How long did you horse ride for before getting a horse?

I have no idea when I first sat on a horse but my Mum say's I was just a babe! My earliest memories are of when I would have been about 6 or 7 riding round on my Grandpa's lovley big mare and I think I started having proper lessons when I was about 10 after my Grandparents sold their horses and retired to Canada. (My Grandpa's birthplace) Fast forward 25 years and I bought my first horse. A 6 year old exracer. I don't believe in doing things by half and have enjoyed a very steep learning curve, but I love a challenge!
 
I started riding when I was 3 for a year, but then I gave up and re-started when I was 11 :) I began loaning Tont after just over two years, and 4 months later I owned him :D That's just over a year ago now :)

Nicole :)
 
12 years, got my first horse just 6 months ago when I could suddenly afford him :) he's a 5 yo Andalusian, and perfect in every way - gentle but fiery and tries his little heart out for me! couldn't be happier :) hard to imagine my life without horseys now!
 
I started riding at 11 and bought my first horse when I was 30. I had quite a few part loans first.

My horse was a TB x and was 17.
 
I was only 2 years old when my pony Shambles, a shetland type was declared my pony. My mum rescued her from some travellers, who had 'broken her' aged only 18 months. After some time of R + R I was plonked on, always smiled and enjoyed it, horses are in my blood. I used to live in Yorkshire then, and had some lovely walks/rides (apparently - can't remember!). I was too young to walk that far, so the pony did the walking for me, while I just held on!
Some 28 + odd years later, and a wide selection of horses owned, begged and borrowed along the way I am still addicted to horses. Meg is my first horse as an adult, if thats of any useful info!!
 
I started weekly riding lessons when I was 13. I got a 13.2hh new forest pony on part loan when I was 15, who I had for a year (until I completly outgrew her) then when I was 16 I was bought a 15.2hh IDxTB, she was 10 year old jack of all trades, but master of none type, but in a 2'6" jump off nothing could come close to beating her, she was awsome! I evented her at BE90 level (Intro back then!), but that was her limit. She has now become my Mum's horse, and now at the age of 18 is still just a whizzy in a jump off!
 
My family always had horses so I was bought a Shetland pony who was 6 months old when I was 6 months old. However, my parents always stressed the importance of good riding lessons so I started having lessons at a riding school when I was 12 til I was 17. I then started having lessons again when I was 23 til I was 26 on my own pony only. I think there will always come a time when I will benefit from lessons, as would anyone. I always enjoyed my lessons but as I dont do much now with Jamin, there isnt too much point.

I do think lessons are important before owning your own horse but there is only so much you can learn before you need to get experience. Having your own horse and riding a riding school horse can vary quite a bit. Saying that, if you are able to have lessons on your own horse then these are just as invaluable as learning to ride from scratch!

You can never stop learning. Every horse and every situation is different. Those who think they dont need lessons are usually the ones who so desperately do! (I know quite a few of these!) ;)
 
Thanks everyone for your replies!
It really varies...
I have everyone telling me different advice and not sure what to do!
I rode for 10years as a child, 5 year break and riding again. Its going great and I've been helping my friend with her horses a lot.
My advice varies from...
Friend and riding teacher; lessons to re learn the basics and get confident, then buy and continue lessons on my own
Friends: have to have riding lessons again for atleast 2 years before buying
Natural horsemanship teacher: who's been guiding me with what's best to do; buy a youngster to bring on myself under her guidance.

So I've been inches away from buying a youngster and now I'm doubting what to do! It's really important I make the right choice because my eldest little boy gets so upset. We had our cat PTS a year ago and he's still upset, so I want to make sure we choose the right horse for our family.
 
I was 35 when I bought my first pony and I believe have been riding for 31 years.

The earliest photo of me with horses look like I was about 4, one of me patting horses through the fence in the fields opposite my parents first house and then another of me under the age of 6 with my dad on a horse (wearing no hat) with me sitting in front of him on the same horse (wearing a riding hat). I cannot imagine anyone doing that now a days!

However though I bought my first pony age 35 my parents have bought me various ponies up till I was 18 I had very few lesson as was taught by dad on first pony. I then went to uni and then I rode at riding schools and had a share until 35 when I finally had enough money to buy and keep a pony myself.

even though i have been riding for many years I am still not a good rider.
 
Would not go for youngster, that seems very strange advice.... And i worry about her motives.

Riding teacher sounds a good plan to me, or maybe get a share/ part loan as a stepping stone for a year first? I've learnt loads from my shares, that i never would have at a riding school.
 
I started riding at 40 :o, and had weekly private lessons for 18 months, then had two shares, lasting another 18 months, then finally bought my own 7 months ago :)

I highly recommend sharing - a steep learning curve without the commitment of owning.
 
I had a horse then lean't to ride him. Not ideal but he was my teenage daughters and when she was killed he would not let anyone else only me ride him. It is the thing that 'saved me'
 
Personally, I would go for the youngster, but only if you are confident. That way you will get the chance to create a special bond and won't be stepping into the minefield of potentially taking on a horse with problems created by others. There's a plethora of cases like that! Good luck with your decision.
 
Mummytotwo said:
Thanks everyone for your replies!
It really varies...
I have everyone telling me different advice and not sure what to do!
I rode for 10years as a child, 5 year break and riding again. Its going great and I've been helping my friend with her horses a lot.
My advice varies from...
Friend and riding teacher; lessons to re learn the basics and get confident, then buy and continue lessons on my own
Friends: have to have riding lessons again for atleast 2 years before buying
Natural horsemanship teacher: who's been guiding me with what's best to do; buy a youngster to bring on myself under her guidance.

So I've been inches away from buying a youngster and now I'm doubting what to do! It's really important I make the right choice because my eldest little boy gets so upset. We had our cat PTS a year ago and he's still upset, so I want to make sure we choose the right horse for our family.
Click to expand...

In that case a youngster is even more of a risk! If you have no family worries and it doesn't work out then you could sell him/her.
When you do get one no matter what I would tell your son that the horse is staying with you for a while but his real mom may want him back. That way if it goes wrong he will be more prepared.

My view is that no matter how much you have lessons on other peoples horses it is NEVER so easy when you get your own. I had to do it the hard way BUT even though it worked out fine twice wouldn't do it again!

I had already had youngish 2 horses when I got a 2nd youngster, he seemed nice enough, quiet etc but it didn't work out and I had to find him a new home. Very upsetting for me never mind you and your son

Ideally you could find a nice quiet 6 or 7yr old that has done the basics, at least that way you have the best of both worlds. This is what I have done this time and it is wonderful. I have so much to teach him but at least he has done enough that I know he is safe (well as safe as any horse is)
Even at 6 he is throwing things at me that aren't always easy to deal with and can be a bit scary because as good and level headed (wonderful nature) as he is most of the time on the odd occasion he can be very sharp and naughty.
Too be honest if you met him and saw him on a good or average day you would not think he had it in him to buck, threaten to rear, or nap badly. He can get mega over excited in the warm up arena and run sideways to get to his friends

I guess my point is with youngsters you just never know
 
madeleine1 said:
thats actaully loovly
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:D
I guess it is. As I say it was what saved me, made me get up and leave the house in the mornings. He needed me he was distraught when she died and he had mean't 'everything' to her so I HAD TO take care of him.

I now have my own and it is still the reason I get up in the mornings

Oh I have a wonderful son but he has his own life to lead and we all need a reason to do things everyday
 
15 years and counting.... money is the issue:(

One day, I will have one! Probably when I'm 85:D I shall buy an unbroken racehorse as my first horse and whizz around the countryside, terrifying all I meet and laughing in the face of osteoporosis:D
 
My parents got me a pony on loan having only ever sat on a Donkey on Blackpool beach... Ponies were all I ever talked about, so at the age of 5 my mum took out a 3 month loan on a 12.2h Welsh Mountain pony called Misty :o)

Sadly by the time the livery had been paid at the end of every week there was no money left for lessons, so I had to teach myself, not to ride... To stay on the damn thing lol I would fall off at least twice a day... sometimes 5 and 6 times!

After a month of spending more time on my backside in the sand than on the pony, the owner said that she had never seen such determination in a small child and 'gave' Misty to us for free on the agreement that when I grew too big for her that I was to 'give' her to another child to learn to ride on after a trial loan period. We just couldnt believe how generous this lady was.

Misty was the most bombproof, patient, well mannered cuddle monster any child could have ever asked for. I had her for 4 years before I grew too tall for her and in those 4 years, she taught me everything I needed to know about 'How to ride'... What a Diamond she was!

Misty carried on 'Teaching' kids how to ride & fall off for many many years...
 
Rode from being 6 to 21 (15 yrs i think), then got one on loan then got my first at 23.

I went round every riding school in the area until i found the right one, then worked every spare day/holiday/weekend and learnt a hell of a lot in the process!
 
Rode as a child nothing more than cantering then huge break 30 years when moved to countryside (and after 10 years agoraphobia) started riding lessons only had a couple when got to talking to lady who had her horses in field opposite me and ended up helping her and loaning her old 26 year old (who wasn't actually hers I found out later) after a few hacks on him went to next lesson to be told hold must more relaxed I was and riding improved so didn't have any more lessons. I fell in love with a yearling new forest so when she was selling him I couldn't resist. Found out she didn't rent big field and I was lucky enough to rent 6 acres just down road for all our horses well her 6 and mine - but cut long story short - George went back to real owner I brought Echo and 3 1/2 broken ex-racehorse (he's not raced his mum and dad did). Fell out major with her and have my 2 boys in field opposite my house or down lane (got 3 fields!) along with lady down road's horse - working really well and I'm loving it - mel gives me advice. Had lesson recently and will do again but starting tacking Echo up weekly (well 2nd time today as wasn't well last week) and not only got on him we went up lane (hubby had us on lead rope) and Echo was brilliant. Then took Archie for a walk down lane but he's turning into a naughty 2 year old. Two people drove past who have know both my boys since they arrived here and said how well they were looking!. So from riding after 30 year break to 6 months later having 2 horses and renting 3 fields! Look forward to lighter evenings when can do more with them. Sorry long story!:eek:
 
Made my dad promise to get me a ponyfor a my 16th birthday when I was three; I think he'd thought I'd forget :p

Had weekly lessons from the age of three to fifteen; so thats 12 years.
Got my first horse, unbroken TB, in november, and I wouldnt swap him for the world.

I know an unbroken 3 year old is an unlikely choice for a first horse, but we "clicked" and I'd say we're doing pretty well together; we have issues - such as putting the bridle on, and general lack of manners, but he's learning, and so am I :D
 
I first sat on a horse at the age of 29 and had about 18 months of weekly riding lessons before I had my first horse. In that time I spent every weekend at my friend's yard who is a dealer and learnt so much.

First horse was 13yo 14hh cob, very easy to handle and a saint to hack but with enough about him to keep me on my toes. He is retired now due to Bone Spavin but helps keep my other ponies in order - I have 4 in total...
 
Riding school lessons weekly from age 8 to 15 and in the later years of that a bit of PC too and riding lots of friends ponies. Always wanted my own pony but wasn't an option. Then long long gap...til about 24 years later I had 2 years of lessons weekly before getting my own pony! Had him 7 years now, very happy :)
 
I rode at riding schools for 31 years from the age of 6 to 37. As a child/teenager I worked every spare hour at the local stables so picked up a bit of horse management/care. Then about 5yrs ago I shared my friend's horse for a year so got a bit more experience in actual horse care. Then I was left some money in my Aunts will and I took the plunge, so after 31 years of waiting my long held dream came true :)

George (horse in my sig) is my first, he was nearly 8 when i got him, and he is a 16.3 TB/Shire x We had some real ups and downs to start with (despite loving him to bits) and I lost all my confidence, but slowly and with lots of help we both got it back and now have so much fun, and he really is my dream come true :)
 
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