riding aged 40 +

Never understood why people say kids get in the way of everything like careers, horses, just life in general. Kids love stables and mine have always had a life of fresh air and fun. Its like those parents that live their life through their children, there is one at my work who drives me to distraction about how her daughter is so good at this and that whilst she has no ambition for herself whatsoever. Live your life and do what you have always wanted to do. i don't do comparing my life with anyone else's I just enjoy it. Age is just a number and 40 is a very low one.
 
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Kaylum said:
Never understood why people say kids get in the way of everything like careers, horses, just life in general. Kids love stables and mine have always had a life of fresh air and fun.
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It depends greatly on what sort of support network you have. Having my son hasn't put the brakes on my career at all - he goes into nursery 5 days a week and my husband has his own business so he can collect him at 3.30

But it has put the brakes on my horsey ambitions. I have no family close by or support network. Therefore, taking a while day out at the weekend to go and compete while small person was young and in the depths of winter leaving son with husband just wasn't feasible - particularly as husband isn't horsey and plays football extensively during the winter.

It's okay though. Life changes, son is more independent now and I'm getting back my horse time. It's no great sacrifice. I'm hoping he'll get into ponies and I can be a pony club Mum.
 
I didnt have a support network I made my own. I have worked full time all my life. I guess it actually depends what type of person you are and how you get on with your own life and think of ways to change it but having kids should not stop horse life unless finance does. There is a way round everything and kids should not stop what the mum loves doing.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Oh to be 40 again. Two stone lighter, fitter, reasonably fearless and joints that worked, eyesight that could actually see further than the ears and energy.

Much older, little energy, joints that don't work, far too fat, fearful to the extent that any horse who considers removing its feet from the floor without being asked has no place in my stables and when I do ride I have to take pain relief two hours beforehand !

I am never giving up though !
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This !
 
I'm another in her 50's, still riding with a bucket list of stuff I want to do, but no children.

I admire anyone who can keep riding full on, whilst raising a family - that is why most of my friends either stopped or eased back on the riding. They simply had other priorities - however now I have friends who are getting back into it once their children have grown and moved on. The male version seems to be motorbikes!
 
If it's any help I am 55 and still loving my riding. I hack or school in the arena on my Section D. I rode my Arab who I bought when I was 36,until recent times when her own age meant she needed to slow down. I have helped exercise my daughters WB and ISH.
I love bombing around on my Section D , like I used to when I was a child.
Just look at all the top riders who are on their 50's. & 60's who are still on top of their game.
At. 40 you are a mere youngster. Carry on and enjoy your riding. I always believe age is a state of mind.
 
Having ridden pretty much all of my life I took a break of about 10 years when I moved to London and then married and had children. I could have had a horse when the children were small but just didn't have the energy to do both (twins + another 1) and would have spent half the time feeling guilty that I was short changing both children and horses.

I bought a horse when my youngest was 5 and eased my way back into what I'd always loved, hunting, and now, 10 years on hunt twice a week and did my first team chase aged not quite 50. I now have a hugely capable hunter whom I can do justice to rather than being wasted and don't feel too guilty. The other pleasure now is that my husband follows on foot and helps out hugely which he couldn't have done when the children were smaller as he was the alternative carer.

I'm doing more now I've reached my half century than I've done since I was a teenager, and loving it.
 
I'm 36 and my horse riding has definitely taken a back seat at the moment, along with my confidence. But once my kids begin school and I have free mornings again I plan to get the horses fit again and get my confidence back, and spend many years competing. I think confidence takes a bashing if you don't get out riding often enough, perhaps why people give up around this phase of life
 
40? Pah!You are a youngster! My O H is 66, competing dressage , was hunting but hasnt a suitable horse now, still backing our own horses, and we are still showing both inhand and ridden. Of course the body creaks and aches more , and injuries from decades ago DO come back to haunt you . The only thing is to keep going - a long lay off and its doubly hard to get body working well again ,or for confidence to be restored. When O H is riding skittish young horses I m on an over 20 yr old cob , and happy to do so!
 
Just come in from feeding the (12) ponies and haven't had time to read the whole thread as I have to go out again.

The usual stuff spouted by a lot of damned kids.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, homo sapiens does not reach the age of reason until 60. At my age, 76, one is beginning to acquire a bit of sense.

40? Scarcely dry behind the ears.
 
I'm 48, have 2 children aged 13 and 11 and a full time job (37 1/2 hour week, some trips away for a few days at a time).
I started riding as a tiny tot and evented all through my teenage years. Gave it away while at uni and for the first 5 years of work life during which I moved to Oz, then my hubby and I bought a property and I was back into it.
If anything I'd say I am riding at a higher level than I was as a teenager, although in a different discipline. I now ride endurance. I started riding my just backed 4 year old when I was 42: he's now 10 and in 2014 we managed to get to the Quilty (National championship, 160km ride). Busy planning an interstate trip to have a crack at it again this year. I thought Joe would be my last horse but I was gifted a weanling 18 months ago and she will be started under saddle in about a year, so I guess I'm pressing on for a while yet!
My biggest issue is keeping up with the 11 year old who now does endurance as well!
2 things that make it easier: a supportive hubby and a VERY short commute.
 
I'm 46, and have an eight year old stallion on his way to me from Spain as I type. I have a five year old ISH that I'm going to do some unaffiliated horse trials on this year, and a four year old Hanoverian I'm bringing back into work. I have children aged 17 and 11. I have less nerve than I used to, and temperament is a key factor in the horses I buy nowadays. I am also slightly more of a fair weather rider now.
It was hard fitting in the horses with the kids and job when the kids were younger. My motto - nil desperandum!
 
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