Rider too old to improve ?

[Asha]

In need of some success stories !

My boy has a huge jump, so I don't jump him( someone else does) . He loves his jumping and I'd love to set a goal to take him around an affiliated track. But I hold my hands up , I cant sit to big jumps, As a kid I'd jump everything , but I'm now in my mid 40s and don't have the seat I used to have.

Is it possible at this age to get it right ?

Any older riders out there that have done it, what is your secret, how did you do it ????

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I am in awe of a 68 year old at our yard who jumps her 17hh horse with the riding club...I think ditch worrying about age...practice and do it! Lifes too short not to.

 

[MrsMozart]

Good instrctor.

Practice.

Patience.

Go for it and enjoy


Oh, and make sure you're fit and flexible

 

[wills_91]

Maybe getting some jumping lessons on a different horse would help before progressing onto your own boy if he has a big jump? If it's your dream don't give up.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Mid 40s.......................... a mere child! Seriously though, my wife is 60 years old & she was like you, she's jumped when she was much younger & then she had a break from horses when she had children. The family got back into horses when the children were around 10 years old. They had a pony day as a treat for good school reports etc & eventually they had a pony. Years on we have horses & my eldest daughter still rides & has competed quite successfully at BS, Dressage & some eventing. Wife decided that she wanted to 'do a proper dressage competition' before she reached 60. She now does most of the riding of our older horse. She managed that on the weekend of her birthday. She now wants to do some jumping, she'd last jumped over 30 years ago. She's fortunate that our daughter gives her loads of help & confidence. Daughter's jumping trainer also lives only a short distance away & will give her some help when she wants it as well.

You can definately achieve what you want. You have to genuinely want to do it & find someone to help you. Most of all though it has to be fun, keep a smile on your face & enjoy it & be positive. Good Luck.

 

[lamlyn2012]

Gosh yes.
I'm lots older and still improving. Just get a good instructor.

 

[Red-1]

Noooo, mid 40s is young! It is different to learning as a teen or twentysomething, but that is different, not impossible, or even difficult!

I am almost 50 and hope to keep improving. You asked for success stories,....

In the Police I taught several people in their 40s who had never ridden before to become professional riders, one of whom had also previously broken his back. I have also helped a returning rider in her 40s wh had more recently broken her back (12 months previous) to return t riding to her previous level, including jumping to 1m.

Privately I also taught a lady in her 60s, who had never jumped before, and who had undergone a double hip replacement to jump for the first time. I am currently teaching a gentleman in his 60s to improve his jumping (self taught) so he can better enjoy his new hunter out hunting! He is doing so well he is looking at perhaps trying eventing himself, and over this last winter was regaling me with tales of the huge ditches they had tackled out hunting. Another lady in her 50s is doing well BE90 this year. Another has her aim at a show cross by the end of the year, and we are onto X poles already. Another in her 50s is now enjoying her cob, has started fun rides and is intending to try autumn hunting, already jumping X poles and smaller uprights.

I think the right trainer is key, I specialise in confidence work, so that means re-confirming each skill before moving on, and breaking each skill down to component parts, before bringing it all together. I find that whereas teens can be strapped to a horse and encouraged to get on with it, more mature riders like to have all bases covered, and work in a more incremental fashion. For jumping I do a LOT of flat work with balance and learning to move around the horse whilst cantering level, and going up and down hill.

 

[Nt9]

I'm about the same age as you, something from me that's just worth a look at. I got a new saddle for my horse properly fitted, good make etc, but something about the saddle for me when jumping didn't work. I couldn't sit any side of my horse jumping who was not a natural jumper so needed all my help. I nearly gave up jumping it was so bad. One day I forgot his saddle and put my mares on him, complete change, not for him but for me, suddenly I could stay with him again.
Don't know if that helps just sharing, I really wouldn't have believed before that a saddle good for the horse was that bad for the rider and only for jumping, flatwork felt fine.

 

[Goldenstar]

You need the right trainer who train you towards your goal and not just give a grannie a nice day out type lesson .
Not that easy to find in my experience but that's what you need .

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I am in my 60s(goodness, how did that happen?) and have found that general stiffness from ageing and a couple of broken bones, which meant that I couldn't ride and that my core definitely was affected, changed my riding position. I have had some sessions with a physio on a mechanical horse, which have really helped. Just small changes that make a huge difference - and a new saddle which is super comfortable for me and the horse has also helped.

 

[Cara_E]

I'm also in my mid-40s and just now learning to ride. I hope and pray that someone our age can improve and learn new tricks. Maybe just practice and see what happens? Good luck to you! (And here's to us mid-40s trying new things!)

 

[View]

I returned to riding 2 1/2years ago after a 30 year break, and am now 48. Of course you can improve, any rider of any age can provided they have the right person working with them (instructor/coach).

Discuss your goals with your coach, and between you work out how to get there. This may well involve lessons on a different horse, and should involve confidence building work as suggest by Red-1.

I was entered for a ODE over an 80cm track in July, but have had to withdraw due to a broken ankle (an accident on the ground).

I look back at the photographs of me on a horse 2 1/2 years ago, and the photographs taken two weeks ago and my, what a difference - so I am living proof that age is no barrier to improvement.

 

[hairycob]

I didn't start until my 40s

 

[Rollin]

I am 66 years old, a hack happy geriatric and lack confidence. With a new teacher I have jumped some very small fences, with a hot Shayga Arabian and a CB, who I was told did not like jumping - WRONG, she does.

I will never compete but if I were as young as you, I would certainly go for it!! You need a trainer to give you confidence.

 

[skint1]

I'm also in my mid-40s and just now learning to ride. I hope and pray that someone our age can improve and learn new tricks. Maybe just practice and see what happens? Good luck to you! (And here's to us mid-40s trying new things!)

I was just about to say the same, I've been riding regularly for the last 4 years (started age 42, now 46) but I didn't have much in the way of formal instruction and I had a saintly horse (til she died last year) so I didn't really need to do much more than hang on and not interfere with my horse. My current horse requires that I actually ride, and I am trying so hard to acquire the skills, hopefully it will sink in eventually.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm another aged rider (58). I've been going to Equipilates, which is definitely helping. It's based near Nantwich, so may be accessible for you. Kirsty does ridden instruction, too, along with confidence workshops and Fit to Ride courses.

https://www.facebook.com/Fit2Ride2010/posts/1047671578660724

 

[Tobiano]

Yes! You can do it! I am re-learning to jump 40 years after I last did it... I think you need a sensible horse, a really good trainer, the right saddle and lots of patience to build up from poles on the ground very gradually so that you can get your position right at the small heights then it will be better at the higher ones. I am now 53 and have no ambition to go BS or over 2ft 6 but I've taken the last 10 years to work up to 2 feet (due to not having had the above combination right and deciding I needed to lose weight before asking my horse to jump with me aboard) ... don't expect overnight results but if you are patient there is no reason why you can't get there.

 

[Asha]

Noooo, mid 40s is young! It is different to learning as a teen or twentysomething, but that is different, not impossible, or even difficult!

I am almost 50 and hope to keep improving. You asked for success stories,....

In the Police I taught several people in their 40s who had never ridden before to become professional riders, one of whom had also previously broken his back. I have also helped a returning rider in her 40s wh had more recently broken her back (12 months previous) to return t riding to her previous level, including jumping to 1m.

Privately I also taught a lady in her 60s, who had never jumped before, and who had undergone a double hip replacement to jump for the first time. I am currently teaching a gentleman in his 60s to improve his jumping (self taught) so he can better enjoy his new hunter out hunting! He is doing so well he is looking at perhaps trying eventing himself, and over this last winter was regaling me with tales of the huge ditches they had tackled out hunting. Another lady in her 50s is doing well BE90 this year. Another has her aim at a show cross by the end of the year, and we are onto X poles already. Another in her 50s is now enjoying her cob, has started fun rides and is intending to try autumn hunting, already jumping X poles and smaller uprights.

I think the right trainer is key, I specialise in confidence work, so that means re-confirming each skill before moving on, and breaking each skill down to component parts, before bringing it all together. I find that whereas teens can be strapped to a horse and encouraged to get on with it, more mature riders like to have all bases covered, and work in a more incremental fashion. For jumping I do a LOT of flat work with balance and learning to move around the horse whilst cantering level, and going up and down hill.

You sound like my kind of instructor. Don't suppose you come to Nantwich by any chance ?

 

[Asha]

Good instrctor.

Practice.

Patience.

Go for it and enjoy


Oh, and make sure you're fit and flexible

Maybe getting some jumping lessons on a different horse would help before progressing onto your own boy if he has a big jump? If it's your dream don't give up.

I'm another aged rider (58). I've been going to Equipilates, which is definitely helping. It's based near Nantwich, so may be accessible for you. Kirsty does ridden instruction, too, along with confidence workshops and Fit to Ride courses.

https://www.facebook.com/Fit2Ride2010/posts/1047671578660724

Thanks ! Fortunately we have sensible horse, my daughters ID, id happily jump him up 75cm at the moment, as he doesn't over jump. Lovely smooth jump on him, so will have some lessons on him to get me going again.


As for saddles, got a lovely close contact jump saddle, feel really secure in that, so will make sure I use that

Tiddlypom, I must know you somehow. I know Kirsty, as she helps out at the yard my daughter works at too. I have been umming and arring About some kind of fitness to improve my core, (after a pro rider I know had a baby, and commented how she had lost her balance since having a baby) Will have a good think about getting fitter.

 

[Asha]

I was just about to say the same, I've been riding regularly for the last 4 years (started age 42, now 46) but I didn't have much in the way of formal instruction and I had a saintly horse (til she died last year) so I didn't really need to do much more than hang on and not interfere with my horse. My current horse requires that I actually ride, and I am trying so hard to acquire the skills, hopefully it will sink in eventually.

You see, this is where the problem is. My old girl has been amazing, now I'm moving onto her kids, they aren't quite as easy, so really do need to do things correctly, as they aren't as forgiving. Regular lessons it is then.

 

[skint1]

I've had a bit of a natural break for the last 5-6 weeks as my boy has been off lame, my daughter is taking me right back to basics as in we are literally just walking and really thinking about all the many little things that make all the difference.

Today I worked on sitting correctly, somehow I have developed the habit of sticking both my bum and chest out (not elegant!) and this causes me to tense through my shoulders and this doesn't serve my horse well (though he's a good boy) and trying to really think about how I hold the reins. I've decided that even if I have to do this every day for months until it sinks in properly, I will be a better rider and perhaps my boy and I will be happy together again. He loves my daughter riding him, me, not so much.

 

[Red-1]

You sound like my kind of instructor. Don't suppose you come to Nantwich by any chance ?

I am actually based in Yorkshire, so probably too far.

 

[Luci07]

I'm older than you. I am still jumping my horse but do have training. Also have quite a lot of FOC lessons from friends at my yard as we take it in turns to be the "eyes" on the floor. Trick for me was to hunt for a geniune horse. I have done my time riding ungenerous horses having been spoilt with super bold horses when I first started. I normally jump once a week (at least) and also have have at least one pole session as well. Amazing how hard it can to ride a proper SJ canter over a poles exercise!

 

[pepsimaxrock]

Me too. Now 60 and still looking to improve my jumping. Many many setbacks en route x

 

[spacefaer]

I teach a friend of mine who has ridden all her life, and has been successful at RC level (got the the Champs a few times) and has had some homebred horses over the last few years who have challenged her in many ways (sharp and not very forward thinking).

She had a bit of a midlife crisis and splashed out on a fabulous dressage horse who had been trained to Grand Prix, competed at PSG. I have been teaching from day one on him (as he used to be my mother's!) and she has gone from not being able to trot a 20m circle on him, to riding virtually all of the GP movements, and getting a better tune out of him than some of the professional riders who used to compete him.

She is (I think!) in her mid 50s, and has owned him for 2 years. She also rates Kirsty and her equipilates, and as her instructor, I can see when she's missed a couple of sessions.

It's patience and practice - sometimes it's easier for older riders to learn things, because they have experience behind them, sometimes it's harder because their bodies have old, bad habits!

I would agree with getting the right saddle. Sometimes that's all the makes the difference between being able to ride a horse and not!

 

[hollyandivy123]

Another way of looking at this.....do you want to look back when you are a lot older and wished you had done it, pushed yourself a bit and jumped, dressage, ridden the golden horse shoe etc why should the youngest get all the fun


I pref to try and if it doesn't happen at least I tried nothing worst than wishing you had done something but didn't