My Dad wants to start riding again aged 62

R2R

R2R

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In his day my dad evented, team chased, etc etc etc - please note the words, however...IN HIS DAY!!

He is 62 with a double knee replacement and wants to start riding my new boy, who is 100% genuine and easy to do.

Should I let him, or am I asking for trouble? Is 62 too old to re-start? I know all about fossils on the hunting field, however they have been going without a 20 odd year break!!

What do you think?
 
I think this is great! I was watching SJing last night and their was a french guy on there well into his 60's jumping in affiliated jumping!! And he was blooming marvalous at it too!!

As long as he takes it steady, and when it hurts, he stops, I see no reason why he shouldn't give it a go!

I would love it if my parents rode!! Would make my passion for horses a lot easier to explain to them... I may have even had a pony when I was young!!!
 
I'd say have a go and see what happens. You never forget how to ride, so 20 yrs off doesn't matter. He may well be sore the first few times (and might re assess his desires!) but age certainly is no barrier to riding. It's great that he wants to. Let us know how he gets on.
 
My parents' new active hobbies (cycling, dog walking, tai chi) have been great for them. But some of the other things they tried didn't work out. At least your dad has an idea of the strains involved.

Maybe you could suggest a one-off hack or something with you on foot/bike/another horse if possible so that neither of you have to commit to to anything and loose face/feel awkward about backing out?
 
Thats no guarentee - riding parents= ponies..I had to wait till I was 15 before I was allowed one on loan as they knew EXACTLY what they were letting themselves in for!!

:D

He wants some sort of riding lesson but I think I might take him hacking...lesson might be a bit like him teaching me how to drive!!!

Trouble is, I have taken him hacking before (once, about 10 years ago) on my old horse and all he wants to do is gallop EVERYWHERE....
 
Where's the problem? I started riding at 40 and love it. My wife had a 20 year break too (no she's not 62).

What you have to worry about is if he really gets back into the routine and you can never get near your horse again ;)
 
My mum is going to be riding Bloss next year when she comes back in to work after foaling as a nanny for when i hack out my then 3yr old! (She dosent know it yet though!) Shes 67, will be 68 by then. She also used to hunt and run her own yard 'back in the day'. Bloss will be 18 by then and shes a good old thing when she knows shes got someone who might be a bit nervous on her back. Mum will love it once she gets going again, its just persuading her!!
 
Pedantic said:
Brill, steady start and build up over a few weeks to get things working and away he goes :)
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This :D

I would have loved my parents, or indeed anyone in my entire humongously huge family, to share my love of horses and riding :D

D1, even though we have our differences *coughs gently and tries not to choke* love to hack out together :D. Which is going to be interesting 'cos we're now down to one working horse between us lol, and at the rate Dizz goes lame... Hm. :rolleyes::cool:
 
Lippyx said:
I think this is great! I was watching SJing last night and their was a french guy on there well into his 60's jumping in affiliated jumping!! And he was blooming marvalous at it too!!
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Think you're thinking of Jean Marc Nicolas (born in '51 - sorry JM :) ) and yes he's the guy who makes me believe I'll still be riding sleepy when I'm 60.
 
You lot are far too keen!!! What happens if he falls off?

I would love to go riding with him...am a tad worried about loosing my horse though
 
R2R said:
You lot are far too keen!!! What happens if he falls off?

I would love to go riding with him...am a tad worried about loosing my horse though
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What if he trips walking along a path, which he was doing because he wasn't riding.... :confused::rolleyes:.

He's a big lad now, and I know you want to protect him, and I know that someone would need to look after him if he got hurt, but... ??

And I'm sure he'll give you your horse back. Someday. Probably soon. If you're lucky :D

Have a hot choccy to help your contemplations :D
 
My Mum is looking for a new dressage horse who can take her further. She is currently doing unaffiliated dressage at prelim level and wants to do affiliated and go to Novice as well. She looks after 3 horses at home by herself - the new one will make it 4. She is 73.
 
my grandad was an apprentice jockey back in the 1930's. He was probably about 60 when we got our first horse and he asked if he could ride her much to the dismay of my mum and nan (mutterings about being too old, being a silly old devil etc etc) but we wanted to see him ride. Wish we'd had a camera there to capture the look on all our faces when he just vaulted onto her back and set off trotting around the field. And the big grin on his face as he rode her was absolutely lovely and a memory i still treasure.

He didnt actually take up riding again but said that being on horseback had made him feel like he was 15 again. Sadly he is now dead but i loved to hear him talking about his days in Lambourn and im sure my and my sisters love for horses came from him.

Re your dad, id say bravo to him, and make sure you have lots of pics of your horse as you'll probably not see much of him in the flesh anymore :D
 
I first got on a horse 2 1/2 years ago at 51. I am aiming at eventing next year (purely cos my lorry isnt ready).
Grow old disgracefully, you are a long time dead
 
My Dad was still hacking out daily at 83! when his ageing hunter finally keeled over we had to persuade him that buying another horse at knocking on 84 was maybe not the brightest idea in the world. So a friend used to let him have a ride on hers and he used to drag my neices pony out for long walks in hand as it was "far too bloody fat"

When he came to visit me in Cyprus aged 86 he was eyeing up my lunatic TB with a gleam in his eye to the extent that I actually hid my tack! We did let him have a go on an elderly QH and he was happy to pootle around again.

What finally got him aged 92 was a cold that turned into a chest infection to which I am convinced that had we let him at 84 buy another horse he would still have been used to going out every day come rain hail or shine and would have shrugged it off.


Go for it but maybe suggest eventually that Dad buys himself a horse!
 
Oh Lordy I think I will. I spoke to him at lunchtime and said he could come for a hack whenever...will let you know and post pics :)
 
Mogg said:
my grandad was an apprentice jockey back in the 1930's. He was probably about 60 when we got our first horse and he asked if he could ride her much to the dismay of my mum and nan (mutterings about being too old, being a silly old devil etc etc) but we wanted to see him ride. Wish we'd had a camera there to capture the look on all our faces when he just vaulted onto her back and set off trotting around the field. And the big grin on his face as he rode her was absolutely lovely and a memory i still treasure.

He didnt actually take up riding again but said that being on horseback had made him feel like he was 15 again. Sadly he is now dead but i loved to hear him talking about his days in Lambourn and im sure my and my sisters love for horses came from him.

Re your dad, id say bravo to him, and make sure you have lots of pics of your horse as you'll probably not see much of him in the flesh anymore :D
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I love this story! What a fabulous grandfather.

And no way is 61 too old, the only restrictions are physical, but if everything that needs to be is working then he should definitely go for it!
 
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