The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Horse talk for mature people over 40

2M views 29K replies 352 participants last post by  Blue 
#1 ·
I thought I would start a new thread for people over 40
who love horses.
This thread is open to owners leasers an people who
love horses

I will start I am 48 years old and I never yet owned a horse
mainly because of finances.
I have been around horses most of my life. I have ridden
all kinds of horses first ponies then horses
I have ridden Arab, Quarter Horses, Morgans, Appendix Quarter horses.
Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, American Saddlebreds and Paints and lots of mixed breeds too and all sizes 14hh-17hh
I have ridden both English and western
here is are pictures of me riding my friends Pinto 14hh
and my friends Half Arab

My husband knows how much I would love my own horse so in the spring we are looking in to leasing a horse
 

Attachments

See less See more
2
#2 ·
HI, I'm 47 and have had horses on and off my whole life. Currently I have an Arab mare (who will foal in April or May), a half-arab gelding (who looks full blooded and is a challenge to ride!) and my sister's QH gelding who is semi_retired (and his current title is head babysitter for my son).

I've ridden racehorses, jumpers, barrel racers, pole benders, dressage and trail horses. My husband and I recently bought our own place and it is wonderful! I feel like a teenager again with my horses so close.
 
#3 ·
Hello all,
I'm 46 and just got ack into horses about a year ago after getting out of them to raise a family when i was in my 20s. I grew up with horses. My first horse was a pony and i was so young i don't even remember her but my mom has loads of pics of the little guy/gal? and pics of me riding so I'm assured that was my first. the first one i remember was a pair of palomino ponies when i was in grade school. we rode their little hoofs off literally. I remember the trimmer telling us "there is noting to trim you kids need to stay off the pavement and ride on the grass from now on". we sold the ponies now dead broke bomb proof for way more then we paid and moved up the chain through some bigger ponies to half Arabs and eventually registered Arabs then finally we had some really nicely bred Arabs.
So I was in my mid 20s and fell in love and when i had had my first child I could no longer afford my horse and we sold him. I always rode every chance i got which was not often. My kids have been grown and gone for a few years and i started getting the itch to have a horse again. After Hurricane Katrina we lost our home in New Orleans and moved to the country and So i bought a little Polish Arabian mare. well she was lonely so now she has 3 friends (which is about 2 too many LOL) and there we are. I fell like I'm learning a lot of things all over....
 
#4 · (Edited)
45 here. Started riding a year ago.

Here's my leased Appendix QH mare Calypso

I took her on in mid October and have been working hard with her ever since. I ride usually three to five times a week, mostly school work on dressage during the week and trail riding on the farm's trail network during the weekends.

I recently started jumping lessons with her and she loves to jump. Unfortunately I came off on the last jump of my lesson last Friday (1/27) and separated my right collarbone from the shoulder. I should get back on the saddle in a month or so, God willing.

 
#5 ·
Hrmph, the 40's have it so far:-|

Because I can't type the number, let's just say I was born in 1947 and we farmed with horses, on our small Old McDonald's dairy farm, until I was four:shock::shock:

I got my first ride on the work mare when I was two, started riding, bareback, behind my maternal-side cousin when I was ten, started breaking/training for my paternal grandpap when I was 12.

I got my very own first horse when I was 12. I raised/trained her foal (that no one knew she was carrying until he showed up one day in May), and we were best buds until I laid him to rest with cancer when he was 29 and I was 42.

I was so devastated, I stayed out of horses for year. One day a big ole stock trailer came lumbering up my road and I rushed to see what horses were in it. It was full of cattle but my excitement to see horses told me that I should start looking for another horse.

Thus came my second group of Keeper Horses who are still with me. The very handsome and intelligent TWH in my avatar was 16 when that was taken on a 250-horse ride. He is now 24, has been with me as coming 3 yr old and now has metabolic issues. We have grown old and arthritic together - he is my heart horse:)

My current four (three TWH's and a 26 yr old Arab) are my last crew. I will be doing good to see the 16 & 17 year olds out of this life. I won't buy a younger horse that I would have to worry about after I'm six feet under and it's still here left to the Fate's:-(

I feel very fortunate to have had decent jobs all my life, that allowed me to stay broke because of my horse habits:-p

Many of the people who called me stupid for spending my money on "those d*** hayburners" either aren't around anymore, are on breathing machines, and/or are STILL "trying to find themselves" thru the haze of pills and alcohol. I am a Babyboomer ya know -- Haight-Ashbury was the place to be in the 60's:lol::lol::lol:
 
#6 ·
Well, 40 is starting to be a long time ago...:rofl:

I am 64 and come from an Appy family. My grandfather raised Appys 90 years ago, and I bred and raised Appys and Araloosas for 20 years, until I stopped breeding about 7 years ago. My father was in the military, so our Appy idiocy sort of skipped a generation, although I had horses off and on during my childhood while we were in the states.

I am retired now and living in Branson, but still have 5 horses that are on my ranch in Arkansas, which one of my sons is buying from me...the term buying is used somewhat loosely here...:?

WildAcreFarms, Katrina changed a lot of lives. Mrs. Face helped to evacuate our best friend to Baton Rouge a few days before Katrina hit. I also gifted a couple of my broodmares to a guy in southern Mississippi who lost his Appy herd to the storm. When I was in the oil business I worked in Metarie at the base of the causeway in 1984 and 1985 - we lived across the causeway in Abita Springs...
 
#7 ·
Hrmph, the 40's have it so far:-|

Because I can't type the number, let's just say I was born in 1947 and we farmed with horses, on our small Old McDonald's dairy farm, until I was four:shock::shock:
Sorry - I think I typed the number for you...:rofl:
 
#8 ·
Hi all -
Thanks Country Woman for starting this great thread!

I'm close to 40 (38 this coming June). I lease a Grey 14 yr old TB mare (Grace), we're heading to our first show next Saturday! We'll also be testing Intro A in April.

I had ridden hunters from the age of 8 to 18 (I wont go into the whole story, but if you want to read more, my blog is below), then left for college, had a family, and now at 37 am back to chasing my dream of owning. Hubby has agreed that if I lease the mare 1 more year, we'll start looking for my horse. This year can't go fast enough!

The horse I lease teaches me a ton, and I ride at a fabulous barn with a very patient trainer. Every day at the barn keeps a smile on my face, and makes me a happy mom and wife!
 
#9 ·
Well I am over 40, however I doubt I am that mature:-p. I've always had horses since I was born, rode everything, worked as a trainer, raised my kids to love horses & now I just ride for fun. I show, work with a coach & take lessons with my husband. We own 2 horses, father & son combo, my adult daughter acquired the daughter so it's a family affair. She shows as well, we're working on getting the old man into the showpen! I really could not imagine my life without riding & horses, always been a part of who I am.
 

Attachments

#10 · (Edited)
I will be 53 at the end of the month. I too, rode horses starting at about 6 years old with ponies, Molly, Snowball and Penny. Then moved up to a Welsh sized pony named Sue. Next stop was a grade mare named Little Bit that was absolutely wonderful. We also had a little Shetland Pony Sugarbaby that had a foal, Bittersweet. I then got a little QH filly, Gal that I had for a number of years and she had two foals.

I have rode lots of horses that weren't mine. Had my horse at a racing barn as a teenager and then at a QH show barn. When I married I gave my horse to my brother in law and was out of the horse world.

Just before I turned 50 I told Honey Darling Precious I was getting a horse - he said no you aren't. :rofl: Bless his heart, I had to tell HDP that I wasn't asking him...I was telling him what I was going to do. I bought on off the track QH gelding January, 2009 and then got Sargent San Peppy on June 4, 2009 for hubby. I had Red until late last year when I rehomed him due to his anhydrosis condition not being suitable for trail riding. I then purchased my boy Biscuit. I trail ride with my hubby, cousin and her hubby, two barn buddies and a host of friends with our trail riding group. Here are pictures of my two QH geldings, Sarge (the sassy little bay) and Biscuit. They are both gentle, sweet horses yet full of pep and get up and go.

They say life is better after 50 - I am having a good time with them, they are more fun than a barrel of monkeys!
 

Attachments

#11 ·
I am so encouraged to know there are so many of us "older" riders here.

I started taking lessons in 2009 in preparation for a 40th birthday trip to the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, AZ. ( great place by the way....i highly recommend it)

I immediately got bit by the horsey bug and am addicted despite some serious injuries over the last three years. The injuries came mainly from over estimating my riding skills and also looking at the "wrong" horses to buy.

Last year, hubby and I started leasing two horses and our addiction grew.

My leased horse has some lameness issues related to saddle fit and seeing that she is 27 years old, I decided to look for a horse to purchase.

After two bad accidents on horses that needed some retraining, I finally bit the bullet and forked over some cash for a well trained, well broke horse.

I have started two threads about her so I won't rewrite all the details but I am so happy with my decision to buy her.

I often wish I had started riding earlier, but if I had, I wouldn't have been in a place in my life where I could afford a horse of my own. So, I guess there is something to be said for waiting.

I hope that horseback riding will keep me fit and healthy well into my 50's, 60's and 70's and beyond!!!
 
#13 ·
I'll soon be 55. I'm part owner of a grazing association and we/the business has horses, but I haven't had one with solely my name on it for years.

Started as a kid trail riding, went to hunters, on to racing (STBs and TBs), got into ranching. Have also ridden Saddlebreds (which were a hoot), and take in outside horses.

Still do that, but am in my third year of grooming and exercising for a polo player during our season and started playing last year at 54. Me and the 9-15 year olds (there are a couple other adults - 30 somethings). My coach's goal is for me to advance to intermediate in my 80s! I kind of stink at rules.

I, obviously, think riding is great across the lifespan.
 
#16 ·
I'm 44. I've been around horses most of my life one way or another, but I didn't take up learning to ride in any serious way until the last couple of years. I learned to ride (sort of) on my cousin's pissy little pony when I was 7. I spent my teen years as a barn rat at a big hunter-jumper stable. And then I had a huge long break that was speckled with hired trail rides, meet-and-greet in the paddock with unrideable horses (lame or ancient, not bad temper), and that kind of thing. It took about 25 years to get free time and free $$ at the same time, and the first thing I did when that happened was to go get me some lessons to learn dressage.

Now I'm the proud mom of Huey, one 18 yo retired Grand Prix show jumper who is also learning dressage. He is better at it than I am, so far. :lol:

I guess some people think it's weird that I took up riding in my 40s, but they just don't know - I've been a horse person since I learned to talk (no kidding, "horsie" was one of my first words). I figure, better late than never!
 
#17 ·
When should I start collecting stuff for my horse
I already have a bridle but it has a Tom Thumb bit
and I would like a snaffle btw I am going to ride mainly western

There is a open horse show coming in April close to where I live
this might be a good place to ask some questions
but i dont want to show though
 
#20 ·
When should I start collecting stuff for my horse
I already have a bridle but it has a Tom Thumb bit
and I would like a snaffle btw I am going to ride mainly western

There is a open horse show coming in April close to where I live
this might be a good place to ask some questions
but i dont want to show though
Hahahaha!! I just had a flash-back to going down to the tack shop to buy breeches when I started getting serious with riding lessons. I listened in on a conversation about bits, asked a question, got an answer, and then we had another conversation that started off with one of them saying to me "When you get your horse..." and I said "Oh, I'm just taking riding lessons, I don't know that I'm going to get a horse..." and they both just looked at me like "RIGHT." :roll:

And here I am.

Once you start leasing a horse (or get your own) you will have an absolute Gear Buying Bonanza. No need to start too soon. :)

What I'd suggest, if you really want to gear up (and you have all your own personal stuff like clothes and boots and such) is to invest in a grooming kit. You'll need that no matter what horse you get. Mine has a curry (two curries, one for his summer coat and a different one for his winter coat), a flick brush, a dandy brush, a hoof pick, a wide-toothed comb, and a big really stiff brush with a handle that I use to scrub off the outside of his hooves before I pick them up (and I also hang his blankets over the fence when they get very grubby, and I use that same brush to scour the ook off of them). And a bucket for holding the lot of it.

Go to the tack shop and try out the different brushes - I find that some of them are very easy for me to hold, and others aren't.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top