Returning to riding...

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elsiex

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After riding for 14+ years, I gave up 4 years ago and bar sitting on a friends horse about 3 years ago, haven't ridden since.

I used to ride nearly every day, and competed most weekends BSJA (Up to 1.20m). I used to be very confident, and would literally get on anything (nutters included!).

I am now looking to get back into riding and went to view a horse to share today, having explained the above to her. I am going back at the weekend to have a little sit on her and see what's what, and I'm super excited about it, just a little apprehensive about the state of my riding!

Is riding the sort of thing that comes flooding back to you, a bit like riding a bike? Or am I going to be a complete novice again?

Any tips/advice appreciated! :)
 
Nice to hear you're getting back in the saddle :)

I didn't ride for a couple of years after a bad fall, but when I started riding again I actually began to ride better, although at first I was a but 'rusty', I think I was more focused after the break.

I have also taught a lot of people who haven't rode for a while (once a woman who hadn't rode for 15 years, and she didn't look like she'd missed a day!) usually people complain that they are a bit sore afterwards, as those 'riding muscles' haven't been used in so long :), but you should still have your balance and your instincts from before which is the main thing. And you will find yourself improving quite quickly if you ride a couple of times a week. It might be worth having someone on the ground to point out any bad habits or if someone could make a video for you to watch later.

Good luck and keep us posted how it goes!
 
I rode my horse today, who I purchased in april. It was first time in 14 years, It felt so so good, yes it all comes back to you, just have to get into ir slowly, I did 1 hour this morning just walk, trot and transitions and bit of leg yeilding, ground was hard anyway, go for it , I loved it though think I will ach a bit in next 24 hours, expecialy the knees, well I am 50+!!
 
Glad you're getting back in the saddle!

I rode for 10 years before quitting to focus on other things (studies, boys, alcohol etc etc)

After a 4 year gap my OH encouraged me to get back in the saddle and I loaned a Shire horse. He was bombproof and a bit of a plod! I thought I was getting right into the swing of things!
I moved away and started riding a neighbour's young thoroughbred....this horse was very sensitive and very well schooled. She got frustrated with me not taking up a contact and not giving correct aids, needless to say we fell out a lot.
I had a couple of refresher lessons and that was me sorted, I was amazed and how quickly I had forgot the very basic riding principles. I could jump...and then not remember how to recognise the correct diagnol!

I hope you enjoy this weekend :D
 
Its like riding a bike. i went back to riding after a 18 year break. After about 10 minutes I was cantering around. it was fab and i realised what i was mssing. However i would say that as you get older and wth more responsibillities you can worry abit more about falling off!! Especially if like me, you don't bounce!!
 
Ive just returned to riding following a break of 10 years after a nasty fall and i must admit i was a bit aprehensive however as the weeks have passed and my confidence is growing i find im improving faster than i imagined and yes it is like riding a bike albeit i also found i discovered muscles i hadnt used in a while!!

Im loving every second of riding again currently several times a week so much so im looking for one or loan with view to buy.

The most difficult thing i have found is i have lost all my horsey connections so places like H&H are invaluable for advice and brushing up on the old lingo!!
 
Thanks - You have really put my mind at ease, I feel a bit more confident about Sunday now. I was worried she was going to look at me and go - errrrr have you ever been on a horse before?

Yes KerryDevon that's what I feel like, I felt like I was talking a foreign language when I was talking to the owner! Lovely that there are forums like this for help.

I'm really excited to get back into it, looking back I can't quite justify why I ever gave it up (alcohol and boys really aren't what they're cracked up to be ha ha ha)

Saying this, I'll probably get on the wrong way now :rolleyes:

Let's just hope the hat I ordered online gets here in time...
 
elsiex said:
Is riding the sort of thing that comes flooding back to you, a bit like riding a bike? Or am I going to be a complete novice again?

Any tips/advice appreciated! :)
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I taken enforced breaks from riding twice, both times I went riding again and it was like I'd never been away! I got back into the swing of it very quickly, and second time 'round I ended up buying myself a horse, so watch it!! LOL
 
I had a 14 year break from riding, boys/work/uni etc to blame, got back in the saddle loved it and ached like a b*gger the next day, but was completely addicted again. I did get frustrated at not picking it up quickly enough again (but thats me) and it didn't take long for me to get jumping and cantering. I got giggled at in my first lesson for being in the novice group and moved up :D I'm so pleased I got back in the saddle, it's been a complete change of life and I've met so many ace people and got the ponies I always wanted as a child!
 
a bit of both. I'd say you'll feel right at home, but it may be frustrating that you can no longer do what you used to. I had a really long break and am a lot stiffer now, so I struggle with things I never found hard before, even basic things like sitting trot. Although I can control my horse I wouldn't get any style points :-) I also used to be a lot braver.
 
_CJ_ said:
a bit of both. I'd say you'll feel right at home, but it may be frustrating that you can no longer do what you used to. I had a really long break and am a lot stiffer now, so I struggle with things I never found hard before, even basic things like sitting trot. Although I can control my horse I wouldn't get any style points :-) I also used to be a lot braver.
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This. I find it so frustrating that what used to come so easily is now a real effort! If you are able to ride really frequently then I'm sure it will come flooding back, I unfortunately can not ride often so am still struggling to get back into the swing of things.
 
I had a break of about 10 years and loved being back on a horse when I finally got round to it!

I never rode at your level in the first place but found I had forgotten some things - eg some lateral aids etc.

However, I never felt like it was all new to me. I was as comfortable up there when I got back on as I was when I stopped riding.

I think my style needed refining a bit, mostly due to lost muscles etc, but I think I am a better rider now than I was in the first place.

The main thing I would say is relax and get a couple of lessons with an instructor you trust to pinpoint what areas you need to work on and get used to horsey quirks again.

Good luck with it. You won't regret starting again. I for one am gutted I was stupid enough to stop riding!
 
Also - agree about finding some aspects a bit frustrating. It's so annoying to remember doing perfect leg yields then not be able to get the horse to shove itself sideways...

And not being allowed to jump for a while was quite a wrench. But it does come back in time and it is even more rewarding second time around.
 
Try a break of 30 years, then add in a critical illness, not being able to walk, no energy and as for balance if I hadn't had people from the RDA pushing me upright I would have fallen off.

Now, 2 years later I'm now the very proud owner of an ex-racer who I ride whenever I can and yes I have had a couple of gallops on him. If I can do it so can anyone!

I would love to jump again but I will have to take that very carefully but the thought of it, I can't wait!

If I can do it so can anyone! Go for it and just enjoy!
 
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