Getting back into riding after 10 years – any tips?

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Garam

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Hi everyone!

I’m getting back into horseback riding after about 10 years, and I’d love some advice from those who’ve done the same. I used to ride regularly when I was about 11 years old, I was galloping and jumping small fences (about 50 cm), but it’s been a long break.

What would you recommend for that kind of challenge – both in terms of fitness and riding itself? I’m 168 cm tall if that makes any difference when it comes to choosing a horse or saddle size.

Would love to hear your experiences and tips!

Thanks in advance :)
 
After a 9 year break I've returned to horses this year and my top tip is go back to riding school. Find a decent school with nice, well schooled horses and a kind instructor get back to riding fitness slowly and safely.

Don't be afraid to try a few different riding schools to see which feels right for you and be honest about your ability and goals. A decent instructor will work with you too achieve those goals, putting you on appropriate horses and working to your strengths while gently resolving your faults and building your fitness (trotting a full circuit of the school on my first lesson nearly killed me but in my last lesson I was able to trot 20 minutes and still feel good afterwards).

Good luck and enjoy the process of returning to something you love 🥰
 
The skills definitely come back to you. I rode as a child and then had a 30 year break. I restarted with the occasional lesson and now ride twice a week and have started learning horse archery and mounted combat.

I second the suggestion to start with lessons before considering buying your own.
 
Welcome to the forum OP. Are you in the US? Most of the forum members are based in the UK, so advice re riding schools may not be appropriate - I'm not sure what the situation is over there. But getting back to riding fitness by riding friends' horses, volunteering to help at horse facilites in exchange for rides, just getting back "into" horses prior to taking the plunge would be a good idea.
 
Like Kunoichi73 I had a 30-year break and then started back with lessons 6 years ago and ride three times a week - lessons and hacks. Amymay Again is right, it's like riding a bike. I definitely recommend riding lessons to get you back on track, for advice reference horse size and saddles, etc. Good luck, and have fun. :) Keep us posted as to how you're getting on.
 
I started proper riding when I was 61. I went to the best local RS, BHS registered. I had 2 half hour private lessons each week always on the same cob gelding, in a small indoor school. The school was shared by several riders, including those who cantered around. I did not do well. Unknown to me, the cob was too wide for me. I could not sit straight on him.
After 15 months I changed schools, I started to have one lesson and a hack each week at 2 different schools. I liked hacking and eventually learned to canter while hacking behind my young teachers.
I continued the hacking from that yard for years but I changed to a different RI for school lessons and was taught on the lunge, classical style. My OH and grand daughter were also eventually taught by that teacher and I shared her retired lesson horse.
Sharing meant that I could ride out alone and hacking on my own seemed to convince people I could ride. I cant really. My long solo hacks are on the horses I know and trust and who know me.
But there is a sub text to this. I took my riding education seriously and spent money on it. In my second year, I did a BHS stable management course and helped out on a yard once a week. I had lessons in grooming and ground work. I spectated clinics and demos, particularly those by Mark Rashid whose books I had read. I wanted to watch how people ride. These days one can watch on line but then one went to a clnic or watched on VHS tapes. And OH and I went to Colorado to ride in a Mark Rashid clinic ourselves.
 
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