BETTER LATE THAN NEVER Always wanted to ride but never had the chance? It’s never too late to learn, as Annie Studholme reports
There’s no such thing as TOO old when it comes to learning how to ride a horse. No matter what age you start to learn any new sport, it requires patience, determination and courage, but learning something for the first time as an adult throws up a whole new set of challenges, especially for women.
Unfortunately, the fearlessness children exhibit rapidly decreases with age; the body’s natural balance and fitness also start to fade, self-consciousness increases; and perhaps the biggest issue is the tendency to over-analyse everything.
Because adults look at learning to ride academically, rather than by feel as children do, mentally it is also very taxing. New jargon, new terms; not to mention having to start thinking about how to move your body to provide the right signals for the horse.
If you have always dreamed of being able to ride, whether it’s just for pleasure, to hunt, or to compete, there is no reason why you can’t. But those who have been through the process unanimously agree there is a right and a wrong way to go about it.
First things first
While jumping in boots and all and buying your own horse sounds the obvious starting point, it’s not advised for beginners. Finding a good training facility and getting lessons first is essential, and make sure they have dealt with adult learners before.
Canterbury’s Anita Sauer can speak from first-hand experience about what a mistake it is to try and learn-as-you-go with your first horse.
Originally from Germany, Anita moved to New Zealand in 1993. She’d always wanted a horse, but in her homeland riding is prohibitively expensive.
So at the age of 37, armed with only the NZ Pony Club Manual #1, she went out and bought a 10-year-old Appaloosa mare.
“I really didn’t know much about horses. I certainly couldn’t ride. The horse looked after me initially, but then I started losing my confidence because I wasn’t able to fix problems. Somehow, we both survived three years,” Anita admits.
“Looking back, buying her first wasn’t a good move and it easily could have ending me riding full stop.”
Having come close to giving up for good,
Anita was lured back in the saddle at Christchurch’s Kowhai Riding School, where her daughter was learning to ride.
Anita says that learning a new sport as an adult is hard work, both physically and mentally.
“Sometimes the brain takes over, so you analyse rather than feel what’s underneath you. And you tend to be far more aware of the consequences if you fall off, which makes you apprehensive.”
Anita says the right training facility is crucial; she found Kowhai a blessing as it provided excellent teaching, safe and reliable horses and a variety of riding experiences.
The school, which has some 85 horses, is something of an institution in the South Island. Head instructor Liz Thomas started it in 1969. Kowhai is also one of the few riding schools in New Zealand to offer adult weekends, open to adults of all abilities, held roughly every six weeks.
What you’ll need:
A sense of humour!
Comfy old clothes. Keep it simple and try not to get intimidated by all the ‘gear’. Horse riding needn’t be a fashion statement, but avoid long, flappy garments. Wear sturdy trousers, preferably not jeans as they tend to rub. Leggings or stretchy yoga/tracksuit pants are fine. Purpose-designed jodhpurs or breeches are better still if you plan to stick with the sport
A good pair of flat-soled footwear. Running shoes are not ideal but are fine for your first lesson if that’s all you have. Later, invest in a pair of short riding boots and maybe some half-chaps
A regulation safety helmet that fits! (Most riding schools or instructors will provide these. If not, BUY ONE, it is essential). A cycle helmet will NOT do
Comfortable, well-fitting underwear. Women, if you are constantly hiking up your bra straps, buy a new one or stitch them in place. A good sports bra is a prudent investment – horse riding is a high bounce factor sport! And don’t even think about wearing a g-string
The ability to listen. Get used to being told what to do; and stop making excuses!
The right environment
Fellow Cantabrian Nicky Vavasour says finding the right environment to learn is the key. She doubts she ever would have plucked up the courage to learn to ride if it had not been for Kowhai’s safe environment.
Nicky had farm mustered as a child but hadn’t ridden for more than 20 years when someone kindly offered her a horse when she was in her 40s; it turned out to be a disaster. Things came to a head when Nicky sustained serious injuries in a riding accident; she was filled with fear at the thought of riding again.
But 12 years later, at the age of 58, as she watched her daughters thriving in their riding at Kowhai, Nicky felt an urge to learn properly.
“When I started at Kowhai it was the first time I had really been taught to ride. It appealed because it was such a controlled environment and looked so safe. The instructors were fantastic.”
Nicky has been going for lessons the past 13 years, at least once a week. Recently, the horse Nicky usually rides, Serendipity, was retired from the school, so she volunteered to give her a home.
Competition riding
Canterbury dressage rider Kathryn Brough first started riding at 19, then gave up for many years. Now 42, she has just bought her second horse and is looking forward to competing both at Level 2 (Novice) this season.
Kathryn was horse-mad as a child, but only after she got married was she in a position to own a horse. The first horse she bought was a disaster; then, the birth of her children put an end to her riding for several years.
“It wasn’t till four years ago that I really thought it was time, I was going to learn properly. I was 38,” she explains.
Kathryn says learning as an adult is very complex. “Life gives you some knocks, so when you’re learning to ride, as soon as something happens the disbelief and self- doubts set in. It is not black-and-white like it is for children.”
Having observed her daughter learning to ride at the same time, the difference is marked, says Kathryn.
“Children do things a lot more naturally, whereas I need to be told everything, right down to the tiniest detail. And being female, I tend to over-analyse everything as well, which complicates things further.”
While competing isn’t for everybody, for many riders it’s a great chance to get out and about with their horses, socialise with other riders, and to set and achieve personal training goals.
Now she is successful out in the competition arena, including two trips to the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show, Kathryn has some advice for new riders looking to buy their own horse.
“I would get someone to help you buy your first horse that knows you as a person, and knows your abilities, to make sure you get a horse that is suitable.”
Kathryn says getting low-key experience before you go out and compete in open competition is a must. She found Canterbury Dressage’s winter training series a godsend (see panel on p58).
Expert advice
Perhaps the two biggest issues affecting adults learning to ride are fear and fitness, but there are ways to overcome these, says Wanaka-based equine sport therapist Amanda Taylor.
Amanda says fitness and balance can be the most debilitating factors at the beginning. She suggests getting a private lesson rather than join a group session to start with, to enable the instructor to evaluate your balance, fitness and crookedness. It will also give you a chance to ask questions without worrying about other people; individual goals can be set and a training plan can be decided.
To improve balance and core strength, she suggests using Swiss ball exercises, while yoga or a stretch class can help flexibility and general balance and physical awareness.
If your fitness is a bit below par, then a running, walking or swimming programme will help. Discuss this with your trainer or a fitness instructor at the local gym; it is amazing the difference it will make to your riding ability, Amanda says.
She can’t emphasis enough the importance of simply spending time with horses prior to taking lessons, especially for new riders who are scared.
“The best way to overcome this is to start your learning to ride from the ground,” she explains.
“Hanging out with horses enables you to observe horsey behaviour, and put some understanding into their actions and reactions. A yawn is a yawn and not the horse bearing his teeth at you. A body shake observed on the ground is far less scary than the first time they do it when you are in the saddle!”
Amanda runs a block course on horse care and riding at her business, Equine Focus, incorporating safe handling, grooming, tacking up and basic health of the horse. Clients using this approach tend to excel with their riding, she adds.
When it comes to finding a good facility to learn, do your homework. There are good riding schools in most areas; it’s a case of finding them.
Liz Thomas of Kowhai says schools must have instructors prepared to put the time in, as well as suitable horses. It is important to learn the right way from the start; it’s much harder to break bad habits.
Amanda advises would-be adult beginners to ring around local establishments and talk to as many as you can. Don’t book solely on price or which is the closest.
“Don’t be afraid to ask about instructors’ experience and qualifications. Remember, the best riders don’t always make the best instructors. New riders need a structured and safe environment on safe horses. Ask if you can go and watch a lesson; it will give you an idea of the management and type of establishment.”
Remember, at the end of the day riding should be fun. If you’re not enjoying it, ask yourself why. If you don’t know, ask for help.
Women are from Venus, men are from Mars
When it comes to men learning to ride as adults, almost none of the above applies!
The old saying is bang on; men are fundamentally different from women when it comes to learning a new skill like riding. Fear and a heightened sense of self-awareness is not generally an issue for blokes; the testosterone takes over. Males are always up for a challenge, and they look on riding as just that, a challenge!
It is a far more basic approach than their female counterparts; in many cases guys wanting to learn to ride simply buy a horse and get on with it. No lessons, no books.
Christchurch Hunt fieldmaster Andy Thompson rode for the first time when he was in his 20s, but it wasn’t until he was 33 that his wife Lisa decided they should take up hunting together. With no lessons and a crazy horse, he set off to his first hunt.
“I battled a bit at the start but I persevered. I just got on with it. There were times when I got nervous but I enjoyed the challenge of it. Gradually I got better. Now I love it,” says Andy.
He has now progressed to fieldmaster and all four of the Thompson children hunt as well. The youngest, Maddi, started when she was just three.
Andy says it’s the challenge that keeps him going; striving to get better and bringing on young horses.
Arcoda Lodge Sporthorse Stud principal Dean Boyd is another who learnt later in life.
Dean bought his first horse when he was 28. Within in days, he headed off on a camping trip, horse in tow. Any doubts he had were soon forgotten.
“It was a bit of a rogue. When I first rode it bucked like a bastard but I actually quite enjoyed it,” he laughs.
Since his very humble beginnings Dean has developed into a proficient horseman, breaking and starting large numbers of horses.
He says his inherent love of a challenge and pig-headedness was well suited to learning to ride as an adult. Being afraid never came into it, and doesn’t to this day.
“I just get on with it. A horse is just a horse after all,” he says.
Some reading:
Horses For Dummies, by former Horse Illustrated editor Audrey Pavia and equine vet Janice Posnikoff, DVM.
Taking Up Riding As An Adult (Horse Wise Guide Series), by Diana Delmar
Useful websites:
www.newrider.com
www.virtuallyhorses.com
