over 40's- what sort of horse do you ride?

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LeneHorse

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Following on from the getting too old for falling off thread, I just wondered what sort of horses my fellow 'mature' HHO members are riding? Are you still riding the same type of horse you had in your twenties or have you 'downsized' to something more sedate?

My horse would probably be considered pretty suitable for an older rider like me being a 15.1 cobby irish type. 90% of the time she's a happy hacker plod but for the other 10% she can nap, spin and buck for Britain! So there is still lots of potential for falling off :)
I think if she was 100% plod I'd be a worse rider, having to deal with her 'moments' is probably good for my seat etc.
 
Until recently a 16.1 ID before that for my 40th OH bought me a 17.1 Hanovariion x ID (the Bay in siggi) now sadly not with us anymore and the ID Grey in siggi is actually OH's but he has now retired.:)
 
Ignoring the age thing!. Always had horses around 16.2/16.3, normally ISH. Latest acquistion is a 17.1 5 year old ISH but he is a: short coupled b: quite level headed. The difference getting older has made to me is that my days of wanting to ride and happily sitting on anything equine have long gone. Mainly due to the amount of hospital days as result!. I am not so gung ho with my new boy and he is very different from my previous horse, but we just keep going out and am building up our relationship - and my confidence in him. Priority at the moment is to stop riding him like my previous and slightly backward thinking boy as he is not like that! But I am still smiling...!!
 
as somone who is definitely over 40 - in the last week i have ridden
13.2 pone
15.2 trad cob
16.1 IDxTB
& my own 17hh HW hunter type
my only rule now is that no real danger is involved - altho the tiny pone did consider a litttle rear until it worked out that i weighed somewhat more than its young owner - & a rear would be far too much like hard work:)
 
I bought an unbroken Fell mare in my thirties as I thought she would make a good all round family pony for my children and hubby to ride. Turns out that they weren't that bothered so I got her all to myself!

It wasn't what I would have bought for me initially, but I'm so glad I did. She's very easy to keep, no need to faff with stabling, rugs or clipping if I don't want to (and there are days I certainly don't!) She is practically bombproof and I dare ride anywhere with her. Her stamina is second to none and she loves xc and jumping. She has turned into the perfect ride for me and I wouldn't swop her for the world now. She has a wonderful character and is very loving.

I still occasionally yearn for a good blast on a tb, or the quirkyness of arabs, but on the whole I'm pretty content with my lot and hacking is mostly all I do now anyway so she's just right for the job. At 14hh she's small enough to get along difficult routes and easy enough to mount. :D
 
Flibble said:
Oh god no are over 40's old I am over 55 and just horse shopping for a nice 16hh.
I dont want a plod I would die of boredom but then I dont want an idiot and never have wanted an idiot.
Click to expand...

I'm 50 and have that horse Flibble. I have AES SFx 16hh bay mare whose walk is as fast as anothers trot:D

Can't be doing with strolling:D:D

Good luck in your search.
 
In my 20's I learned to ride on 15 to 15.2hh horses and never once took a fall.

In my (very) late 40's I started to ride again on a 5 year old 14.2hh New Forest pony who used to dump me on the floor, or more accurately used to move in one direction while I was still moving in another, on a regular basis.

Remember, it's not the fall that hurts, it's the landing :D
 
As a bus pass holder, I ride a 14.1 coloured NFx. Previously I had a 15.1 Anglo Arab but I have always been a pony lover.
 
OP you made me laugh - do we own the same horse? Mine is 14.3hh, a nice MW irish cob type, very handsome and very funny. He is just the same, 90% of the time he is great, the other 10% he is a total and utter *****. He is 100% bombproof, in fact I could hack him along the motorway and he wouldnt bat an eyelid. Stick a plastic bag in a place where it wasnts the last time we walked past in down one of the lanes we hack along and he naps for england. He also thinks that spinning and bolting for home is fun (I dont, and know how to handle it now) and oh, sticking my head in the air, snorting and spooking is incredible fun and should do it regularily.

However, he is utterly reliable in traffic, is used by the YO if she takes youngsters out on a lead rein, will hunt all day, has done all PC stuff with Mini TX, including camp, has won doing dressage with me, has a wicked sense of humour and is great fun to be around. Always easy to catch, clip, travels like a dream, has no hang ups whatsoever. Oh, he is very handsome as well - jet black with summer dapples, a large white star and 3 white socks.

He's 18 now and is with me for the rest of his life.
 
I am riding my daughter's pony, a 14.2hh NFXTB as she has gone on to her young eventer.

A sensible pony is what I sadly need, as I am starting to feel ancient and have joint problems ... oh, and I am a rubbish rider too! :D
 
I am 43 and spent the past few years plodding around on my cob whilst her foal grew up. Foaly is now 4 years old, newly broken and very bouncy.....nothing like her mother!!!!. I wanted something bigger and faster and I certainly got my wish.
 
i didnt intend to slow down, but, i have a now got a superb 4 year old who's such a pleasure to ride, my 20 year old was retired 3 years ago now after what has been 16 years of very hairaising riding so say the least, if he couldnt buck you off at times he would simply roll on you !! i must admit its such a pleasure to have a nice and stedy neddy :-) i did wonder if the 4 year old was going to be a little 'boring' when i first started riding him, but have learned to slow down and enjoy him, i'm not saying he's 100% all the time, but generally he's been an absolute pleasure to break in and ride on.

definately a fan of 'slowing down' and now couldnt go back to the mad days of the last 16 years.
 
Aged 43 I have just started riding my 3yo quarter horse...must be mad! But I've got the assistance of a great trainer, and my boy although opinionated is so sensible and sweet. Have just had a lovely ride on him at his second ever show....we showed him in hand and then rode him in the warm up areas with LOTS of other horses and he was good as gold! :D
 
I have 2 yearlings, one with a fair amount of TB and arab in it,the other mostly welsh cob. in 2 years time i Hope to be backing and schooling them. Should be fun, I am 51 this year so I will be 53 then.
 
A very special pretty 16.1 grey Hanov/TB mare who is 16yrs, but shes having a "Gap Year" (rest and time off due to tendon injury) and also my very handsome 16h tri-coloured ISH who is 10yrs old. She keeps me young and he keeps me on my toes, he doesnt like grates, esp when wet, and can turn on a sixpence. Did this at the beach last year, caught me out and I plopped off into the sea!!
 
I'm 5' 2" and ride a 16hh Tb chestnut mare, my first horse after a 23 year break from riding!!!!!!!!! I like a challenge, me :D
 
I didn't have a horse until I was 28 - I still have him, and still ride him now, he is occasionally spooky but generally well behaved.

I've just backed and am riding away our just turned four home bred filly, and have a two year old waiting in the wings...
 
Whatever comes through the yard - I'm not rich enough to be fussy and if there is something dodgy I would rather get on it myself than risk the staff :D;) I do appreciate it when owners are honest about their horse's "quirks", so at least it doesn't come as a surprise :rolleyes:

My own horses tend to be big young IDs - I like riding young horses :)
 
Well my lot are 16hh,15.3hh,15hh and what I thought was 13.3hh, saddler said yesterday 14hh and still growing(Wesh Sec D) and I'm 62 and a bit, must admit I do like the quiet life now.:D:D:D
 
46 just retired old cobby plod 14.1 heavy weight(me and the cob)!

Looking for similar but have been to view and the ads have stated they are giving up due to age and are actually younger than me!! Worrying!! Backs killing me I think I need a hip replacement(well I think so) and am wondering if I should see a shrink too!
 
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