Are you ever too old to learn something new?
Some of us have ridden ponies as a child, or had riding lessons as a teenager. Now, if you are older, it might be your dream to have a horse of your own. If you have the time and the money, why not?
Well, because it means the beginning of a huge learning curve. It takes strength, stamina, and as my mum tells me often, you're no spring chicken any more. You will have to get used to your friends commenting about your disheveled appearance, the dirt under your finger nails and the straw in your hair. You'll have to put up with aching where you thought it was impossible to ache, and drag yourself around some days like an aged grandmother. You'll have to put up with the derision of teenagers, and the knowledgeable ignorant who know everything about horses but won't actually get on a horse. And you'll have to suffer the indignity and pain of occasionally falling off, and try and pick yourself up from the mud and the ditch with dignity.
So is it all worth it?
Yes, yes, and yes!!!
Do you want to feel to feel the magic of moving perfectly with your horse?
Do you want to build a bond and a trust with an animal that might be four times as big as you and twenty times as strong?
Do you want to feel like a child again?
Then do what you've always dreamt of doing - give yourself permission to actually do it. If you have the time, the money and the determination, what's holding you back?
If you think you're too old to learn something new, then you probably are. But some of us believe that it's never too old to learn as long as there is still breath in your soul, and some sort of movement in your body. Learning new things when you're older is what keeps you young and alive.
As you think so shall you be, so believe that you can do it. Don't be afraid to let go and have a go. Don't be afraid of looking a mess, or looking stupid. It's your life, you can do with it what you will. And if learning to ride a horse is what you want to do, then why not? Luckily, when you're older, you don't worry so much about what other people think.
So, how do you learn something new?
You will need to have lessons, from someone you respect and who's learning and riding style you agree with. I had lessons once with a girl who wanted me to use a whip, and constantly 'boot' the horse as I rode. This didn't work well; I didn't learn a lot as although I didn't argue with her, I was constantly worrying inside about what she was telling me to do. If you're not sure what's right and wrong when it comes to horse riding, it's often easy to get caught up in someone else's view of how to do it. And there are many opinions on the best way to ride a horse. In the end, you really have to use your head, find out as much as you can about different styles and philosophies so you can find one that you feel comfortable with, and then find yourself a good teacher.
Don't give up! It's going to take time. To be good at anything, you need to take a long term view. If that's not you, then maybe you'd be better taking up knitting. You won't feel comfortable around horses overnight if you're not used to them - it's all going to take time, but that doesn't matter. You've got time, haven't you?
Don't expect to be an expert overnight. Take time to research and find out about riding, and be kind to yourself. You'll get there in the end.
Don't be pressured into doing anything you don't feel comfortable with. For a long while, I was scared to canter because I was once bucked off going into canter, but I was constantly told by 'experts' to just get on with it and use a whip. This just scared me silly, and held me back for a long time. Go at your own speed and do things when you’re ready - don't stress yourself out unnecessarily, it could lead you to give up riding. You are the only person who knows what you are comfortable with.
So, be brave. And being brave doesn't mean going on a fast hack when you're scared to leave the yard. It means being able to say no, it means insisting on going at your speed and doing what you want to do what ever anyone else says. It means not being afraid of looking like an idiot or falling flat on your face.
Just pick yourself up, dust your self off, and carry on.
Successful people aren't necessarily clever, educated or talented. They have persistence. They just don't give up, whatever.
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