How many people still ride in their late sixties or seventies?

Having read every post you people are inspirational.Not just to keep riding but in life its self. Im a mere pup at50 to some of these posts and I salute you. bloody hell inspirational x
 
As a vet I met a 75 year old lady and her 20+ year old TB who she still rode regularly. THe TB had colic and after a few days of treatment one of the other vets had to put it to sleep. THe lady was lovely - beautiful house with horse in the garden, gardener to look after things. We were all really upset because she made such an impression on us and loved her horses. We stupidly assumed that we wouldnt see her again. Couple of months later one of the vets went out to vaccinate her new horse. A 6 year old show cob. Such an inspiration.
 
Oh my gosh I am getting more thrilled by the hour to realise that so many people don't give up riding when they are older - I really admire all those that refuse to be beaten by age. I think part of the solution though is to have a kind safe horse (or pony) that gives pleasure instead of anxiety when you ride - the trick is to find one.

JillA you said 'I step DOWN into my stirrup' - could you explain how that works please and is it safe if the horse suddenly took off?
 
My mum still rides out 2-3 times a week and she's 72 - her hacking friend is 67 and was one of my primary school teachers.
Think it's more about attitude than age - some people get to retirement age and seeming to stop living life, whilst others crack on with it.
My parents also still do 2-3 European driving trips a year in their classic car.
I'm so proud of them!
 
Well I am in my sixties and still ride.Find some of these stories inspirational! I have a welsh cob and we have started western recently and love it.The stepping down thing, I don't QUITE do that but not far off.Trick is, I think, to have a horse that you trust enough not to bomb off.Always a dangerous situation however you mount.Happened to me once a few years ago.Fortunately he realized I was struggling, not far enough to throw a leg over, too far to dismount, and he just stopped! Bless.
 
Wow - inspiring! I am 42 & have been despairing that I currently have 2 field ornaments & am not sure whether I'll get back to BS after the enforced break. Now it seems that I'm worrying about nothing!

Thank you, everyone - esp Paulineh!

T x
 
Patchworkpony said:
JillA you said 'I step DOWN into my stirrup' - could you explain how that works please and is it safe if the horse suddenly took off?
Click to expand...

My mounting platform is built across the second rail of a two rail fence around the school, and it is slightly higher than the level of my stirrups when they are down (hence the need for a ickle ladder - 16.2hh horse :) ). I have trained my horse to park himself by the platform (really needs to be done because it isn't easy in a corner) and wait on cue. He is told to wait until I am in the saddle - he does sometimes mosey off before I have got both pedals, but because he is in the corner I could if necessary turn his head to the fence. It's a matter of training, as is any mounting block TBH. My livery who is a similar age has also trained her mare to stand in the corner to be mounted.
 
Thank you SO much everyone that bothered to post these really inspiring stories - it is such a delight to realise that so many people refuse to give in to the latter years and just keep going!
 
At almost 51 I'm feeling inspired too :) that I might have another couple of decades of being in the saddle! One of the most energetic 65 year olds I know still rides and loves a horse with a real bit of go.
 
I am of the opinion that as you get older your horse should get smaller. Years ago old friends of ours bought a small and very ugly black cob of about 13.3 that had the express purpose of taking a very elderly father out for hacks. This scruffy little animal had a heart as big as a house and always returned his rider back safely with glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes. Although many of the livery owners in the yard were rude about the make and shape of this little horse he was secretly everyone's favourite ride as he was SO safe.
 
Patchworkpony - it probably helps in some ways if you are lighter. However I went from being a 9.5 stone 40 year old to being a 14 stone 68 year old (there, I've owned up!). But I upgraded from a TB to a mightily powerful Section D, who appears not to notice I'm on top when she tanks off with me! And one upside is that in the one fall I've had from her - startled by pheasants on a country lane, she plunged forwards, buffeting my companion's horse, my left knee got trapped by companion's RIGHT knee and I was pulled out of the saddle - though I ended up in A & E, because of my plumpness I got off with massive bruising and nothing more serious.

It's been lovely reading about everyone's determination to keep riding. Sometimes I felt I was the only one over 30!
 
There's a gent in Western Australia still riding 40km rides and he's past 80...
I concur with Patchwork pony - I'm only 46 but my horses are already getting smaller (won't ride something I can't see over the top of any more). I plan on my "retirement" pony being a Highland or a Connie. No more than 14hh.
 
OwnedbyJoe - I am seriously looking into Exmoors if I could only lose weight. So much easier to get on and off.

Rose Folly - I used to weigh what you do but a good dose of food poisoning (from a local pasty) has at least got rid of half a stone so now I am inspired to keep going! I am sure that our joints suffer less and make it easier to ride if we can get back to our 'girlish' figures. What I want to know is why my OH can eat exactly what he wants an still look as sexy in breeches and boots as the day I married him. Men don't seem to have the problem with curves that us older ladies do.
 
I know a lovely lady who is 70 and still successful and competitive at a high level in Endurance riding.
She took me under her wing when I was a little girl, and found me my first pony. We lost touch when I left home, but a few years I found her via the joys of FB. It was lovely to know that after 20 odd years, nothing had changed and she is still keeping her own yard, and competing regularly, along with her husband, who is still riding and a farrier.
They are such an inspirational couple to me.
She also looks FABULOUS!
 
New question on this thread. How many of us pensioners still dress up on horseback at this time of year - out hacking or even hunting. In other words tinsel, holly etc. My fell mare was always be-decked with bells on her bridle to deliver Christmas presents to the neighbours; I think they thought I was having my second childhood!
 
My mum helped me look after my ponies when I was at home/university, despite not being horsey (she has learnt on the job). She's now treasurer of the local RDA carriage driving group, and at the age of 67 is learning to drive, which is something she's always wanted to do :)
 
My mum goes to riding school twice a week, she is in mid 70s. She does complain that due to her hips she finds its difficult to "get her leg over" :o

She says she wants a winch...

Someone was telling me the the other day about a lady in her 80s who does endurance riding and did over 1000 km this year.
 
Then get off the old ladies way. Keep your left foot in the stirup as you bring your right leg over, lay on the saddle digging your elbow in to balance, kick your left foot out of the stirup and descend.
Patchworkpony said:
Reacher -I SO sympathise with your mum. It's not so much the getting on as the getting off that is a problem - not good in an emergency!
Click to expand...
 
My first ever riding instructor used to ride into her 80's, at which point she was on about her 3rd pacemaker as she kept wearing them out, she'd been teaching since she was about 14 years old and I think she only gave up horse ownership at about 90 when the last of her ponies was PTS of old old age.

When I learnt to ride she was in her 70's and she was very fit and active, so much so my mum never believed how old she was and always told me that she just looked weather worn, it was only a few years ago when mum bumped into her son and he mentioned something about her age that she believed me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top