning and also have four Highlands including two home bred youngsters.

I love clicker training the youngsters and backed my first 4 yr old last year. I'm learning carriage driving and really hooked as my young Highland is away being trained to drive. Horses are in our blood and a few aches and pains won't stop that even if we do have to change what we do a bit, take up pilates and swallow the odd med.

My business (Westgate Labs) is horse related so I work with a young staff and the talk is 'horse' all day, with them and with the customers.

 

[JillA]

Oh borderriever, are you Gill? And catkin - careful, you are outnumbered lol

 

[Old Bat]

Hee hee! Great thread and what a relief to know how many of us there are on here! I'm nearly 54, started riding when I was seven then earnt my rides at the local stables until I went to college. Did all the pony club and local shows that I could on riding school or borrowed ponies. Gave up with the diversions of real life ie work and marriage then restarted after my first husband died when I was 37. Bought a grand stamp of irish mare, 15.2 of powerpack chesnut who I hunted, team chased, showjumped and evented but as I got older and weaker she got stronger and after 10 years I sold her to a hunting and PC home where she had an amazing time for the rest of her life. It was then that I bought Heidi!!! She was my happy hacker and safe escort for mini on the lead rein, (she is now out competing with mini and having a real purple patch this spring!)

I have psoriatic arthritis which has limited my riding life a bit over the last 5 years or so but I still manage to hack and do the odd fun ride and lead xc when mini is schooling her youngster. I'm a great fan of green lipped mussel capsules, they seem to do the trick in keeping me mobile together with glucosamine, homeopathy and the occasional session of Bowen therapy. Oh, and chocolate, must not forget the chocolate!!!!!

 

[amc]

Brilliant thread, I'm 18 days off 55 and have 2 horses, 1 is a 19 year old I.D. X TB who probably dumps me 3 times a year, usually when I become complacent.......It's always my fault......worst fall was 3 years ago at the Newmarket ride where he spooked at 3/4 gallop and dropped his shoulder, I landed on my head and knocked myself out, that has slowed me down a bit as I'm not as brave as I was but we still go hunting avoiding the bigger fences !
My other one is a rising 2 R.I.D. gelding who is an absolute delight, he's a Janet George baby who I had last year at 11 months, it's been years since I had youngsters and I'd forgotten just how rewarding they can be, he's by the gorgeous Avanti Amorous Archie and he will see me out, I'm planning on taking him back to Janet to back as I want him to have the best possible start. I had a knee replacement 5 years ago and that has made a huge difference to me, I can get on from the ground if I HAVE too but my old boy is very patient and will stand while I hop about groaning and puffing !
It's wonderful to hear of peeps older than me still enjoying their horses and gives me hope for the coming years.......

 

[ExmoorHunter]

A really interesting thread - thanks for starting it! I'm just approaching fifty and have 5 horses, two of which I hunt. I try to do 2 days minimum from start of August to end of April but this isn't always possible due to weather, pressure of business, horses injured, etc. One happy week this year I managed 4 days and was completely knackered!

In the summer, I keep the horses going and we show our 2 youngsters which we bred at home. I also have a few lessons and do clinics to keep my riding up to a reasonable standard.

I know absolutely loads of people who hunt wo are much older than me and I hope I can do that when I am their age.

 

[Borderreiver]

Rumbled JillA! Yes I am.

 

[Hawks27]

am only 30 but joint disease ruined my professional riding carrer 12years ago i still have a horse he is vocie command trained has a big secure western saddle with a fluffy seat saver to give my hip extra padding and i require a very large mounting block to flop on board and getting off is shamefull but i don't care what the physio says lol am keeping my neddy till i can't walk lol i get stiff and cold and uncomfortbale in the winter becuase of the osteo arthritus changes but a good day i manage quite well but my left leg is useless once am on board but thank heavens for voice command training so i dont really use my leg

 

[JillA]

Ooh, voice command training - that's interesting. My horse is very wide and using my legs puts big strain on my leg muscles. I often wonder how Lee Pearson's horses are cued. Did you do it yourself Hawks27?
And for the record, I get off bringing my right leg over the front of the saddle, a bit like the "side saddle" riding we used to do as kids. I was on a TB mare who came in for rehoming a year or so ago and she went very nicely. Then I sat there and thought "I don't know how to get off!" I wasn't sure how she would react, and there was no-one about to hold her. But she was fine - that's one reason I don't ride anything other than my own horse these days.

 

[Hawks27]

Mainly trained myself he wasn't backed when i got him so he was nice and light and forward hes bitless too so obvisouly got him use to my clicking nosies on long lines and lunge to get him moving forward thankfully hes a sensitive sole so he understands most of my hand waves and little noises i use the western soft rope known as a whip whop in the saddle if hes being a little stubborn dont need to touch him with it jsut spin it behind me to dirve him forward like i would from the ground he will go off a flick of the rein too he's been an absolute darling my western trainer who backed him for me works in similar ways as i do the groundwork and get them use to being sat on then they go away for 2-4 weeks with mark and come back to be my happy hack as i dont ride well anymore have had to swap to western as the pain causes me to bring my left leg up and it really throws my balance off. i do ocassionally play in the english saddle when am having a good day or fancy popping a few jumps but i tend not to last more than 20minutes in that where as am good for a couple of hours in the western just gently hacking. i admit i dissmount the same as your self from the english its much easier to slide down his shoulder but if ive been riding for a while my left leg is like jelly when i get off so if i dont succeed in landing smoothly on my right foot i tend to just end up in a hepa on the floor and sit thier for several minutes till i get feeling back in my leg and crawl to my feet thank heavens my horse is a saint he just grazes round me waiting for me bless him

 

[countrybumpkin85]

I'm only 28, but riddled with arthritus so feel more like an 80 year old at times.
I ride long for my knees, invested in a very comfy saddle and have 2 screaming children - so not matter how much pain I'm in the horses seem like a better deal than a tantrum over bed times. Oh....and a shed load of drugs keep me going too

 

[Cranky OAP]

Great thread, I'm 65 and still addicted to horses and riding and plan to buy a new horse to join my three oldies when we move to the country soon. Does a horse who will jump for a stiff rusty never stylish exjumper even exist and will I be able to afford him if he does! Yes I get very stiff and tired and dismounting is hard on the knees while falling off is disastrous so I don't ride youngsters or TBs any more but at least I have more patience than I had when younger and more time. I know a lady of 83 who still hacks out and not sedately so remember that not every oldie becomes a dressage diva (although congratulations to those who do).

 

[Landcruiser]

53 next month. I rode a bit as a young teen, then only very occasionally as an adult until getting my first horse as a kind of accidental 48th birthday present. I had a second accident a year later, and have had my two criollos on DIY ever since.

It's been pretty tough at times...when I was working full time and they were at a yard with no turn out through the winter I was on my knees. Now they are on a farm where I also work part time, so life is much better.

I'm reasonably fit and have lost weight recently so feeling as well as I ever did, except for a creaky knee and arthritic fingers which hate the cold and lock up over night. My horses are both 14.2, so I can mount from the ground easy enough. I ride western, so it's comfy and easy on the legs.

My new challenge this year is TREC, I did a couple of winter ones and soon doing my first "full" one...this has given me a whole new set of targets and challenges which I find helps keep me motivated to ride even when I can't really be bothered.

After 40 odd years of longing for my own horse, and now having two, I feel lucky and never complain, even when it's vile, hard work, mud, etc. I've made my bed and I'm lying in it, and enjoying every wonderful, rotten, smelly, exhilerating, joyful, ridiculously expensive minute of it.

 

[Archangel]

53 riding since I was 11. Pretty wrecked due to numerous past horse and cycle injuries but tough as old boots really. Two horses, toying with the idea of a third to jump as mare is getting on a bit. Friend who is 80 put me to shame though, she rode out on the Downs everyday (on her 5 year old) all through that freezing weather. I stayed indoors with my bum on the rayburn

 

[oldie48]

I told my non-horsey friend that I'd been to a veteran dressage competition with my horse. "Isn't it great that they do classes for old people, did you win?" She said. My local riding club has a veteran showing class at the annual show with a special prize for the oldest combination of horse and rider,with me 64 + horse 24 (90) I thought the prize was in my pocket until silly TB spooked at the judges hat, ran back at speed and dumped me. Oh well there's always this year!

 

[monte1]

Loving this thread, I am a mere spring chicken compared to some of you- am 44 and 3/4
have been riding since age of about 8, no real break, but did much less when my daughter was younger, currently have two horses ( mine and my daughters) I work pretty much full time, horses on DIY , although live out most of the time, I am down the yard every morning at 6.30am to do horses and walk dogs etc before work, i still love it and feel it keeps me sane. I ride almost every day, had my current boy since yearling he is now 12, do a bit of everything with him, we went eventing at Tweseldown last week, I was absolutely terrified before XC , then totally elated afterwards . still feel like a youngster when I am on the horse, a good gallop always makes me grin from ear to ear. I still have stuff I want to achieve and learn and wouldn't say no to another youngster to bring on, but everything does ache a bit more after riding and when you do fall off, healing takes much longer, sadly! I am really hoping I will still be riding for many many more years to come, just like many of you!

 

[soulfull]

I'm 48 came into horse later in life, when my daughter some how talked us into a pony then moved onto a welsh D Very sadly i got thrown in the deep end riding wise when tragedy struck and my daughter was killed
The welshysufferers loss really badly and wouldn't let anyone but me ride him. It was spring and I was terrified he would get lami if not ridden. So I learnt on him I suffer rhuematoid arthritis and at first couldn't use my legs. Luckily I had done all the ground work with him so he knew my voice aids
I honestly don't know if I could have got through this dark dark day of grief without him
Moving on I eventually loaned the WC thenhad 8 years with beacon doing everything from bit of hunting sj xc to trec he retired.

I lost my lovely micah (in my sig). Age 8 last year
Now I have another young WB who is a darling if not a bit of a wimp. Only had him 7 months and already been I'll with ulcer twice and a nasty respiratory infection. But we did manage to win the winter intro dressage championships at rodbaston Fingers crossed we are going to do some riding club stuff and more dressage

Some days are really hard when my RA plays up but friends help

I would love to be riding into my 70's

 

[cavalo branco]

Brilliant thread! Can I join in? I'm 57, have 2 horses, a 13 year old TBxTrakehner and a just 6 RID. Got the youngster thinking he would be quiet and bomb-proof no, a bomb might a better description!! Hoping that he will calm down as he gets older.... he's great fun though and we have done some dressage and jumping over the winter. My older boy has done a bit of everything at RC level and is the kindest horse, now unable to do much schooling/competing after a suspensory injury.

I'm really lucky as I don't seem to have too many aches and pains - riding keeps me fit and stress-free, after 3 battles with breast cancer and lots of surgery I feel so blessed to still keep riding and competing - even if with the tiny tots

 

[cavalo branco]

Soulfull, I didn''t read your post before writing mine, I am so sorry for your loss. You are brave to keep on riding x

 

[cobwithattitude]

Soulfull, what a tribute to the power of horses.

Have a friend who is 73 & still rides BE 90cm and calls me a coward, (aged 53) because i won't gallop sometimes ....!! If you don't use it, you'll loose it and that is very true of staying supple to ride.

 

[oldie48]

Also so sorry for your loss. Reading this thread makes me appreciate how lucky I am and that getting older is not so bad after all, but perhaps we are all lucky in our own way for having the priviledge of interacting with horses. When I'm feeling low the best place to be is in the stable with one of my boys, they seem to know how I'm feeling! I fully intend to continue riding into my 70's.

 

[doriangrey]

I'm 50 this year, I've ridden since I was a child but didn't buy my first horse until my 20's. Bought my dream colt a few years ago with the intention of showing and got into a bit of light breeding, but plans changed as I had my youngest son (who is now 7). I still have my lovely Thoroughbred mare who is retired so no riding at the moment. I don't really feel my age (I'm terribly clumsy and always tripping over the chickens), but I still bounce OK

 

[JillA]

So sorry Soulful, and hats off to you. My mother had rheumatoid arthritis and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, it is a truly dreadful disease.

 

[cornbrodolly]

I m 58 , and have had show cobs for last 27yrs. Before then rode horses of all types. However, the cobs are just so blinking wide!! Now feel sacro-iliac and sciatica on right side of lumbar/butt region and after riding more than an hr or so it starts to get worse. Think a narrow horse might be better! Have stopped hunting and dont jump.
Plenty of friends still riding/hunting/team chasing and are older than me. OH is 63 and competes medium, and just bought a youngster as next dressage horse, bringing total to 8. Running out of energy to look after so many[ even if some are retired or youngsters], but assume we ll have horses till we re on zimmer frames.

 

[FairyLights]

I'm in my 50's I keep going by pretending that I amstill 12. Will be backing my 3 yr old this autumn and my other youngster next year. Lots to look forward too.

 

[northernnewfiediva]

54 with many aches & pains from riding & falling off for the last 45 years! Currently riding my also elderly NF mare ( 20 ) I fully intend to grow old and disgraceful together! I can only get on from mounting block and encourage my pony to walk off so that the momentum helps my replacement knee joint and herniated disc get right leg over the saddle! Getting off is not elegant either. Now awaiting back surgery which will make everything fine again )some hope)
I can work in the school, my pony is super supple and makes dressage movements look easy but we can't repliucate it in a formal arena, but much prefer galloping about on grassy tracks - less pressure on disc, therefore less pain.
Diclofenac and codryadamol, supplemented with tramadol as required. I am now not so keen on backing youngsters, although I love jumping, I have to pick my moments (!) I also don't like bad ground manners as I can't get out ofthe way if they're rude.
We have my old pony, two rescues to be backed this year - I'll supervise my daughter (!) and her also veteran ex sj who has taken to dressage. All at home, along with a full time job, many dogs and a constant supply of G&T!

 

[Patchworkpony]

Love this thread - but I am not 'fessing my age!

 

[thehorsephotographer]

Love this thread - but I am not 'fessing my age!

That's just not cricket!

Soulful so sorry for your loss - can't imagine how hard that must be.

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Personally I can highly recommend chocolate,red wine and Panadol Osteo.

This is the BEST advice of all! I can add another tip, which I swear helps all of us who mumble about joints etc: stirrups with the ball-bearings at the bottom! I use Sprengers and they've made a huge difference, easing the movement of ankles and knees!

 

[Old Bat]

This is the BEST advice of all! I can add another tip, which I swear helps all of us who mumble about joints etc: stirrups with the ball-bearings at the bottom! I use Sprengers and they've made a huge difference, easing the movement of ankles and knees!

Oooh yes, Sprenger stirrups and a Heather Moffat seat saver....and chocolate.

 

[PeterNatt]

What a brilliant and inspring thread.
I am 61 and have ridden (hacked( at least twice a week for the last 35 years.
Just however have had 8 weeks off due to surgery but got back on to my 6 year old on Saturday and Sunday and we are back in action again! Brilliant!