OAP riders

Gusbear

Gusbear

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I turn 47 this year (ouch!) and my boy is rising 5. I will be keeping him for life and much to my OH's amusement plan to still be in the saddle well into my 70's (dodgy hips, Alzheimer's, etc permitting) :D
Do you know of anyone still happily hacking, possibly competing in this age bracket?
I remember the Japanese dressage rider that competed in the Olympics aged 71 so was wondering if anyone knows of any oldies still throwing their leg over (so to speak).
 
Gusbear said:
I turn 47 this year (ouch!) and my boy is rising 5. I will be keeping him for life and much to my OH's amusement plan to still be in the saddle well into my 70's (dodgy hips, Alzheimer's, etc permitting) :D
Do you know of anyone still happily hacking, possibly competing in this age bracket?
I remember the Japanese dressage rider that competed in the Olympics aged 71 so was wondering if anyone knows of any oldies still throwing their leg over (so to speak).
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I am in my 80's and still throwing my creaky legs over and hacking almost daily, so you my dear are a mere spring chicken. If you (and you sound as if you are) truly passionate about horses, there is no reason (save health) why you should not have many many years left in the saddle.
 
I've known plenty who still ride in their 60's & 70's. I used to hack twice a week with a lovely man of 89. He only gave up when his elderly id x tb was retired, & said ploddy types didn't suit him but he was reluctant to get on a forward going horse he didn't know. I've also seen loads of older ladies hunting. The only concession is that they tend to go round the huge jumps & ride quieter types than they did in their youth.
 
I am a mere spring chicken of early 60's. OK, I only hack, (lack of transport) but I would love to go on pleasure rides and compete at dressage, (I only managed low level). I don'r envisage giving up until my boy does, he is 21 yrs old.

I am hoping that I have found someone to jump my boy, (he does enjoy it and I am crap) at home just to give him variety.
 
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Oh lovely. There is certainly hope for me (and my boy).
Isn't it wonderful that riding allows you to keep going for much longer than most other pastimes. Also it allows everyone to compete on level ground whether you be male, female, young or old.
Here's to horses and riding and keeping going for as long as possible.
 
My mum rode until arounf 75 and only stopped when her (entirely unsuitable and utterly bonkers) horse reared and went over backwards crushing her in a ditch :eek:

In the best horsewoman traditions she still got back on and rode home despite having fractured various bones :mad:
 
Frank's owner is in her 70s and has had a stroke... Lucky for her, Frank the 16.3hh TB ex-chaser is a saint! She says she won't keep it up forever, but it gives me hope that I'll be riding for another 50 years (I'm 25) :)
 
Honestly said:
I am in my 80's and still throwing my creaky legs over and hacking almost daily, so you my dear are a mere spring chicken. If you (and you sound as if you are) truly passionate about horses, there is no reason (save health) why you should not have many many years left in the saddle.
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That is fantastic, I hope I will be able to do the same, great to hear. I know a couple of sisters who are early 90 s and was told only last week that they both ride once a week on a friday, so it can be done.:)
 
Absolutely fabulous, all of these replies, says this sprightly 52-year-old looking forward to another 20 years in the saddle. Yay!!!!!
 
Gusbear said:
so was wondering if anyone knows of any oldies still throwing their leg over (so to speak).
Click to expand...

Well I'm a little bit older than you and I'm still riding as often as I can! :D



Honestly said:
I am in my 80's and still throwing my creaky legs over and hacking almost daily, so you my dear are a mere spring chicken. If you (and you sound as if you are) truly passionate about horses, there is no reason (save health) why you should not have many many years left in the saddle.
Click to expand...

*round of applause*

Well done!!
 
Me to, I have just bought an 11 month old and look to still be riding her into my 60s and riding beyond. I currently hack out with a 65 yr old and a 75 yr old and my friend told me about an 85 yr old who still go out on hunts!

I reckon you've got more chance of staying fit being involved with horses and that keeps you young, my 65 yr old friend has 5 horses and has backed all of them, she is up at 6am everyday doing things on her farm and has more energy than me and I'm half her age, puts me to shame!!
 
I'm in my mid 50's, 4 horses including an enormous leggy youngster to bring on, hopefully she'll be my next endurance horse. I think HH could do a cracking article on older riders.
 
Isn't there a man in his 70's going to represent his country at the Olympics at dressage?

Not only can you be riding in your 70's but you can be riding at you absolute best! 47 - pah ..... ambition dear girl!
 
We have a lovely woman that works at our yard, used to have her own lively TB mare there but she sadly had to put down last autumn. She now shares someone else's horse elsewhere 3 days a week. She is in her early 60s and has more energy and get up and go than I have and looks great. The riding and the mucking out etc will keep you moving and supple and fit I reckon. So I think riding into the autumn of your years is obviously a good thing :) At approaching 50 I'm hoping I'm building up to that not declining now!
 
I am 40 and still breaking horses and intend to for a long time yet, my parents both still ride and my dad rode in his last point to point in his early sixties I think roughly about that age.

The only reason he had to stop is because he has had cancer but is recovered now and much to my dismay is intending if he can pass the medical is intending to ride in another race he is still work riding his pointers.

My mother has been very ill in the past on an intensive care ward but is back riding as well she is slightly younger in her sixties dad is seventies now, they have several horses mostly tbs and do them for the most part themselves.

They have no intention of giving up my dad has just been talking about buying a new horse and he does not like the quiet ones so I would think you are well capable of riding for a long long time yet.

I do sometimes despair of them both sometimes.
 
A friend of ours competes RC, BS Club and unaff sjing and comes home with a rosette every time out, she is early/mid 60's. My daughter rode her horse for her last summer when she broke her hip, 2 wks off crutches she virtually ran the xc at Hatherleigh when she walked the course with my daughter. She makes me feel so inadequate!!
 
OP I am 3 years older than you, own a 19 year old cob, who I fully intend to keep on riding as long as he is fit and well enough. However, I also fully intend to buy another horse once he retires etc. I've got plenty of friends in their 40s and 50 who ride, and have met lot a lot of rather game old dears out hunting, many of whom put us to shame with their fearless riding.

I also harbour some competitive ambitions, which I dont want to post just yet, but it does concern something to do with my favourite equestrian disclipline and my daughter's horse. I fully intend to add this ambition to my 'Bucket List' in the next couple of years as well.
 
I am 52 :o and bought my first horse (10 years old) last year. I intend to carry on at least as long as he does!

There are a number of ladies at our yard well into their 60s and a couple in their 70s. One is just recovering from an op and will be back in the saddle shortly - she is 77.
 
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