A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:I'm not sure what category this fits into, but I people connect emotionally with their animals (like family members), so I imagine it's relevant. Not a romantic relationship question, I know, but it really means a lot to me. What do you do if you have loved horses all of your life, but you're 29 years old and you never really learned how to ride? I've been told by someone that I'm too old and that it's too late to learn, forget it, but I DON'T like to give up. I can take an honest answer. I am 29 years old and I have ridden off and on but I never really LEARNED how to ride. I'm not a skillful rider and I'm so scared that I'm too old or untalented.I've ridden many, many times, usually did ok, but a couple of times, it's just been a disaster. The last time I did it, I totally screwed up with the reins. Years before, I also had English-style lessons, but my teacher didn't give me a lot of attention, she mostly just yelled at her kids. I couldn't get the hang of the posting technique. Every time I would make a mistake my horse would get pissed off and try to throw me. I got on about ten times (dumb*** that I am lol) but I can't seem to get it. I eventually learned how to keep my seat though.I'm not sure if I suck because I lack sufficient practice, or if I just lack talent or a way with horses.I've always loved horses, and always longed to learn how to ride. It's not viable right now, but in the future when I have the time and $$$ I really want to. The trouble is, I don't think I have any natural talent, or a way with horses. Are there some people that just can't learn because they lack the talent? How do you know if you lack a "way" with horses, or if you just haven't found the right one? I still love horses and I really want to learn, but I wonder if the reason I'm not good at it is because I haven't had the luxury of consistent practice or because I lack talent and a way with horses? Furthermore, I've been a little bit sad lately about something else in my life. I have had really bad luck with men and I recently had a nasty blow. I've realized that this man will never be for me, and I know that I need to get over him, but... it's really hard. In other words, I think that it would help me if I had something to heal my broken heart. My mom says that I'm crazy to even pursuing riding. I'm not afraid of horses, I still love them actually but what I'm afraid of is that I might not have the natural talent. To the hobby snobs out there, this sounds like a naive question, but how do I know what's wrong with me?How do I know if I'm simply un-talented, lacking experience? Am I too old to learn to ride? In my defense, I suppose this is sort of a relationship question because I love horses so much that it would heal my broken heart, even though it doesn't sound like a relationship question... it relates to my broken heart, so technically... it could be.Sorry this is windy. I'm a windy writer, I know. Thank you for listening to me. It means so much!
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 March 2010): it took me 6 months of riding to get the posting trot and riding 2-3 times every week i was bery lucky in the fact that i was able to get ahorse before id even started riding (not got him from today tho :'( ) but nobodys ever too old ot learn
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 April 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThey say there are no bad horses, just bad riders... maybe this is true... BUT some horses are DEFINITELY more forgiving than others. I want one of the forgiving ones. :)
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reader, anonymous, writes (11 April 2009): You don't have to have a "way" with horses - and you are never, ever to old to learn. People learn everyday of their lives and people who have been around horses since they were born always find something about them they didn't know! I suggest you go and get some private lessons, because these don't have a load of other people and you will have time to do your own thing. They can be a little more expensive, but if you can set aside a fiver (or equivalent) each week, you should end up with enough at the end of the month. Alternatively, make friends with someone horsey. That might sound like using them, but all's fair in love and war! I always wanted to learn to ride since I was very small, but I wasn't allowed because it cost too much. When I was old enough, I took things into my own hands and started learning everything about horses I possibly could. Result: I have a riding lesson next Tuesday! I f you want to get to know horses a bit more, go and see some from time to time in a field or stables and get to know them a bit. You can get anything if you want it enough!
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reader, anonymous, writes (1 April 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionMy instructor was AWFUL, she didn't give me ANY attention at all... I've learned the hard way to be super picky.
My mom says that after all my accidents she doesn't see how I can stand to be around horses... the things we do for love, eh... :)
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reader, anonymous, writes (1 April 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks for your answers. I guess that you have to practice it consistently, like you said.
I'm saving my money. That way, when I start searching for an instructor, I can get the best. I do have some cousins that ride. :)
Thank you so much everyone!!
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reader, anonymous, writes (31 March 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionWestern, definitely!! I don't want to give up riding but I've tried English and Western, and although English style is really beautiful and elegant... Western is for me.
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reader, anonymous, writes (30 March 2009): If you are speaking about learning to ride English style, then that does have a lot of elements that have to put together in order to ride properly, but no you aren't too old to learn anything that you might want to try.
If you really just love horses and want to be around horses, then I recommend you ride Western....that is what I do. There isn't anything to it, it is a casual style of riding. Where the fun part comes in is if you have a gated horse like a fox trotter, there are different commands with the reigns and body etc. Even with a non gaited horse you can use your legs to tell the horse to turn, back up or what ever. But without those signals, a non gaited horse will ride just fine with a kick in the belly and a loosening up of the reigns to go forward, and you lay the reigns on the side of the neck opposite to the way you want the horse to turn, like you are sort of pulling on the reigns....so I am not sure why you are so stressed out about learning to ride if you ride Western. The main thing is to have a horse that is saddle broke, and that you can control, like being able to stop the hore or keep it from breaking into a dead run.....sometimes that is a function of the behavior of the horse as much as the rider. Experience makes it so you can anticipate what the naughty horse is about to do , it teaches you that horses are afraid of falling so that when you go down a steep heel to let the horse pick it's way down, to not ride the horse under a tree limb or too close to a tree trunk where it can knock you off. to know that if a horse rears up on it's hind legs, how not to slide off the horse, to ride with the proper boot and the proper foot position in the stirrups so that you don't run the risk of getting caught in the saddle should you and your horse fall...(a pretty rare occurence)
Horses are really neat animals and if you have your own horse and you ride often you will form a bond with that animal and trust. I used to sit under my horse and eat my lunch for shade, and while I was under there, she wouldn't so much as pick up her feet to swat a fly....I was hers and she was mine.
If you don't own a horse and you would like something to heal your broken heart, you could do that by helping kids learn to ride, there are programs for special needs kids too that take them on horseback rides, so look in your area for programs like that.
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reader, bobbles32  +, writes (30 March 2009):
 You're never too old to learn! Keep at it, It really does take constant practice? Can you take some professional lessons? Do you have any friends that ride? they could help. Try looking up some standard tips online and keep at it :) you can do it
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