jumping at, um, mature age

[madmav]

It's me that's mature, not horse, although he's no spring chicken either. I jumped lots as youngster and loved it. Then didn't ride for many (many!) years. Now back jumping and liking it in a scaredy-cat sort of way.

Thing is, horsey friends I had when younger who used to happily jump huge courses now refuse to jump at all, preferring dressage because it's safer.

Am I being mad to be a slightly older rider and still jumping. I know there's good role models at top end of sport, but what about at the more humble end of scale. Anyone else out there who's older and yet still loves the challenge of a jump?

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

May I ask how old you are??

 

[Shilasdair]

Not mad at all - but hard hat and back protector are a good move...and make sure your stirrups will free from the bars if you lose the fight with gravity.
Have fun!
S

 

[hannah87]

doesnt matter wat age u r if u ask me!!!
go for it, nothing better than flying round a course of jumps, esp with nervous adrenaline!!
if u r really nervous get a few lessons to get confidence back
just do it!! - im only 20 , but im determined to still be jumping for th next 50 years!!

 

[madmav]

[ QUOTE ]
May I ask how old you are??

[/ QUOTE ]
Not until I do a H&H survey and find out average age of online members...don't want to expose myself to too much humiliation!

 

[sikaran]

Go for it! I have just started jumping again after at least a 10 year break, and I'm really enjoying it. I was beaten yesterday in a 75cms class by my friend who has just started again after a 20 year break, so you are not alone!

 

[Baggybreeches]

I am gonna get killed if she finds out I told, but my mum did loads of jumping into her early twenties (due to me and sis) and then nothing (not even much riding) but she got a lovely little mare that she trusts with her life and they have been doing HT and BE intro's for about 3 or 4 years. My mum was 50plus when she restarted!

 

[beatrice]

Not mad at all!!
Theres a fab lady and her husband at my yard who are both around the 60 mark.
She competes dressage and Showjumping, all be it nervously, but she enjoys it!
Her husband doesn't compete but flies around the place jumping!
If you are fit and healthy, your age is irrelevant!!
Go for it and enjoy!

 

[*hic*]

I'd been out of horses for 25 years and got back into them aged 41, had dealings with various nutters and then bought a sensible mum's hack which turned out to like jumping. We won the Novice, Inter and Open classes at our first show, then went on to be joint first in the puissance - it was only a tiny show I have to say! After that we continued round the local shows and were placed in just about every class we did, then started XC. I haven't competed him at more than 3' XC but we've been placed every time except the second time (pilot error - messed up at the water). Then my daughter grew out of her pony and I handed my boy over to her so I've done very little for the past couple of years.

Trouble is it hurts so much more if you do hit the floor and I don't seem to have the same stickability I did as a teenager!

Now we've just bought her another horse so hopefully I will either get my boy back to jump or have lost enough weight to ride my youngster. I miss it terribly - even though I do get very nervous before competing.

 

[SteveD]

go for it....your never too old.

Age is just a state of mind !!

 

[PaddyMonty]

[ QUOTE ]
go for it....your never too old.
Age is just a state of mind !!

[/ QUOTE ]

Couldn't agree more. I'm jumping at 47 and intend to carry on until they nail the lid down.
Age may be a state of mind but I fear my mind is in a state.

 

[viola]

Well, don't know how old you are but one of the riders I teach is 52 years young, had many serious operations and has recently braved cross country, show jumps 2'9 and wants more!
If you feel physically and mentally ready for a challange I see no reason why your biological age should matter

 

[angiebaby]

I never sat on a horse until I was 40! Now I'm 45, and ride my daughters 12.3h gymkhana pony Turbo, I take him out whenever I feel the need for a good blast.

( My pony is on box rest!) I jump him ( only about 2ft ) and take him around the Uk chasers couse nearby which is 8 miles long. You're never too old!

 

[JessPickle]

My dad learnt to ride in his early forties and learnt to jump for the first time ever in his mid forties!

 

[JCWHITE]

Fully support you.
Have this year got involved in the Veterans scene, a great crowd, do they know how to party! And still doing the normal stuff as well.

 

[madmav]

JC,
Tell me more about the veterans' scene - like the sound of the partying! Do let mre know more.

 

[Donkeymad]

I have a friend who, until this year, regularly show jumped and hunted. She has now retired due to arthritis at the age of 78. So go for it!!!

 

[kevH]

I am teaching a lady who is nearly 60, she wants to go in for a small local show next June as she is loving it. her friends think she is mad.

 

[SpruceRI]

That's the good thing about horse sports. You're never too old, and rarely too young!

Good on you however mature you are!!

 

[Ottinmeg]

i could count on one hand the amount of times ive sat on a horse in the last 17 years,got fed up with watching my daughters having all the fun with their horses so bought myself one.. number 2 daughter had put some little jumps up in the arena the other day and i couldnt resist jumping them..first time id left the ground in 20 years!! will be a while before i do it in public though as it wasnt pretty to watch lol, just pointed horse at them and held onto the neck strap!