Comment

Comment by Jan Jollymour on April 22, 2009 at 4:59pm

Hi, again!

I just came in from a truly lovely work with my wonderful mare, and a super client who's just turned 50. She's riding Grand Prix now with her own horse (whom we've trained together), and I have also a 60+ client with her homebred mare who's also doing the GP. These are really inspirational women, and just as delightful to have over for dinner as they are in the dressage arena.

We are definitely still competitive, but we are driven by different goals and journeys now, and share our daily stresses and successes joyfully. Having girlfriends "along for the ride" really adds to the total experience, and this group on Barnmice just expands the "girlfriend group".

Comment by Dorothy McDonall on April 22, 2009 at 2:56pm

Hey Debbie! He is a cute boy ... thanks for the comment. He's a wonderfully social horse and such a joy. Like all of you here my focus has shifted and I am more into developing an inspiring relationship with my horse and having fun with him. I will be taking him to dressage shows for the first time this year, but the focus will be fun. It's not that I'm not competitive ... it's just not the be all and end all the way it used to be. (I'm so glad I can say that ... ;-) ) I'm more concerned that Bear has a good experience, and that will depend on me ... so, I have learned to be much more self-aware and in the moment with him, which means the other stuff just isn't that important anymore. I've finally learned to exhale ... :-)

Comment by Equiryder on April 22, 2009 at 2:40pm

Hi Everyone, I too just got an email from the OEF and thought I'd join. I'm in my 40's now and getting back into riding again. I'm a mom with a 5 yr old son who loves the horses too. We have a pony now for him and need the all the gear. Too bad there isn't more horsey stuff for little boys!

Comment by Bastian Cassidy-Feddern on April 22, 2009 at 2:16pm

Hey All!
I JUST got the email from OEF about the group, so here I am and the first group I saw was this one to join! Bravo, Debbie!
I am 45 (agh, where has the time gone), Mommy of three boys 13, 6, and 2 and we have our lovely Morgan, Reece. Here is to new friendships with 'big' ppl!
-Bastian

Comment by Lisa Morgan-Lavigne on April 22, 2009 at 2:08pm

"older rider"---nah, just a wiser rider, I think...and more likely apt to want to live live & grow old along with our lovely beasts...

Comment by Chris Gloin on April 22, 2009 at 2:04pm

I'm in my mid fifties and went back to riding after a 25 year break with occasional tries to ride again. I bought my first horse last year and am having a blast learning and riding. I have a 5 year old thoroughbred who is also the horse of my dreams. I am waaay more cautious than when I was young, and I am also not in a hurry. When the time is right for both the horse and I we do things. This winter was very hard the lack of turnout turned my sweet boy into a lunatic, but things are settling again now that spring is here. I am glad someone thought to start this group

Comment by Riley on April 22, 2009 at 1:56pm

I used to go to shows to win - I am very competitive by nature. Now I go to shows FIRST to have fun and a weekend away with girlfriends and uninterrupted time with my horse. I challenge myself to a personal best - if I've been struggling with something and all of a sudden it all comes together for me UNDER PRESSURE (likely its been working all long quite well at home) I have scored a huge success, never mind where I stand on the leader board at the end of the day! And I have my support crew right there cheering me along - or putting me back together again if it all fell apart :(

Comment by Linda Dennis on April 22, 2009 at 1:49pm

I love the comments about now we ride for better reasons not so much competitions and the part where dressage is not just for WBs and fancy imports.

Comment by Jan Jollymour on April 22, 2009 at 1:34pm

Hi,

As a 50+ rider who never left the sport, although I've taken an occasional hiatus from competition I have to say that the majority of my dressage clients are 40+, and I sure enjoy them. Riley is one of them!

After 40 we figure out our priorities, and actually put ourselves on the list. We ride for different reasons, and often better ones, and usually are more interested in the process than in competitive goals, which strangely enough makes us better competitors. Certainly we enjoy competition more.

I have a group of clients who have become friends, and we have a terrific time competing together. We are more supportive of each other, in both our triumphs and our disasters, and we enjoy every goal each of us reaches.

I'm having a fabuous time training and competing in my 50's!

Comment by Riley on April 22, 2009 at 12:07pm

I'm actually an over-50 rider who never really stopped riding. I've modified what I do with horses - I no longer event or jump as I too have discovered that one no longer bounces but breaks!

I now ride dressage and have invested in a custom saddle which has made all the difference to my comfort level. They are really not that much more expensive than one of the better name brand models and the twist, flap length, seat size, etc. are all made to accommodate YOUR dimensions, not some top rider who is quite possibly a different gender and over 6 feet tall! Custom saddles are also fitted to the horse, which makes the horse much more comfortable and thus able to round its back, which in turn makes its gaits much smoother. And its a LOT lighter than most Western saddles! Given the cost of a horse and its upkeep over the years, the difference between a custom and off-the-rack is probably negligible, with likely a huge benefit to effectiveness, comfort and enjoyment of both rider and horse. No, I am not in the tack or saddlery business - I simply attribute the fact that I am still riding and progressing to the fact that I am no longer hobbling when I dismount!

Dressage is not just for the warmblood or expensive competition horse - it can be thoroughly enjoyed at home on your favourite mount. In its simplest form, it is correct training of horse and rider in balance and harmony.

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