How old were you when you started riding?

[Finnbob]

My son will be 1 this month and at the moment absolutely loves going to the horses, stroking them, laughing at them and sometimes I'll have a walk round with him on the front of the saddle which he thinks is hilarious!

Just got me wondering when you lot all started? My grandma used to run a riding school and like my son I was sat on horses before I could walk. I wasn't that keen really as a child as the horses were kind of forced on me but now obviously I'm very keen/dedicated what ever you want to call it - horses are my life now! I'm very mindful of not putting my hobby on my son but for now he loves them.

So do you remember when you started riding or when your kids did? My OH is now having lessons but starting at over 30 is obviously harder than as a kid!

 

[happyhack]

I was 7 years old. I nagged and nagged and nagged my mum to let me go riding and she agreed saying it was phase that I'll get over......

I don't think she budgeted enough money for my hobby!!

 

[Stoxx]

The first time I rode was when I sat on my pony to 'try her out'. She was my 4th birthday present.

 

[lauraandjack]

Must have been 4 or 5. I was young enough that I don't remember!

 

[Kenzo]

''was sat on horses before I could walk''

ditto

 

[vhf]

I don't remember starting - but got my own pony at 4, and won enough on him to buy my next pony at the age of 6... (1970's Canada, I think it was about 80 dollars!!)
"Little sis" arrived years later, and same first pony got brought into the house (England by then) and she was sat on him age 9 days. She was literally riding before she could walk - by that I mean controlling direction, if not speed! Very, very special pony mind. I'm not sure how many are around like him.

 

[TelH]

I started having lessons aged 3 and won my 1st rosette aged nearly 5. Was 24 before I actually owned my own horse though!

 

[bubbaloonie]

I think I started at a riding school at 9 or 10 but when the farm we live next to was turned into a livery yard by the new owner I started having lessons on a pony there. When she left a new pony called Midnight arrived and I started riding her instead. Started sharing her in the summer aged 11 and bought her that october.....and the rest is history as they say. 11years later and aged 23 she's still my naughty little monkey!

 

[marmalade76]

I was sat on ponies before I could walk and had my own at 18 months. I even did lead rein ghymkanna on a 15.2 when I was 4! My children both sat on my horse before they could walk. They have a pony but don't ride often due to lack of help ( can't take 3 y.o. riding without someone to look after 17 month old ) and when my daughter does ride, 10 minuets is enough for her. I would never force them to ride and if they loose intrest in the future it will make it easier for me to ride myself.

 

[dsophiea]

i used to sit on them before i could walk ive been told, but i got my 1st pony when i was 3years old. i never had ponies forced on me though, my mum told me i made the choice as i had such a keen interest on them.

 

[Bug]

7 for me looks like I am quite a late starter!

I lived in Africa though until 7, so guess it wasn't really an option!

 

[Ezme]

Bloody hell, if bug_a_boo is a late starter what am I! I started riding age 9. Turns out my mum was massivly horsey as a teenager, riding for horse rangers in london (even have a medal from the queen mother!

) and now although she's not riding she's just as obsessed as me again. Although I don't have my own... my I treat the mag like he is!

 

[amycov]

I started when I was 5 and have never looked back. Had been having lessons for 11 years before I got my ponio.

 

[muffinino]

Halfway between my 11th & 12th birthdays

Had nagged to for as long as I can remember

 

[Seahorse]

I didn't start riding until I was 12, my family is totally unhorsey and I nagged my Mum for ages about having lessons until she finally gave in!

I was lucky that I was then bought a pony 6 months later having only ever cantered twice and I had never jumped. The first jump I ever did was on the pony I ended up buying when I tried him out.
Looking back it could have easily gone so horribley wrong but he was fantastic, a real 'been there and done it' pony. I was so lucky to have had him as my first pony.

My little girl who is now 5 sat on her first pony ages 4 days old and has always been around horses all her life, couldn't really be bothered with them

 

[DW Team]

I first sat on a pony when I was 18 months old and I started to ride and have lessons when I was about 5. No in my late 40's and still hooked.

 

[ru-fi-do]

I've been around horses since I was two, I had my first 'proper' lesson when I was five

 

[Nailed]

I was 11, I begged and begged. Mum wouldnt buy me a hat because 'Its only a passing phase'!

LOL...

Lou x

 

[spotty_pony]

I was 12.

 

[UKa]

Hi, I was 6 - used to go to the local yard who had a few ponies and was allowed to sit on - later ride - ponies there as well as hang around all day and help around the yard. It was great and I have fond memories of my first permanent ride, a white shetland X called Max ...

My son is now nearly 2 and has been coming up to the stables every day ever since he was a week old but while he is very keen to be around them and loves stroking the horses he is not so keen on being on board. Sometimes I am a bit disappointed at that as I thought it would be lovely to get him riding early but no point forcing it. And also he adores tractors but was afraid to go on one the other day so I think he is just a bit timid

 

[megwan1]

nagged till i was 10 when mum decided i could have lessons but she let us start going in September i think to put us off cos she thought we wouldnt like the winter lol!!!! silly lady! then got my first loan pony at 12

 

[E_Lister]

I had ridden occasionally up until I was 12 (including a 2 week intensive "crash course") however I didn't start to ride regularly until I was about 12 and have ridden as regularly as I can ever since.

 

[L00bey]

Think it was 95 or 96 so 3 or 4 ish.

 

[revilo]

I started when I was 8, my cousin was riding at the time and wanted to have a go. Over the years I have stop started. My mum used to ride when she was younger other than that no other member of my family is horsey.

 

[Chavhorse]

Dads used to take me out hacking sitting in front of him in the saddle from the age I could sit up and hold on to the breastplate strap. And we used to canter and heath and safety would have a field day now I know!

Then aged 3 he used to take me out with him on a leadrope on a very small pony.

Mum started giving me lessons aged 5 as she suspected that Dads would be too soft.....

He and I used to escape together and hack for miles right up until he died at 86 (ten years ago). He still used to take his ancient hunter Morris (aged 29) out for as he put it a 'the old farts parade" on most days and was dead proud that they were both on the same medication for "stiff old cogers joints"

 

[marmalade76]

My little girl spent loads of time on a tractor in her car seat when she was tiny.

 

[4leggedfurries]

[ QUOTE ]
I was 7 years old. I nagged and nagged and nagged my mum to let me go riding and she agreed saying it was phase that I'll get over......

I don't think she budgeted enough money for my hobby!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto!

But 20 years later and 9 horses down the line i'm still going and have surprassed my parents expectations. I also have (or should I say had) totally unhorsey parents who didnt want to know, but now dad helps out a lot rugging them up, turning out etc, mom whos petrified mucks out, fusses them, and even give the ickle un a groom every now and then

 

[happyhack]

I am still waiting for my first horse!! lol!

Its on my birthday and Xmas list every year!

 

[blackmagic]

I was 19 before I got properly started, although did have a few months of lessons ages 10ish but my mum got fed up of taking me as the riding school was 20mins drive and I had a lot of hobbies at that age, and I wasn't interested enough to argue.
Definately harder starting as an adult. Got my first horse aged 25 and am now giving my friend's 5 month old 'lessons' on her!

 

[Ottinmeg]

i was 7, sister was 5 and her teacher was horsey.Two spaces came up at the riding school where she kept her horse and she asked the parents if my sister wanted to go.What my sister did i also had to do. I had no desire at the time to ride horses at all but over 30 years later i still have horses while my sister gave up 20 plus years ago!