Bucks Fizz
Well-Known Member
Sounds much more positive - good luck!
Riding again after a long break
- Thread starter Lexi_
- Start date
ArabianBeauty
Active Member
I got back into it after a 15 year brake. I just found I was a lot less confident ( I remember as a child being reared up on whilst I was riding, and loving the thrill of it and laughing when I fell off ) - not the case anymore. Plus it takes longer to learn and you ache more when you're older, but I'm glad I've got back into it. I missed the horses 
Joandripple
Well-Known Member
Hi Lexi,
Welcome. I, too was like you fours years ago. I started riding again after a long break, I went along to my local riding school and after 6 months or so I felt I was being used to school their horses, in what was supposed to be MY lessons. So I took the bull by the horns and got a horse on loan! He was not initially what I was looking for. I intended to get something that my children could ride as well as myself, a happy hacker/cob type, reliable and safe. But Ripple came along, he is a 16'2 German Warmblood and I love him to bits. He came with issues, but we have a bond and we are now out competing (I have use of a trailer - another thing I thought I would never do, pulling a trailer!) at prelim dressage both affiliated and unaffilliated.
You go girl, and enjoy yourself, as there is nothing like it!
Welcome. I, too was like you fours years ago. I started riding again after a long break, I went along to my local riding school and after 6 months or so I felt I was being used to school their horses, in what was supposed to be MY lessons. So I took the bull by the horns and got a horse on loan! He was not initially what I was looking for. I intended to get something that my children could ride as well as myself, a happy hacker/cob type, reliable and safe. But Ripple came along, he is a 16'2 German Warmblood and I love him to bits. He came with issues, but we have a bond and we are now out competing (I have use of a trailer - another thing I thought I would never do, pulling a trailer!) at prelim dressage both affiliated and unaffilliated.
You go girl, and enjoy yourself, as there is nothing like it!
Lesleyf
New User
Go for it! I learned to ride at age 5, rode every weekend and spent school holidays doing pony days, camps and helping out at the stables. At 16, I started working and didn't have the time to ride. The need to be around horses however, never left and now at age 45 I'm riding again but this time I'm riding alongside my 7 year old daughter. I'm lacking core strength and I come with my own saddle bags but the thrill is all consuming and I get such a rush watching Amy learn. You're never too old and if you've got a great instructor (as I have) they'll gently guide you back. Good luck and enjoy x
Lexi_
Well-Known Member
Well, two lessons down and many more to go!
I had the assessment lesson with one instructor and yesterday's lesson with a different one but they were both really good. And god, the difference between that and the debacle at the first riding school I tried is unbelievable. I think I perhaps was so busy ranting about how **** the first place was that I forgot to mention I got NO instruction other than "kick" and "keep him going". Both of the lessons at the new place have been brilliant and very much focused on me and my position.
The declaration in yesterday's lesson was "well you can definitely ride but you're very rusty" It turns out I am too tense and look down too much (ha, I'm terrible for doing this when I'm not on a horse!) which is affecting me in terms of riding transitions etc. Plus the horses are a bit cobbier than I used to ride and either not quite as well schooled or I can't ride them as well (probably the latter!) so I'm struggling a bit with how much and how forcefully I need to ask them for things. I can feel the improvement from the start of the lesson to the end though which I'm taking as a good sign.
I'm so unfit though! I get knackered after two circuits in canter so methinks I need to step up the cardio work elsewhere and also perhaps try some Pilates or something as my core muscles are a bit weak and unhelpful.
I'm really pleased with how it's going but just the teensiest bit frustrated. I didn't imagine I'd be good again straight away but I really miss the days when I could hop straight on the good ponies and focus on making them go well rather than having to spend all my time thinking about getting my position back. Suppose that sort of thing will only come with time. Impatient, moi?
I had the assessment lesson with one instructor and yesterday's lesson with a different one but they were both really good. And god, the difference between that and the debacle at the first riding school I tried is unbelievable. I think I perhaps was so busy ranting about how **** the first place was that I forgot to mention I got NO instruction other than "kick" and "keep him going". Both of the lessons at the new place have been brilliant and very much focused on me and my position.
The declaration in yesterday's lesson was "well you can definitely ride but you're very rusty"
It turns out I am too tense and look down too much (ha, I'm terrible for doing this when I'm not on a horse!) which is affecting me in terms of riding transitions etc. Plus the horses are a bit cobbier than I used to ride and either not quite as well schooled or I can't ride them as well (probably the latter!) so I'm struggling a bit with how much and how forcefully I need to ask them for things. I can feel the improvement from the start of the lesson to the end though which I'm taking as a good sign.I'm so unfit though! I get knackered after two circuits in canter so methinks I need to step up the cardio work elsewhere and also perhaps try some Pilates or something as my core muscles are a bit weak and unhelpful.
I'm really pleased with how it's going but just the teensiest bit frustrated. I didn't imagine I'd be good again straight away but I really miss the days when I could hop straight on the good ponies and focus on making them go well rather than having to spend all my time thinking about getting my position back. Suppose that sort of thing will only come with time. Impatient, moi?
Lesleyf
New User
My instructor keeps putting me on cobs which whilst being great, safe and reliable for me, are such hard work as they really don't want to go forward. I'd love to be able to get on the horses that I used to... Oh we'll, one day