planete
Well-Known Member
I fear I am far too opinionated to put an expert on little cob even though I know it would make sense. I obviously need to be mellowed a bit more by senility!
Getting wimpy in old age......
- Thread starter Neddie123
- Start date
J&S
Well-Known Member
I am nearly 74 and only ride within my comfort zone now, this includes hacking my own old retired competition pony and hacking and competing at arena trec on the big, old but amazing 16 hh Irish hunter owned by my friends. I think the phrase, " The mind is willing but the body is weak" sums it up for me, I still dream of jumping the fallen trees in the New Forest or the stone walls in Northamptonshire. I did ride round a PC xc course in the year I was 70 and it was the lack of ability to breath after about fence 4 that slowed me down!! I don't ride any unknowns any more. I hit the ground hard last year when riding my small companion pony and she fell with me, it really hurt and I can't afford to be out of action for any time.
Sir barnaby
Well-Known Member
I too still hack out regularly but at a sedate pace, however I have two friends who love to ride and can’t afford the time for their own horse so they take Barney out and are happy to give him a good work out with some canter work for me whenever they have the time. I don’t pay them they just come when they want to, I get him in and all tacked up ready and they rock up ready to ride, win win all round
deicinmerlyn
Well-Known Member
For me it’s not being as fit or anywhere near as agile and balanced as I once was! That and the memories of some serious falls and injuries keeps any bravery i once had in serious check.
canteron
Well-Known Member
Just for balance, thought I should post this link!!!
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/over-55-and-being-great.791821/page-3#post-14359263
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/over-55-and-being-great.791821/page-3#post-14359263
oldie48
Well-Known Member
Oh, I looked at my July post and it was all going so well then I ended up in hospital just shortly after. That'll teach me! So my advice to anyone is just do what you want to do, don't put things off as you don't know what is round the corner to put the brakes on and don't do anything you don't want to do. TBH I don't think anyone who rides any horse is wimpy anymore than someone who jumps big fences is brave, we are all different with different skills, levels of experience and confidence, different horses etc Unless we are professionals we should stop measuring ourselves against the achievements of other people and just focus on our own goals.
spotty_pony
...
I've hit 30 and literally seem to have become sensible overnight! I hunted through most of my 20s and was a proper gung ho thruster and would ride anything and everything. I have quite a few aches and pains already and wish i had been a bit gentled on my body in my earlier adult life now but paying the price now! Dodgy ankle, knees, back ache, and dodgy thumb - oh and a dent in my head!!
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
Today I decided being on the ground is just as dangerous in old age. I had instructed her to turn away, circle and come again. I was nearly flattened !
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Blimey! What happened there?
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
A mixture of freshness, rushing, rudeness, failure to use the corner to establish balance and an attempt by the mare to take a flyer and realising she was too far away. I saw it brewing and said circle but the mare had locked on. At least self preservation kicked in at the last second !