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

Until recently a 16.1 TBX, who was great, although a bit nappy and king of the spin and buck manoevre.

Acquired a 15.1 Arab a couple of months ago who is an absolute babe. Definitely not a plod, but receptive and good fun. I'm finding him seriously sane and sensible after the TB mare I owned and rode through my 20s and 30s who was a complete fruit loop and spent more time on either a pair of legs or a moment of suspension, than she did using any recognisable gait.
 
I ride my beautiful baby - a 16.1h friesian mare who I backed myself. She is pretty much 100% for me but not a horse that would be classed as a novice ride - we just know each other very well now! She still asks plenty of questions though :)

Next year I plan to start backing her daughter who I bred myself - I'm 43 :D
 
I currently ride a 13.2 Welsh B and a 16.1 KWPN regularly, out and about and at home, and we have a 14.2 sj whizzy thing (son's department but I do climb on) and my old 15.1 TB x. I'll have a go at more or less anything that hasn't got a track record for bolting, bucking or rearing. I have reached 50.

Mind you at 5'2 I look ridiculous on the 16.1...
 
Well I'll be 50 in September but don't feel it too often! :p I bought my very special but flighty tb, Hadleigh, when I was 21. I lost him last year aged 31 For our first wedding anniversary my husband bought me a 17hh German Hano who seriously tested my confidence and stickability for several months. I have now had him 7 years and he continues to test the stickability although we have now learnt to like and trust each other.
We now have a new addition, Oliver, 16.3 tb/id who is a star but spooky. So am I slowing down, apparently not! :D
 
i am 47 and own a fairly sensible 16.1 warmblood mare. Previously i have owned quirky, fast horses and now my daughter has one im really not keen on a hair rasing ride,prefering a sensible hack and ambitions to become a dressage queen.

when i was younger jogging ponies were fun but not now, i want less stress not more..
 
I was 52 when my friesian found me! I was thinking about a steady teenage cob type as my first horse - but ended up with 7 yr friesian. Not a complete novice ride as can keep you on your toes and needs to be ridden correctly to get the best from him.
We get out to local shows and now dabbling with a bit of dressage! :)
 
Just turned 40 and just bought a Welsh Sec D.

Great in every way apart from me being something on the end of a tow rope for her turning out when I first got her :D

She doesn't do circles though unless you're riding her ;)
 
I have a BWB, 16.2, enjoying a more laid back lifestyle then previously!

He is very spooky, but knows how to look after himself and I really enjoy him, or at least I will when I get back on - I've been grounded recently after surgery.
 
I'm well into this age group. Last year bought a young WB. He is lively and fun.

I previously broke my ankle so am off at the moment waiting for my ankle replacement to heal But can't wait to get back to SJ etc

Oh I also suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis and did have a slightly narrower horse this time to help with my hip problems :D

Used to take my last horse hunting etc he was a 16.1h WC x TB cheeky spooky monster

I would be bored with anything too easy though

Have a friend who is nearly 70 she rides her 5 yr old home bred coloured she backed him too. Although got me to take him over his first jumps :D
 
My first horse (10 months ago at the age of 47) was a 25 year old ex trotting racer who plodded around for 20 mins at a time while I panicked at every turn. On the advice of my YO he retired in April and I was extremely lucky to find a 11 year old Section D (in Portugal!) 4 weeks ago. He's fun, safe, forward going and a great character and I hope he'll teach me a lot over the coming years. Oh, and he and my old boy are the best of friends already :D
 
I've a 16.2hh ex-racer. He's a bit spooky at times but other than that he's anyones ride - brilliant temperament and great to hack out. He's restored my confidence after a spate of temperamental 'more sensible type' horses!
 
I was 59 two weeks ago and ride and jump a variety of part bred Arab stallions, each very well behaved, but with spirit, just as I like it. I rode one this afternoon but do admit to feeling a little creaky tonight. He's fine! :D
 
well i'm 40 and still riding the 17hh mare i was riding when i was 39, she doesn't seem to have noticed the change so i'm trying not too either;) it's not my age that has changed things for me, it was having kids, BC (before children) i only had myself to worry about so it didn't matter if i had a fall.
 
NeilM said:
BTW, us oldies (I'm 52) have feelings too you know.....sniff.
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^^^:rolleyes: apologies for any hurt feelings :rolleyes:^^^

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/307918.html

"Despite being the most senior member of the British team for some time, Mary has made no secret about her hunger to ride at next year's Olympics and refuses to be drawn on when she might hang up her boots".

An inspiration to us all....Age is a state of mind, 40 or even 52 is no age at all :cool:
 
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Well, I'm over 50 and have a ID x TB 15.2 who can buck for britain, ( the dun below). She can also take a hold whilst trotting!! But i would not have her any other way. I class her as my 'fun' horse.
Then i have a standardbred mare, which i compete with in BS and XC classes. Who is totally different, you could put a novice on her, and she would totally look after them.
 
I'll be 45 tomorrow, and, after I had to have my 18YO cob PTS at Christmas 2009, I bought an almost 4YO appy x cob type in April 2010. Just started Western with him...you can teach an old dog new tricks ;-)
 
well, I don't do big horses (what's the point, they just cost more to run!) so I have a 15.1h lusitano (sharp and athletic), a 12.1h exmoor (spooky), a 12.3h exmoor who needs backing in 2 years but have had him since a weanling so all problems mine, and shortly a 14.2h anglo arab to back. I am 41.
 
indie999 said:
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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Me too , there are times I can barely get out of bed but just ignore it and don't give up or we might seize up even more!!!!
 
The same as when I was 30/31 when you think you are still young enough to bounce, then as you continue through the 30's, you realise that actually falling off hurts and you try your best to stay on their backs despite the antics!

Had my 2 current horses for 9 and 10 years respectively. 16h 1 TB x ID, mainly sane but can have his moments and a 16h3 TB who can spook for England and really does react/panic and thinks 10 minutes later that maybe things aren't that scarey!

Although sometimes it would be nice to have a more sane/sedate horse, I do like them with character and a bit of go...wears me out more having to constantly kick a horse on rather than having to sit quiet trying to settle an excited horse. As I continue through my 40's I might just change my mind on this...lol!
 
I'm 41 this year and ride and compete a 17hh trakhener, I've got his two year old nephew too whose going to be even bigger - about 16.2 now so lord knows what he'll end up at ;)
 
I'm 48 and bought myself my first horse 7 years ago. As I am blessed with Ronnie Corbett length legs I've learnt over the years I can't be very effective on big horses as just don't have enough leg length and also valued being close to the ground so didn't look at anything above 14.2hh and ended up with a 14.1hh lovely coloured native cob x who does me nicely. Tested me a bit on the ground the first year I had him and can still push/pull his luck a bit at times but onboard he's looking out for both of us and is very forgiving to his numpty rider. He has oodles of native savvy and character which I love. Reckon he'd still keep grazing and his head down after nuclear fallout. Only likes to be forward going for jumping or tanking round the field or when he mistakes a distant lab for a mountain lion but that works for me though I'm sure he'd be far from many people's tastes.
 
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16.2 TB x wb Chestnut mare! Bit of a handful at times to ride but easy on the ground mostly. She can be difficult turning her out in the big fields as it is VERY exciting!!! This bothers me more than riding her tbh.

I have a yearling that should make about 15.2hh. Looking ahead in my case as I am finding it more difficult to mount from the ground if I have to. Tis the knees....:D
 
I'm 40 and ride and compete my 17hh reg ISH gelding who has just turned 14.
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By far better than anything I rode as a child/teenager :D Only downside is I can't get on from the floor anymore so need a tall mounting block! I refuse to act my age though and still get a tremendous buzz from a good old gallop
P.S. Have full permission to post these pics.
 
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domane said:
I like 'em wide, hairy and with a big turning circle!!! :D
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I'm with you!
My 56th birthday present to myself was a 16hh 'Westphalien' (she has papers but no brand) who actually looks more like an Ardennes. She is absolutely bombproof, she adjusts her way of going according to the standard of rider, from complete beginner onwards,she is certainly making me think about my position. She also does a fantastic lunge-lesson. My other horse is a very sweet IDx, who has been having back problems over the last 12 months and is just being rehabbed now.
 
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