Returning to Riding

[SaddlePsych'D]

Hello!

I'm having my first lesson in about 6-7 years in a couple of days and I am soooo excited (but also a bit nervous, I never was particularly confident). I'm sure others have returned after a break, so was wondering what people have gone on to do after a big break? I might be getting carried away but I'm hoping to maybe find a horse to share once I'm back into it. Hopefully my endless days of helping out at the RS as a kid will come back to me!

 

[claret09]

enjoy. horses are amazing

 

[PurBee]

Woohoo! Excited for you
I had a break at late teens to late 20’s, and felt like you, thrilled and nervous, but it’s wonderful to revisit it with more general life experience under your belt, and appreciate the horse experience in many more ways than when i did when i was younger.
Great idea to share....wish i had done that before launching into full ownership with blinkers on!

 

[meleeka]

The thought of it is more nerve wracking than the event. You’ll undoubtedly wonder why you took the break and get off with a huge smile and want to do it again!

 

[Newtothegeegees]

I did the same 2 years ago... now I’m looking for my first horse!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Woohoo! Excited for you
I had a break at late teens to late 20’s, and felt like you, thrilled and nervous, but it’s wonderful to revisit it with more general life experience under your belt, and appreciate the horse experience in many more ways than when i did when i was younger.
Great idea to share....wish i had done that before launching into full ownership with blinkers on!

Pretty much the same for me although I was still having some lessons when I was at uni, I'm 28 now. I'm interested to see how it will be coming back and maybe do some things a bit differently. I used to get hung up on not being a very brave rider whereas now I think I'm less likely to care - I just want to do what I enjoy, I'm not trying to get to Badminton after all!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

The thought of it is more nerve wracking than the event. You’ll undoubtedly wonder why you took the break and get off with a huge smile and want to do it again!

I will update tomorrow when I get back from the lesson - got my OH coming to watch so hopefully can get a pic or two. Very excited right now, going to dig out my old boots maybe shine them up a bit haha!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I did the same 2 years ago... now I’m looking for my first horse!

Wow that's really exciting! Best of luck with your search.

I think I'm way off of that just now (funnily enough the reality of the prospect of owning is less appealing that it was when I was a horse-mad kid with no concept of the time and financial commitments haha!) but might look to share in the coming months when I'm up to scratch.

 

[oldie48]

I had a few lessons at a riding school when I was 12 then apart from the odd trek didn't ride again until I was in my very late 40's. I bought my first horse when I was 50, another when I was 60, the lovely Mr B when I was 65 (he was supposed to see me through until we both retired from riding but I very sadly lost him Oct 2018) so I bought Rose just before my 70th. There is nothing as frustrating, satisfying and addictive as riding and I can't imagine a life without a horse. I am often a little bit afraid, joke that I keep my confidence in a sieve so have to keep topping it up before it all runs away but have never settled for buying the sensible plod that most of my friends think I should have. My answer to being "over horsed" which I usually am, is to learn to ride better! Anyway enough of me, have a great time and enjoy every minute of your journey!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I had a few lessons at a riding school when I was 12 then apart from the odd trek didn't ride again until I was in my very late 40's. I bought my first horse when I was 50, another when I was 60, the lovely Mr B when I was 65 (he was supposed to see me through until we both retired from riding but I very sadly lost him Oct 2018) so I bought Rose just before my 70th. There is nothing as frustrating, satisfying and addictive as riding and I can't imagine a life without a horse. I am often a little bit afraid, joke that I keep my confidence in a sieve so have to keep topping it up before it all runs away but have never settled for buying the sensible plod that most of my friends think I should have. My answer to being "over horsed" which I usually am, is to learn to ride better! Anyway enough of me, have a great time and enjoy every minute of your journey!

The confidence in a sieve things really resonates with me! Not just in riding but in life generally I think - I will keep that one in mind next time I'm feeling wobbly about something. I will update tomorrow after my lesson

 

[Rumtytum]

The confidence in a sieve things really resonates with me! Not just in riding but in life generally I think - I will keep that one in mind next time I'm feeling wobbly about something. I will update tomorrow after my lesson

Looking forward to your update!

 

[oldie48]

The confidence in a sieve things really resonates with me! Not just in riding but in life generally I think - I will keep that one in mind next time I'm feeling wobbly about something. I will update tomorrow after my lesson

Please do, I bet you have a great time and will be hooked again!

 

[Red-1]

Dammit, came on thinking there was an update! Enjoy, OP.

 

[Skib]

I think confidence is a question of language. When one is learning to do something and hasnt had practise yet and is taking orders from another adult and sitting on a flight animal - all that is enough to remove anyone's cmnfidence.
But if you reduce it to human animal communication, a privacy between you and the horse, you should feel easier - Horse can learn and relearn very quickly, so, no, you are not going to ruin the horse and you can try to work out what works for you and a particular horse and what doesnt. Ask the RI for suggestions and never feel you are to blame if something doesnt work. The RS horse wont be blaming you. They love careful, considerate adult riders.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Dammit, came on thinking there was an update! Enjoy, OP.

Hehe, not just yet - my lesson is tomorrow morning.

Side update - found my boots and gaiters and cleaned them up! (flashback to me on Friday evenings getting all my stuff ready for a day at the stables on a Saturday - my poor dad having to get up at stupid o'clock on his day off to drive me there!)

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Sooo... update! I had my lesson and I thought it went quite well, although I was much more nervous than I thought I would be. Being kind to myself though I would say that going to a totally new yard with new people and a new horse is quite a lot after a long break. I rode the instructor's horse and he looked after me very well although maybe a bit lazy at times. The instructor offered me a stick to carry but I passed for today as lazy was probably okay for me while getting used to being back on a horse (next time though, as I was quite tired out getting the trotting going!). We did some shoulder in and leg yields in walk and trot - really pleased I could remember those. The instructor was very complimentary of my position and hands (my OH probably nearly fell over hearing me described as 'elegant' or something along those lines ). A real confidence builder to hear that I rode nicely, and I think it felt nice too - we had some more active bits and I liked riding with a nice light contact which the horse seemed to pick up a couple of times (I think that's the right term?!).

Anyway, feeling really happy and will have a think about when to get booked in again over the next couple of weeks! Pics to follow when I work out how to add them - keeps saying the files are too big.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Hope it's okay to post image of a horse that's not mine, just really excited to share from my first lesson back after 7 years!

 

[rainni_day]

Lovely contact position. FYI, I started riding again properly in August...in December I bought my mare!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Lovely contact position. FYI, I started riding again properly in August...in December I bought my mare!

Thank you Wow that's amazing! I think it will take me a while to get where I need to be for sharing. I know it's a bit about getting to know and trust the horse but also I think I need to be a bit more assertive at times.

 

[Red-1]

That looks like a fab lesson!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

That looks like a fab lesson!

It really was, I'm looking forward to going back soon!

 

[Maesto's Girl]

I had a good 15-17 years off and my New Years Resolution was going in to 2014 was to start riding again to see if I liked it. Got back on in a lesson Jan 14 and that was it - back hooked! Just hacked for a bit then hacked and had lessons, then shared and then in 2016 I bought my mare Lacey and what a journey it's been. I am just getting back into showjumping (was very nervous due to an accident very close to when I stopped) - and what is nice is I am training Lacey as we go. I honestly dont know what I did with myself for those 15 years! I'd never go back.

Good luck and enjoy the 2nd round

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I had a good 15-17 years off and my New Years Resolution was going in to 2014 was to start riding again to see if I liked it. Got back on in a lesson Jan 14 and that was it - back hooked! Just hacked for a bit then hacked and had lessons, then shared and then in 2016 I bought my mare Lacey and what a journey it's been. I am just getting back into showjumping (was very nervous due to an accident very close to when I stopped) - and what is nice is I am training Lacey as we go. I honestly dont know what I did with myself for those 15 years! I'd never go back.

Good luck and enjoy the 2nd round

Yes I think this might happen to me again (getting hooked!) although I think nerves got in the way a little bit. In fairness to myself it was a new yard, new instructor and a new horse (bigger than I thought it would be, no idea why - I'm quite tall so it makes sense and it would be a similar height to what I've ridden before!). I just tried to think about how lots of people wouldn't go near a horse let along get on it! I think when I go back it will be even better and hopefully I can ride the same horse to get familiar with it/get my confidence up

 

[Trouper]

I think the smile says it all!