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Just started taking riding lessons..

3K views 13 replies 10 participants last post by  AmberPick 
#1 ·
Sooo I'm not like a lot of the people on here - I've noticed a lot of people writing that they ride but do not take care of horses... Well most of the experience I have with horses is on the ground, and I am finally taking riding lessons. It's not that I didn't WANT to learn to ride, I sat bareback on horses all the time, it was that the horse was always lame, etc. etc. so I never really road, just did all the dirty work!

I feel SO wierd going to riding lessons, married with a three year old and 21. My instructor is my age and most of the other people taking lessons are younger high school girls, and I just feel so out of place, I guess! It's hard because I went into this knowing what I thought was a lot about horses but once you get into the saddle it's a completely different ballgame!!

I'm taking lessons because I don't have a horse yet - we are buying a house in Florida soon & we're going to set it up for a horse. What I'm wondering is how long do you think I should take lessons before I sort of, well, go off on my own? $25 an hour isn't anything right now, but when you add in a mortgage, car payment, truck payment, a three year old, vet bills, farrier bills, hay, and everything else life and having a horse entails... Ahhh!
 
#2 ·
Congrats on learning how to ride! Dont feel weird that you are a little older than the other people taking lessons. I will be 27 next month and I am just getting back into riding after a 6 year hiatus. I am sure I will feel a little "old" at first, but its not about age.

I would say since you seem to be experienced with the care of horses, I would give it at least 6 months before owning your own horse. This will give you time to get the basics down. Just be sure that you really look around for the right horse. Take your instructor with you while you look to make sure you get something compatible with your riding knowledge. You dont want to go get a 2 year old that doesnt know what a saddle is!

Just make sure you dont stretch yourself too thin money wise - there is nothing worse than not being able to afford care for a horse.

Good luck :)
 
#12 ·
Congrats on learning how to ride! Dont feel weird that you are a little older than the other people taking lessons. I will be 27 next month and I am just getting back into riding after a 6 year hiatus. I am sure I will feel a little "old" at first, but its not about age.

I would say since you seem to be experienced with the care of horses, I would give it at least 6 months before owning your own horse. This will give you time to get the basics down. Just be sure that you really look around for the right horse. Take your instructor with you while you look to make sure you get something compatible with your riding knowledge. You dont want to go get a 2 year old that doesnt know what a saddle is!

Just make sure you dont stretch yourself too thin money wise - there is nothing worse than not being able to afford care for a horse.

Good luck :)
Money is definitely my biggest concern! Though even in the worst case scenario (my horse getting sick all the time, etc) I know we could afford it I am just over analyzing it right now.. He just told me to quit being paranoid :)
 
#3 ·
don't feel weird. 21 isn't too old at all! i've been riding since i was 6 and it's amazing how fast the time went! i showed my large pony in classes because i'm only about 5'1. All the other ponies his size were getting shown by little 9 year olds. embarrassing ... anyways.. i agree with DubyaS6 and everything she said. :) good luck finding the right horse. I would probably take lessons on an occasion depending on what type of riding you were doing and what type of horse you bought..
 
#4 ·
Definitely continue the lessons even after getting a horse. You may not have to take them as often, but not only will they benefit you as a rider, you can take your new knowledge home and implement it on your horse! It will be like getting 3 or 4 lessons for the price of 1 :D
 
#5 ·
not too old

I am starting lessons again after years of hacking through the woods. I am 53 years old and plan on riding until I can't get on. In the winter here I can't ride so am going to take some lessons with indoor arena all winter so I can learn and ride at the same time. Good for you and if you have the determination everything else will fall into place!:lol:
 
#6 ·
I didn't start riding until I was 20 y/o and could afford a horse and the lessons myself. There are many of us who didn't get fully immersed into horses until we were adults.

I don't board my horses now, but I used to. They've been home with me for the past 5 years, and although it's a lot of work, I wouldn't have it any other way now. I enjoy being able to look out any of my windows and see them grazing in the pasture.

Good luck, have fun, and welcome to the world of horses.
 
#13 ·
I didn't start riding until I was 20 y/o and could afford a horse and the lessons myself. There are many of us who didn't get fully immersed into horses until we were adults.

I don't board my horses now, but I used to. They've been home with me for the past 5 years, and although it's a lot of work, I wouldn't have it any other way now. I enjoy being able to look out any of my windows and see them grazing in the pasture.

Good luck, have fun, and welcome to the world of horses.
Thanks!! Yeah my husband offered to get a horse now and just board.. I thought about it but I would rather just wait until I decide exactly what I want out of a horse.. I told him it will probably take me 6 months to decide on a horse and he rolled his eyes.. It's just such a huge investment with money, time, patience, safety...
 
#7 ·
At 25, I am pretty much the oldest "lesson kid" at the barn, other then the Mom class, so dont feel so bad! A lot of the kids I compete against are 17 and under as well....sometimes they beat me, sometimes I beat them.

There are advantages to being an older student. You are there to RIDE and when the little kids are yapping away instead of warming up, you can get extra 1 on 1 time in a group lesson. One of my coaches and I love the same bar, so we go there a fair bit together with a few of the 19+ students. You get to sit at the "adult" table for Christmas parties and barn get togethers and actually enjoy the conversation instead of trying to understand the teens and what guy they are dating this week....lol!

Even if you get your own horse, you should still take lessons. With horses, it seems like there is no limit to the amount of knowledge you can gain from a more experienced horseperson. Even if later on you stop taking lessons, it would still be a good idea to take them for a while so that you can get coached on your own horse. Then maybe only commit to having 1 lesson a month or every other month. Think about maybe taking clinics instead of lessons occasionally as well to get another persons perspective.

(I am currently a cheap horse owner and only take lessons until sometime in the future I can actually purchase a horse. It works for me right now because of shift work, and if I need to, I schedule a private lessons instead of taking the group. I prefer the group because it gives me social interaction outside of work, plus the two/three other girls in my lesson are a hoot. In a way it gives them someone to look up to other then the coach for encouragement. Plus it gives me someone to watch and learn how to maybe coach in the future.)
 
#8 ·
Hey you'll be fine plus since your older you will be more committed.
My riding teachers are between 3-7 years older than me, and I'm 14 and the one who is about 18, I get on with best, because she knows how to teach me to keep me intrested and also knows and understands my learning style. And I give that all to her being a similar age to me and still being an amazing instructor

Good Luck and have fun
 
#14 ·
Wow its good to know I'm am not the only one who feels that way. I am 24 and its intimidating to see these young gals control these horses. I get even more annoyed with they are yaking away on the cell phones or friends instead of just enjoying the atmosphere.
Ditto to that! I love every second of being on a horse! My aunt who is 54 is still that way & I really hope I stay that way as well!!
 
#11 ·
I'm 21 and have been riding for 9 months :)
My family had horses when I was a kid but never did I ride untill 9 months ago!
I am one of those who didn't have the privlege to have riding lessons when I was 3 yrs and up. I even ask the little kids for advice =D hahaaha...kinda embarassing but they know a lot and they help me so I don't mind. It's a lot of fun and although sometimes I look like a complete idiot I'm okay with it. I just laugh it off.
 
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