First lessons after a LOooooooooong Break.

[OscarWinningActress]

So, after years of longing, I finally took the plunge and found a riding school and signed up for a few private lessons. I'm 37 and my kids are all in school now so it finally feels like the right time. I had my own horse (a twitchy, athletic, flashy, dream-to-ride TBX) as a teenager after several years of learning the basics on safe, reliable schoolies. Anyway, today felt like such a disappointment...it was amazing, lovely, wonderful to get back in the saddle but SO hard to go back to riding a stubborn, low-energy school horse again. I know it's a massive privilege to be able to ride at all and I truly adore horses and respect that they let us ride them, but today it just felt like I was spending the whole time trying to get some impulsion from this animal, instead of focussing on actually riding, iyswim? It wasn't fun, basically . Is this what it's going to be like? Is it possible to go back to riding dependable, bomb-proof school-horses after having ridden much more challenging horses in my youth? Obviously I'm rusty after so many years out and need some catching up but I remember what it felt like to ride and this wasn't it. I'm not sure if having my own horse is in the cards just now so I'm wondering how to proceed. Anyone else been through this after coming back to riding as an adult?

[mrslaughan]

Talk to your riding school about where they feel your riding is, and what horses they will be putting you on.....if it is the real plods - ask why? is there something in your riding that makes them feel thats what you need.

I know the school I ride at, will always put a new person on the safest horse, and i know the reason is people often really over state their riding ability, which can be dangerous. First lesson is about assessing riders skill and depending on what they see, will depend which horse they get allocated next.

[EnlightenedOwl]

see my post about trying to get a total mule to canter! My horse as a teen was a mare who would canter to voice command. What a contrast.
plus being regarded like a zoo specimen by the riding school in crowd hanging round the yard.
different riding school, different experience on a lovely forward going but safe horse.
you may need to try a few schools to find the right one.

[OscarWinningActress]

Thanks, MrsL. Today was actually, literally my very first lesson after a twenty year break so I know it's sensible for them to be put me on the safest horse in the barn. I'm thinking forward, I suppose. Is it going to feel like that all the time until I get back to having my own horse again? Can you actually enjoy riding school horses again when you know what it's like to have graduated from them. I may be chomping at the bit (ahem) but I just want it to be as exhilarating and fun as it was before.

Owl I did actually read your thread. I wanted to commiserate and was actually going to reply but didn't want to hijack . So, you have switched schools and are enjoying things more now? I will have to try out a few more of the school's horses before I decide on that, I guess. Hopefully they were just trying to ease me back in and get an idea of where I'm at .

[daisy5569]

Well done for getting back into riding, i did the same in my 30's (some time ago now) and its the best thing I ever did.
Up until recently I was riding a friends horse more or less whenever I wanted for years and loved it but sadly he has now passed away however I have always kept up my lessons at a riding school.
I bet over the next few lessons they will put you on a more suitable horse for your ability and it will become fun again
The Riding school I ride at often have young horses so riding these can be a bit of a challenge as they have very little schooling experience, although its also a nice feeling when you ride something which is usually a typical plod and you manage to get it working really well.
Hope it gets better for you

[mrslaughan]

I have just given up my share ( soundness issues) and while I look for a loan, or decide whether to take the plunge to buy, I am back riding riding school horses. Yesterday I was on one of the ones they put beginners on, and I just love riding her, as now my riding has improves she is forward and rewarding, it was so much fun.

But she is a horse that you do need to have a forward balanced trot to pop into canter......she will canter, if you don't have that but it is not an easy transition

[Zazzles007]

Hi OP, I know what it can be like to be back riding horses, only to have to put up with the sluggy, backward-thinking school horses that seem so prevalent in riding schools these days. Be assured that while this may be the case for you now, it doesn't always have to be.

Several years ago, the first time I went back to horse riding, I had been in a riding school for several months, but a new instructor came in who didn't know me, and put me on one of the school slugs. I put up with it at first, but then asked for a dressage whip, which the instructor declined to give me.

When it gave to the canter part of the lesson, the pony put on it's "I don't want to" act, so I took my whip hand off the reins, and gave the pony an almighty crack on the rump with it, since it had refused my canter aids. Pony first did a huge buck, but then went straight into a canter.

When I got back to the group everyone looked like gaping goldfish with their mouths wide open. They said "that canter was worthy of the Royal Show", and the instructor sidled up to me with a dressage whip and quietly swapped it out for the short crop I was holding .

The upshot of this story is that I was never questioned again on my riding ability. I was already in the most advanced lesson group that the riding school had, but their goals for me were now higher. As I child, I had only ridden up to Novice level dressage, and it was that riding school that pushed me to progress to the next level - learning lateral movements and schooling elementary dressage on their school ponies. I was lucky to find a riding school that saw that I could ride and had the ability to help me to progress. I think if you have the right riding school and the right instructor, you can also achieve the goals that you are looking for.

[MasterFlea]

I think that I would give the present school a few weeks to see my ability and move me off the plods. If plods is all they have, then I'd try a different yard.
A good school should have a range of horses. I've never owned a horse but ridden in schools and for private horse owners. Some of my favourite horses have been schoolies. Really responsive, eager and have taught me a lot.

One or two private horses have been plods because that is what the owner liked in a ride.

It is as much about finding the right yard and teachers as it is about the horse.

[OscarWinningActress]

Thanks for your replies and encouragement. Had my second lesson last night and it was brilliant. I had a pretty, little ex-show horse called Gem and she was absolutely lovely. I did have to get at her a bit but she was so smooth and responsive and I even got a flying lead change out of her. SO much fun...I didn't want the lesson to end . Most of all she felt safe and gave me some confidence...I realized that I haven't forgotten everything. Obviously, I have to re-assimilate to some of the basics but riding her made me feel a lot more positive about that.

Did anyone else have MAJOR soreness after going back to riding? My inner thighs are black and blue today . I thought I was pretty fit (I run 40k+ a week) but riding feels like a MUCH harder workout than I remember .

[higgle]

I'm resuming riding in my 50's - 20 years older than you, Oscar!
I gave up because I couldn't combine a career and bringing up 2 sons with doing justice to my lovely highland mare, Jig. I found an new home for her 18 years ago and didn't ride again until 3 years ago. I had a few lessons ( on the slowest horse the riding school had) to get my confidence back and then went on a riding holiday in Iceland. After that I did nothing until this year when after a couple of lessons I did a week long coast to coast trek in Scotland. All this was incredibly foolish, I could hardly walk at the end of the week, however I'm now far more confident and once I've got more time on my hands in the autumn I intend to ride again regularly at a local stables. DH and I want to do a riding holiday somewhere exciting and remote, perhaps Tibet in a couple of years and this time I'm going to be sure I'm fit enough for it.

I really don't think I'll get one of my own again, though my attention does stray to the Highland Pony sales web site, where Tiffany and Henry are calling to me......

[OscarWinningActress]

Higgle that sounds like so much fun...I hadn't thought of doing a riding holiday. Sounds dreamy .

And at Highland ponies called Tiffany and Henry. Sometimes when I think ahead to the possibility of horse ownership again, I daydream about just scrapping the whole riding thing and getting a little shaggy Shetland. Just to groom and pat and take for walks and put bows on feed apples to . Then I remember that it would cost the same to board as a riding horse and that DH would probably not be super keen on paying to keep a horse that I could not actually ride .

[higgle]

pony porn They live out, seldom need a rug and live on fresh air - all very good reasons to fall for a Highland. these are the people I did coast to coast with thinking of going back for another ride when I've saved up!

[OscarWinningActress]

Oh, they are SO sweet. I want one now!

And that is pretty much my dream holiday .

[iklboo]

Tiny hijack - is 45 too old to start learning to ride? I love horses, have been on a couple of day treks but now we live near stables I'm getting a (probably unrealistic) urge!

[mrslaughan]

Not too old at all!!!

[OscarWinningActress]

Do it, Iklboo .

[iklboo]

Whooo - I've found out that the stables does 'any age' lessons!!

[MasterFlea]

I would get sore if I rode only once a week. It uses such different muscles. Your lesson sounded great. I'm delighted for you.

ikiboo I met a woman who started in her 60's. Bought her own Thorough Bred horse a few years later. Also had a friend who was retired from work and still competing in gymkanas with the 10 year olds every week. Horse riding brings all ages together. Must be the common love for horses.