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Im 17 so no,

BUt the lady I bought my new horse off is 72 and still riding, and has only just retired from breeding and showing,

I also know a couple that still show, break and ride horses and they are well into their 70's

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Count me in! I rode and showed in huntseat equatation and jumping when I was much younger, and volunteered at a therapeutic riding center after retirement. I did anything to be around horses. I am now 53 and living in AZ. I have MS and other physical problems, but I also finally got my first horse! She is a beautiful Paso Fino and enables me to keep riding in spite of my disabilities. I have balance problems when I walk, but am perfectly balanced when I ride her. She's my physical and emotional therapist and keeps me laughing when I most need it. She also does 15 tricks, so she keeps me entertained!! Life without her, I don't think so!!

I'M 70 AND GOT MY 1ST HORSE WHEN I BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND RETIRED FROM A 35 YEAR JOB. NOW I HAVE 3 HORSES AND THEY REALLY KEEP ME HEALTHY. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE ILL. THEY DEPEND ON ME AND I'M LOVIN' IT!! I RIDE TRAIL 5 DAYS A WEEK AND A LOT OF MY RIDING BUDDIES ARE OVER 50. SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF US. I CREDIT MY HORSES WITH KEEPING ME FIT AND SANE!!

Hi there, Yes I am one 'out there' well over fifty years old! Looks like we have a lot of company. I have recently broken in my youngster completely unaided at the age of 68 - there is nobody to help anyway - I have just got to get on with it. I used to have a riding school and train riders in different disciplines. I have ridden very successfully during my career in Dressage and Show Hacks, and ODE. Some four years ago I lost my dearest mare whom I adored. She did so much for me and I still mourn her, but I decided to go ahead and ride again after this loss. I purchased a pure Arabian mare with foal at foot and that is the youngster I have recently broken. I never intended having another horse after the loss of my dear one - a part-arabian mare - but when this opportunity arose, I purchased the mare and foal, so really had to break the youngster in - something I had not looked forward to, but went ahead anyway. I live quite isolated in Australia and sometimes would love to have some horsey friends around, maybe help out with instruction, comments, or even just watching. Now I am back into riding daily, So PJ your'e not the only one out there. Have fun. Beverly from Western Australia ambermare1@aapt.net.au

At 58 I am one of the gang! I have 2 horses I keep at home. They keep me busy and happy. I work from home and when I am having a really stressful day I can go out and commune with them or ride or take them for a walk around the neighborhood and just feel so much better! I have been riding off and on for most of my life and can't imagine not being around horses.

next year i can join the 50+ gang YEAH!!! I can see many of us rode when we were kids then family and kids and jobs took over the horses and then FINALLY we could get back to horses!!! maybe I was lucky, my daughter caught the "horse bug" (gee wonder where she got that? heheheh) I've got a TB and a QH, and am fostering a OTTB for a horse rescue, and I give H/J lessons to the local kids in our town.

Although I have 9 yrs to go before I'm 50, I'm still planning on having them around. I'm one of those lucky ones that had a pony waiting for me when I was born and never left them. Horse are in my blood. Out of 6 kids in my family who all rode while younger, my sister and I are the only 2 who kept with it. My sister can't keep her horse Dandy with her in NH, so he stays with me getting spoiled.
When we go on vacation, I always find a horse to go visit somewhere. I remember once, we were at a NASCAR race somewhere and one of the Bud horses was there. I of course ran right over to him and he immediatley started kissing my face. People were just amazed and snapping pictures of us. Even the groom was amazed at how fast he took to me. Horses just know when people are horse people.

Hey Everyone!
I am so excited to meet all of you on cyberspace and it's even more inspirational to know so many are in the prime of their lives and loving horses! I forgot to mention in my first post that I have a half arab mare that I adopted almost three years ago. She was not broken under saddle but as gentle as a pussycat. We have been over many hurdles but now we really bond and I am enjoying her so much.
About four years ago, I submitted an article to H&R's,Sue Copeland and she published it in the magazine's Q&A section. I was horseless at the time and I talked about how the horse thing still had a hold of me.I wanted to ride and loved being around horses so my search to one again began.
So, if someone can get this mesage to S.C., it is: "Thanks for motivating me at 58 yrs.old to buy a horse. It was the best thing I could have done for my well being."
Uppity Folk- I also turned 61 this past June.
Mystery's Mom- I am also trying to master the trailer loading thing. I bought one so that I could join up with others for trail rides. Maybe, next year.
Everyone else- See you on the board the next time.
Happy Trails,
PJ

>>Would you just look at all the 1st time posters!!!!! I think we are onto something here, what do you think?<<

Part of that is because we put this thread in the newsletter, so it reached a lot of people who don't normally visit the forums

It *is* great to see the interest

I think the official word might be that we could put a sticky thread up, but probably not a whole section/folder.

Who knows, we might even inspire an issue of one of the magazine dedicated to the 50+ Gang and the issues they face

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I think the official word might be that we could put a sticky thread up, but probably not a whole section/folder.

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That will work just fine and thank you for going to bat for us Old Timers

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Who knows, we might even inspire an issue of one of the magazine dedicated to the 50+ Gang and the issues they face

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I think that's an excellent idea. I am reading some posts here that are really inspiring and make the old eyes water.

Mr Gerrard from Holland summed it up wonderfully when he said that horses are a gift from God.

That profound statment is never more obvious than when reading thru these posts.

Not only are these magnificent animals entrusted to our care and keeping, but if we allow it to be so, we entrust OURSELVES to them for our own sanity, peace, and tranquility.

Never was that more obvious in my life as when I lost my 19 year old son in a car accident 14+ years ago. Family and friends marveled that I didn't end up "off the deep end". Along with deep Faith, I owe my sanity to Streeter-The-Arab and Duke-the-Tennessee Walker; both of whom are still with me.

Yes indeed, PJMN has unwittingly stumbled onto something with this thread. I am excited to see where it goes

You are definately not alone! Although I am not 50 myself, my father is well over 50 and he is still jumping and hunting his 7 year old. Also, the hunt club that I ride at is almost entirely over 50...with a few exceptions of course. But no...you are definately not alone. I hope that I am still riding well past 50...you're an inspiration!

I joined just to join this thread. My Dad bought my sister (and I) a welsh/Shetland pony when I was 4. An older neighbor girl saddled him, put me on him and he ran the length of a hayfield and got tangled in old wire at the end of the field. It was 49 years ago and I still remember saying to the older girls who tore down the field to see if I had been killed, "That was fun. Can I do it again?" Nine years ago , after 23 years of not being able to have a horse, I told my husband that I was in a mid-life crisis and he could pick the cure: I could have an affair; buy a little red car or buy a horse and he said, "I know someone with a horse for sale!" Now I have a red pickup to pull the trailer, a saddle collection, lessons, lots of ribbons and 2 wonderful horses. I even got my husband to start trail riding with me last year! I started jumping lessons about 5 years ago and my Tb was the hunter of the year at our local show series last year. My sons plan to put me on a horse when I am 90 and send it over a 4 foot fence...it's how I would want to go!!!!!!

I'm working on trying to convince Hubby that I need the little red sports car again. I have the horses (and always have had), have no energy/desire for an affair so that leaves the little red sports car. My stable colors are red, white, and blue and as I have a FS 4X4 blue truck, a white mini truck (for the gas mileage), I figure I NEED a red MGB (like the one I had when we got married - when kids came along it went - not the horses). Of course, with winters like they are here, I couldn't use a lot then but 'Big Blue' will get me where I need to go. Son and his GF are also on my side on this (I think that they figure they could borrow it IF I had one) so I'm hopeing.

Lookin for some down-to-earth, real people to chat about their equine love(s). Feel 40ish, acutally 64. It seem with every site I join, no-one replies... Soooooooooo I'm trying again.. I hope this shows up.. I have never done this type of group before.... Patricia

Welcome, Sunshine! I've only been on the site a month or so but believe me, people will talk to you. I'm 55 with 2 OTTBs that are going to good retirement homes soon - just can't keep them now that I have to board - and a new 15 y.o. OT trotting StB that will be my fun horse.

Let us know something about you and when you have ???s or rants watch out. Us old fogeys do have opinions!!