Trying to get back into riding as a young adult.

[Irishdiamond]

Is anyone finding it hard getting back into riding as an adult? Im 22 and was taking lessons but it seemed all the fun lessons were for children. I went to one & everyone was from 8-14. They all get to help out & do so much fun things that I feel adults don't get. Why cant I pretend to be 15 lol
My local school is starting up pony club again but think the rule is you can only join after your 21st if you were a member the years before?? Can anyone clarify this?
I went to pony club for a year when I was a teen and LOVED it & only now can get back to riding so im feeling disappointed that all the day camps etc are only for kids.

I want to plait ponies hair & spend lots of time with them too rather than hop on ride then hop off and go home. Seems like the rule is once you're an adult you have to be serious about it. Does anyone else feel this way? I thought about asking to volunteer but they have loads of kids who ride 2/3 week plus spend their weekends up there so there isn't any room plus I'm not 100% knowledgable with the BHS ways & obviously they'll pick the young helpers who practically know more. I'm totally feeling sorry for myself & the years I missed out hence trying to get them back 😁

 

[JennBags]

To be honest, if you're already a competent rider then you're probably better off finding a horse to share 2/3 days a week.

 

[Irishdiamond]

I'm not though, I had to stop riding when I was 16 until now (22) I've only gotten back into it but I want to relearn everything. Rather than just going to lessons I wish there was things for novice adults.
Theres very little sharing options for a good steady horse and when they do pop up, they are usually pretty far away unfortunately

 

[Amye]

Could you try and find a different riding school? I completely understand where you're coming from the 'fun' options for adults seem to be limited if you don't have your own horse (or even if you do!!).

My mum started riding in her 40s at the riding school that I learnt to ride at when I was younger, the emphasis there is to have fun. Yes, the highest you may jump is 3ft and you won't learn to piaffe but you learn how to ride to a decent level and enjoy it.

They do lots of hacks, they do adult gymkhanas (which I used to go and do when I was home and still do now!), they've done 'have a go at la trec' and 'have a go at tie and ride' for all ages and abilities. If the weather is good you go out in the field and XC or, if not experienced, just have a good old canter round the field (with some schooling too). They used to do 'adult day courses' where you could own a pony for a day and you got it ready, tacked it up, had a couple of lessons and little fun shows.


Maybe you could find a riding school more like this closer to you? Rather then one that assumes everyone wants to be a dressage superstar
(last comment is in jest! If you have fun at first and learn the basics - you could then go onto the more serious stuff if inclined)

 

[ponyparty]

Aw, I know how you feel, I've been there before. Some riding schools have their own riding club you can join, and get involved more that way, do any near you offer anything like that? it might just be that you need to try different riding schools and see what they have to offer. some do adult summer camps, some let you loan ponies, some do little stable management courses which although may not be recognised as a qualification, are interesting and a way to get more involved.
you say you're not 100% knowledgeable with the BHS ways - so is it a BHS riding school you're at? are they a training centre as well? if so they should run courses.. you could work towards your stage 1? even if they don't, you could tell them you want to work towards your stage 1 and see if they'd let you help out on the yard to get experience or help you with some training sessions?
know how you feel though - like a bit of a wally asking coz you're older than everyone and feel like all these kids know more than you!
could you take a saturday job at a yard?
hope this gives you some ideas and encouragement, don't be disheartened - you'll get there! nobody was born knowing everything and the learning experience never stops with horses!

 

[Roxylola]

Could you train for your stage 1 or some progressive riding tests? I know at our place we would have been delighted to have a responsible helper rather than a gang of kids who tended to spend more time absconding and not doing the job they were supposed to be doing! Ended up doing the job for them and trying to track them down and make sure they were safe and not getting in to trouble. Most of the time child helpers make more work than they do! Also, you are a grown up answering to yourself and presumably with your own transport - a million reasons to have you as a helper than a teenager

 

[Irishdiamond]

Thank you all for your comments!! Good to hear I'm not alone the yard I'm at had only one adult lesson and it ended up just being me a few times as the adults had left. I've been to most schools within driving distance and the one I'm at is the only one I enjoyed. It's A BHS yard but doesn't run the exams although the plan is to take my exams in spring hopefully which means moving to The BHS exam centre which I didnt like riding at but its the only one in the country. Unfortunately I live in a small country meaning there isn't a lot of options for horse riding. I really miss being able to go up on a Saturday and spend my days at the yard! But suppose I have to accept that I'm an ADULT now ������ I'll keep mentioning to my riding school to organise more things for adults but a lot of their clientele aren't adults hence why everything is for kids. The school runs seasonal day camps but it's all for kids.. No adults although I'm sure if I asked they'd let me attend but it'd be abit awkward. They did run a progressive riding test but it was only once a month. There isn't a riding club either and it's the only decent school within an hours drive. i shall keep a look out & hope that they start new adult lessons

 

[abbijay]

What about getting involved with your local RDA? You could still keep up your lessons but get your hands on fix from a different angle. I was a student (19) when I started RDA volunteering and did it for several years. We were basically like the helpers in the riding school - tacking up, leading, tack cleaning, etc - but only in direct relation to the RDA lessons. It was a lot of fun, I made friends for life and really polished up my skills on the ground. They were also desperate for any helpers so being a bit inexperienced was definitely not considered a limitation, I was trained an supported initially. The group was fab and we used to take on groom duties for competitions so I started to learn about more things than most riding school helpers - bathing, travelling, stabling away, plaiting up, etc.

 

[Shay]

Replying to one of your earlier queries as no one else has....

You can join Pony Club up to and including the year you turn 25. Until 2016 it was the case that to continue as a member after 21 you had to have already been a member but this was removed. So Associates Pony Club is very much available to you if you want it.