Horseback riding for big kids

October 10, 2008 5:43 PM

I want to take horseback riding lessons. I'm 24 years old. Oxymoronic? Details follow.

Way back when I was... Oh, I don't know, 8 or 9 or something, I took English riding lessons. It went on for awhile, probably closer to two years than not. I'm not sure why I stopped; my mother says I got spooked from falling while learning to jump. I beg to differ, but who am I to say?

A few days ago, for whatever reason, I thought "Man, I wish I could take horseback riding lessons again." Soon thereafter, however, doubts came a-knockin':

1) I would be starting pretty much from scratch. It's been ages since I've been on a horse. 2) I live in suburban south Florida, so there aren't a lot of stables around (there are some "horsey areas," but they're a bit posh); cutting to the chase, while adult group lessons seem really attractive to me, I don't think there are many around here. So it looks like if I follow through on this, I would be going for private lessons.

My sticking points: Is 24 too old to learn how to ride seriously? Am I going to stick out like a sore thumb, an adult among children? And something I haven't mentioned: I'm not in any great shape. Can I hack it?

Drawing me on are a few big pluses, though. One, I really want to do it. What's more, I really need to develop new hobbies and meet new people. I think this might help me there.

Any tips, suggestions, advice? Help me get over my horse fright!

posted by Meifa to sports, hobbies, & recreation (15 comments total)

I have a friend who started riding horses when her children did. Go for it. Just take out the yellow pages and call around to see who offers what and then give it a try. You can sign up for a few lessons and see how it goes. Teachers and stables can have very different vibes - it may take more than one try to find one that is a good fit. So don't give up if the teacher makes you feel negative - just try again with a different one.

Also, if you want group lessons and can't find them, see if you can find just one other adult who would like to join you. Two grownups in with a bunch of younger kids is much more comfortable than being the only one. Private lessons for the two of you, if you are at about the same level might be even better, and cheaper than solo lessons.

Warning: it can be addictive. My friend now owns one horse and her now college-age daughter owns another.
posted by metahawk at 6:05 PM on October 10, 2008

Several of my friends took up horseback riding in their mid-twenties. Two of them got so good at it that they were put on some kind of list and got several bit parts in movies that needed extras who knew how to ride.

Go for it!
posted by trip and a half at 6:23 PM on October 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oops. I also meant to say that they got discounts on their lessons by volunteering at the stable. You might look into that, as well.
posted by trip and a half at 6:26 PM on October 10, 2008

Riding lessons aren't just for kids! Even adults who have ridden for many years and who ride competitively will work with an instructor or attend clinics, etc. If you took lessons for a couple of years, at a young age, you hopefully developed some degree of a seat and a sense of balance that will come back to you as you take up riding again. You're in a lot better situation than many who start to ride as adults without any prior experience.

You will, however, have to find an instructor that you can learn from. Like any other skill, just because an individual is good at it themselves doesn't necessarily mean they can teach that skill to anyone else. If you start lessons and don't feel that you are going anywhere (or are getting worse!), don't immediately assume that it's due to your age, talent, etc. A good instructor can discuss how a particular action is supposed to feel, physically, and provide you with mental images to concentrate upon that will help you get your various body parts doing what they're meant to be doing. A bad instructor will bark orders at you, without ever helping you learn *how* to do the things they're asking for.

I've had my best luck with taking individual lessons, however, my best instructor was the one I took individual lessons from, so I think that had something to do with it! Plus, my goal was really to advance my riding, I wasn't so much interested in the social side, at least within the context of the lessons themselves. Barns tend to be pretty social, gossipy places, so that aspect is there even if you aren't doing group lessons.

Fitness wise, the best way to get into riding shape is by doing a lot of riding. When you're just starting out, though, I think you'll find that your fitness level isn't really as much of an impediment as balance, coordination, etc. There are yoga routines, ab routines, etc that are specifically geared towards riders that you might look into, though, if you want to do something outside of lesson time to help yourself along.

Beware of the school horse bait and switch. If you do a one-off trial lesson to see if you like a barn/instructor/etc, the horse that you are provided to ride will likely not be the horse that you subsequently ride for later lessons. You'll have a fun ride at that trial lesson, a good experience that's meant to encourage you to come back for more. The regular school horses that you are later provided with may still be a-okay for your learning needs, or they may really, really not be.

Hope this helps, and good luck!
posted by toodles at 6:43 PM on October 10, 2008

24 is a fine age to learn a new skill. Your body may get quite stiff & sore, but you'll adjust, get in great shape and have a lot of fun.
posted by theora55 at 6:47 PM on October 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Do it!

My mom rode as a kid and started up again when I was about 10 (she got jealous when I started taking lessons, naturally). She was 50, and pretty nervous but very determined. 15 years later she is an accomplished horsewoman, owns two beautiful horses, and rides a few days a week.

Let the teacher know that you are nervous. A good teacher will work with you and know the appropriate amount to push you. If your first teacher isn't right, try someone else. I don't know anything about the riding scene where you live, but hopefully someone here can give you some direction.

I will note that there are some mega-snobs in the equestrian world, and a lot of barn gossip, but don't be deterred by them. My mom has met some of her best friends through riding.
posted by radioamy at 7:35 PM on October 10, 2008

Oh my god you have to do this. I want to do this too! My experience is more recent than yours (I used to be a camp wrangler) and I have really only ridden Western. But man, I miss horses. I keep telling myself I should get back into it... I think you might have inspired me to make the time. Thanks!
posted by purpletangerine at 8:40 PM on October 10, 2008

From my experience, riding requires constant learning at all ages. My gf (who's 36) is away in Rhinebeck, NY, this weekend with her trainer and her trainer's trainer taking lessons with both her horses.

Our boarders are all adult women. One is in her early 40s and, despite having owned horses before, is a bit of a beginner. Another, who's in her 70s, is still taking lessons.

There are going to be places that cater to children, those that cater to adults, and everything in between.

You might want to check out the NewHorse.com listing for Florida and this Horse-Riding.net. Look in your phone book under Horse boarding. Most boarding barns have some kind of lesson program. And the horse community is pretty small, so if you if the first person you call doesn't have what you need, she will likely be able to point you in the right direction.
posted by jdfan at 6:19 AM on October 11, 2008

Go for it! I'm in my early 30s and had never sat on a horse before last year but thought I'd have a go, and loved it. It is initially weird, in the way that using your body to do something you've never done before is always weird, but if you get a good instructor you'll be fine, private classes might be worth it if you can't find an adult group class. It can take a while for some stuff to click so you do need to be patient with yourself but for me, the joy of being around the horses was incentive enough to keep at it and I made progress pretty quickly. Enjoy!
posted by freya_lamb at 11:00 AM on October 11, 2008

Horseback riding is one of the only sports where just about anyone can get good at it if they have a good trainer and are dedicated enough, you do not need talent, you do not need superhuman skills, you do not need a mutant body and you do not need youth, you just need to keep at it, and find a good teacher. I started early (age 7), but stopped and started again a few times, it was MUCH harder to get my riding fitness back when I was older, but part of that was knowing what I SHOULD have been able to do vs what my lack of riding fitness allowed me to do. I strongly suggest you take up yoga as well, yoga complements riding better than just about any other non-riding activity, it helps with balance and using parts of your body independently, which are vital to good riding. Buy a good helmet and wear it every time, and have fun!
posted by biscotti at 11:57 AM on October 11, 2008

I'm 29 and just started taking lessons two weeks ago. One of the people in my class is 6 years old and can outride me (and most of the people at the barn). It's great and I'm really enjoying myself, I'm wondering why I didn't start doing this earlier. So I say go for it! Definitely spring for a helmet, my school's helmets are pretty icky, and maybe a light pair of gloves, but only if you have sensitive hands (my hands get chewed up by the reins). Happy trails!
posted by LunaticFringe at 12:08 PM on October 11, 2008

You will have a lot of fun if you make sure your instructor has skill and patience and is saety-conscious. Do not agree to ride anywhere they don't require an approved helmet and boots.

Remember, anyone with a horse and a ring can call themselves a riding instructor; ARIA (American Riding Instructors Association) membership demonstrates that a trainer has at least minimum competence and a committment to safety. Here is a link to ARIA trainers in Florida. HAVE FUN!

http://www.riding-instructor.com/instructors/fl.php
posted by mmf at 1:42 PM on October 11, 2008

This is actually a trend. When I was riding as a kid, there were almost no adult women beginners. A few years ago, I realized that a lot of the women at the barn where not picking it back up after kids or career, or moms joining daughters, but women finally doing what they always wanted.

Several barns owners told me they had actually restructured their class planning around it.

Even if it wasn't a trend - go. Ride.

There is nothing better for you. It's like doing yoga with a 1200-pound pet.

I cannot face big-ass oxers like when I was 16 or 24, but that's why we have dressage.

Ride western, ride English, get into overnight packing. Just ride. Try sidesaddle.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 3:27 PM on October 11, 2008

Oh, and by the way, if I can't do dressage, I will die.

(No idea when Fiona Allen started riding.)
posted by Lesser Shrew at 3:34 PM on October 11, 2008

Yes! You should do this. I rode hunter/jumpers up through high school, then got back into it after a 15 year break. I will not lie: I really needed ibuprofen the morning after my first few lessons.

This was about 5 years ago and now some of my best friends are other women I met through the barn.

When I first got back into it, I called and gave some basic information, including my age. The trainer said that, although she wanted to assess my ability first, she had a group of adult women riders and thought I could get into that class fairly quickly. Worked out great.

Also, while my barn tends to be geared more towards kids doing the show circuit, I feel that us adults fit in fine. In fact, the trainers seem to appreciate having a group that follows directions and listens.
posted by Pleased_As_Punch at 7:29 PM on October 11, 2008