What Age Were You Your Most Confident Riding?

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Cheshire Chestnut

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Having a chat with my childhood riding buddy, we both had ponies together as kids and now after 7/8 year breaks of going to uni/getting a job/buying a house etc, we have both got horses again. We now live at different ends of the country but both have the same feeling - we want out 14 year old riding confidence back!!

14/15/16 were the best years for confidence for me; I would get on just about anything and jump anything. I wouldn't be bothered about jumping high or at speed - I knew I could do it and would just get on with it. I had sense though, wasn't dangerous, just very confident. I WANT IT BACK PLEASE!!

So, when were you the most confident riding??
 
About 13-17. I sorted out some of the naughty ponies, and even helped to back a few youngsters. Would happily jump most things, and a lesson wasn't a lesson without something to get my adrenalin pumping! I had an awesome horse on loan, and when he passed away, started another who was also an absolute dream, but belonged to RI. I loved them both dearly, but as I have got older, my nerves keep me closer to the ground, and often give me a reality check!

To be fair, I think my ability was higher when I was younger, as I had the attitude to just give it a go and get on with it. I lack that determination and the go getter version of me now, which limits how far I push myself. Also seeking the return of it!!!
 
I would say in my late teens. I had ridden all of my life, both my own ponies and shown ponies for others, but at that age I was working in a yard with over 100 horses and riding anything I was asked to ride. If the lorry came back from the sales and a fire breathing, sweating, white rimmed eyed equine launched itself from the ramp and proceeded to turn itself inside out myself and another employee would argue over who was going to get on it first!! I'd be pretty near the back of the queue nowadays!!
 
I was a bit wet as a kid/teenager, but went to work with event horses aged 19, and as soon as I had figured out that i could sit a stonking buck, and jump pretty much anything I pointed them at, i was (in my head) invincible! Unfortunately, I had zero common sense, and adopted a Kamikaze approach to riding for a fair few years, until I got planted on my head with a horse on top of me - it was my own stupid fault for going flat out at a meaty combination that actually needed a slow bouncy canter and a bit of precise piloting. Thankfully the horse wasn't hurt, but i was, and it was a massive wake up call for me. I've been pretty sensible ever since!
 
I didn't learn to ride as a child. Once I left home, (and without any ability whatsoever) I would get on anything just to ride, and assumed that if I pointed a horse at an obstacle with confidence it would jump - which it usually did. In retrospect it was sheer hubris, and I was very lucky that I bounced so well. Particular credit has to go to a broken down riding school nag on my second ever hack who didn't bat an eyelid when I ragged her over a park bench - turns out she was an ex-showjumper. How badly could that have gone?!

It was having kids that taught me a bit of fear, even though my riding was getting better. However, now that my children are teenagers, and I ride with them regularly, I don't have time to worry - too busy kicking on just to keep up, and it's doing me a power of good.
 
My daughter has just turned 11 and her confidence has grown immensely in the last few months, I really think as she gets towards her teenage years her confidence in herself and her pony is going to soar 😃 I'm very proud of her
 
Obviously when I was 8, my first ride on Uist, then of course I "learned " to ride at a RS in early 1960's we thought nothing of riding like cowboys, upside down / sideways on with pretend Colt 45's, it was exciting riding bareback with legs round the spine, and of course cantering the enormous plough horses along the canal towpath with only a rope halter.
Yes I used to make sure I was the first to try out the new horse as he arrived from the dealers yard, but usually I had to ride him home, transport was unusual.
The only downside was that they were often filthy, it was groom , dandy brush and metal curry comb only. Once they had been living on bedding for a few weeks they were ok.
I did not realise that I was actually working for the stable owner and the dealer, as they were sold on once they were clean and rideable. I was pretty innocent, if they stumbled I got annoyed and slapped them , not realising they were not sound!
I was 12-14, but in those days, being a rebel meant buying a single "Bristol cigarette, a Coca Cola and a packet of unbraned crisps" instead of school lunches.
 
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13-14 for me! I used to jump picnic benches in the park and big round bales in the fields on my wee 14hh!
I was always the first to ride all the new horses on the yard, didn't have a worry at all and would jump 4ft with my eyes closed!
Would also canter along grass verges with only a head collar. I temporarily stopped riding at 23 (due to not having time/money) and by that time I would be worried about jumping a 2ft cross pole (mainly due to accidents and then riding unforgiving horses!).
 
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Ah yes, jumping picnic benches and those big bales - me too. On my 14hh New Forest pony. Didn' cross m mind that h wouldn't jump it, just kicked on and he's jump anything.

I'm sure my Welshie would now, he's a naturally talented jumper and finds it easy, however he's just stuck jumping cross poles and 2ft jumps because I'm 'too scared' to jump any bigger. Shame. I just can't seem to do it :(
 
I feel the same way, OP. For one reason or another I have ridden very little over the last few months. I don't currently have my own riding horse and livery horses have had problems. Back in action again now though but have far less confidence than I did last year, let alone when I was a teen. In answer to your question, I was most confident between the age of 8 to around 25. I remember not properly enjoying riding a horse unless it bucked or reared! Now that is the first question I will ask before agreeing to school someone's horse. I also used to like jumping and cross country. Now I prefer dressage. For some reason though, I am not so frightened of backing my youngster. I think it is because I am taking it really slowly with her and by the time I get on it will be no big deal to her.
 
Bonkers2 said:
Jukebox [45rpm] : Oh Carol : Neil Sedaka . This recording is dreadful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHm7PnCCd4E
this is better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL7D5B65769B21A976&v=q1RtlMpYOeE
This was the "teenage years" and we watched while Liam and Carol went though , we are "in love" and "out of love" They got married, but it did not end happily ever after, so sad................
Paul Anka [78rpm]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX_cD7G8AwI
Click to expand...

Ummm...is this on the right thread?
 
About 10 - 12, I used to quite happily jump a 3' course. I gave up riding shortly afterwards to take up a new hobby - boys!!

Then when I retook up riding about 15 years later some my confidence had disappeared but I guess that's quite normal.
 
It is hard though, to not constantly compare yourself to the 'old you' from when you confident and younger.

Do I just accept I won't get it back to that extent and stop beating myself up about it?? Or keep kidding myself it will return one day?
 
Definitely most confident as a child and young adult. Even after having children and hitting the deck a few times, I was still completely undeterred. I think it was after riding a very explosive horse and finding it took much longer to recover after a fall, that I thought I wasn't as flexible as I used to be and caution crept in.
These days, riding is just for fun and fun doesn't include unscheduled dismounts from the saddle.
 
10-14, took pleasure in riding the unrideable and took a racehorse to pony club camp.

These days it's fear of falling and it taking a long time to recover - although touch wood I have a Velcro arse.
 
I almost wish *TOUCH WOOD* that I fell off more, the longer I go between falls the more I worry about it happening and it's been well over a year since my last so I'm pretty paranoid atm. As a kid I was catapulted off at least once a week and still never shied at doing something reckless! Maybe that's the secret ;)
 
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