for the older ladies.

[eahotson]

Unlike the rest of you I am more than happy to hang up my riding boots and move gently away from horse ownership. After a lifetime of working with horses full time, I now find my overworked body is not capable of taking on the physical hard work of looking after them any longer. I do still teach a little, and can ride if I feel like it, but just don't. I've done everything and more that I ever wanted to do with horses. Time for other stuff.

For most of us it has been a hobby.I wouldn't keep a horse if I couldn't afford full livery to be honest,too time consuming apart from anything else and I have some carer duties as well.Nothing wrong with moving onto other stuff though.

 

[Time for Tea]

I am in awe of all you mature riders. I am 68, and I have definitely slowed down and am much more careful. I don’t hunt or jump any more, mainly because it is just too exhausting. I began to find that after I had got myself looking respectable, got my horse looking smart, driven for an hour to a parking spot, hacked to the meet and then had a glass of port etc, that instead of looking forward to moving off, I was thinking I would prefer to return to my trailer and have my coffee and read a newspaper! I am VERY lucky with my kind, bombproof, overgrown 15hh New Forest who is 11 now. He does hunt well with my daughter. I would quite like to go again……but probably won’t.
its 22 years since I raced in a Boxing Day point to point across the New Forest. I do occasionally indulge in a fantasy of doing the veterans race, which is only one and a half miles……but I know I won’t!

 

[ycbm]

At 65 I no longer want to muck out or fix fencing, but I found I had a huge horse shaped hole in my life which was going to take hard work finding something else to fill, and probably only a job (volunteer or paid) would have done it. I can, luckily, afford one in full livery in a place minutes away, with unbeatable facilities. I thought my hips were beginning to play up with his width, but they seem to have settled recently. I would love to hunt if there was a legal hunt near me but there isn't, they both hunt fox openly. I'm just starting jumping again after a 5 year break. I don't know who's more keen, the horse or me!
.

 

[Time for Tea]

At 65 I no longer want to muck out or fix fencing, but I found I had a huge horse shaped hole in my life which was going to take hard work finding something else to fill, and probably only a job (volunteer or paid) would have done it. I can, luckily, afford one in full livery in a place minutes away, with unbeatable facilities. I thought my hips were beginning to play up with his width, but they seem to have settled recently. I would love to hunt if there was a legal hunt near me but there isn't, they both hunt fox openly. I'm just starting jumping again after a 5 year break. I don't know who's more keen, the horse or me!
.

I dream of full livery! Though I do have some help with yard work, which is increasingly valuable to me as I get older. Good luck with your jumping, I haven’t forgotten that wonderful feeling when it all goes just right. The power uncoiling beneath you and the soaring over. Like flying.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

I am going to Back Lane stables, Farnley , the south west of Leeds. I live an hour to the north east of Leeds , so there s no easy way to get there for me, either through the middle of Leeds , or use the ring road in either direction. I chose it because they have various horses/saddles to use , and more than 1 instructor , plus they do the side saddle assoc tests. In other words , they are geared up for aside riding! I believe Acrecliffe also do lessons , Otley- I thin. I have nothing but praise for my lessons - back in the 80 s I just had 1 lesson , with someone who became a fellow of the BHS - she did say she knew nothing really of side saddle , but took my money anyway! Instructor at Back Lane stables is a qualified SSA coach , I m learning so much, and loving it.

I thought I recognised candy in your photo lovley horse I have watched a few friends have lessons there but didn’t know they did side saddle!

 

[cornbrodolly]

I thought I recognised candy in your photo lovley horse I have watched a few friends have lessons there but didn’t know they did side saddle!

She is a star! I would be quite happy to take her home! Apparently she drives as well, as well as 'ordinary' lessons. She has a decent amount of wither for a cob ,which is good for side saddle work!