Horses 101 – Feb 04
“Horses 101”
by Darleen Finnigan
“Are You Too Old to Become a Horseback Rider?”
The idea that you need to ride as a child to be able to ride as an adult is a myth that seems to have been perpetuated through out the horse and non-horse world. I believed it myself, when I bought my first horse at the age of forty. Since that time I have realized that there are many people who become serious riders in “middle age”, and keep riding well into the “senior years”.
So how does one become a rider after “the bloom of youth?” First: Don’t go and buy your “dream horse”. Your dream could well become a “night mare”, in every sense of the word. You will not be doing yourself justice, nor will you be doing the horse a favor.
The place to start is to get yourself fit. Many of us need to drop a few pounds to feel our best. Do this for your sake as well as your horses’ sake. Allow yourself several months to prepare to ride. Join a gym!
When you are starting to feel more energetic, begin your search for a qualified riding instructor who will provide the horse and tack you need to learn to ride. “Qualified” means that they are old enough or experienced enough to know that teaching a mature adult beginner how to ride is very different from teaching a child beginner. Ask for references of those they have taught. Watch them teach another adult a riding lesson. Ask them what you can do to prepare yourself for lessons, and how you can support learning in-between lessons. Ask for books to read for adult beginners. (“Riding for the Rest of Us”, “The Less-Than-Perfect Rider”)
If your time and monetary budgets can afford it, take at least 2 private lessons a week to start with. If you cannot afford the time or money at this point in your life, it may be best to wait to become a horse owner. Two lessons a week will help your muscles become accustomed to the new routine. Riding is all about “muscle memory”, and more frequent riding aids in that process.
It is best not to ride independently during this learning time. Since riding is muscle memory, if you ride outside of lesson time, there will be no qualified person to remind you when your muscles are "forgetting” what they are supposed to be doing. You and your instructor will be able to decide when riding independently is appropriate.
Once you find yourself a “member” of the horse world, you will quickly see that this wonderful sport is indeed not limited to the “young and beautiful”. This is especially so if trail riding is your sport. You will find that the majority of trail riders heading for the beautiful mountain trails in the summer are either “senior citizens” or soon to be such. Why? Hey, our kids are raised, and probably out of college, our life is more organized, we may even be semi-retired and our house is most likely paid for. We are the ones who can take the time and money to really enjoy horses to the full!
So don’t let the myth that riding is only for the young slow you down. Go for it.
Darleen Finnigan, CHA &ARIA Certified Instructor, owning and teaching at Saddle Soar Ranch for 11 years. Specializing in Beginner Adults, and teaching on Gaited Horses. 253 927-6899 www.saddlesoarranch.com
