I am 50 years old am coming back into the horse show world after a 34 year hiatus!  I have been wonderfully blessed to find that I do remember a great deal and can still ride and jump!  I am shooting for my childhood dream of competitively showing in "A" rated shows.  This past year has been one of re-educating myself to all the changes in the last 3 decades and to regain my muscle memory for vigorous riding.  I have always worked out and tried to maintain fitness and that makes a huge difference at this age.  Also, I have an very good and safe trainer who helped me find a young mare that is the right temperament and has the potential to go far.  As the old Walter Farley books used to say (remember them?) "Throw your heart over the fence and your horse will follow".  Neither passions nor dreams die with age......:):):)

The two things that I found were different when I came back to riding were crest releases and foot/stirrup placement. I had learned from the beginning with what they now call the "automatic release". I had also learned with the inside part of the stirrup touching the inside part of your foot. I was going, "What are these long and short crest releases? What do they mean using the horse's neck to rest your hands on?"

 I don't think I'm going to change having that nice straight line between elbow and bit. And, my foot feels comfortable where it is. Ahhh, what a rebel.

tucsonhorsegal:

I am 50 years old am coming back into the horse show world after a 34 year hiatus!

Welcome Tucson Horse Gal!  Another new member to join us in the 50 Plus Gang thread!!!!  Even read Walter Farley too, enough to quote!!!  LOL!!!!!

I grew up with The Black Stallion (the entire series), Misty of Chincoteague, Sea Star, Stormy, Misty's foal, King of the Wind, National Velvet, My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead, son of Flicka, Black Beauty, on and on.....I read them all, most more than once.  Perfect read for a horse crazy young girl.  Oh, I'm racking my 50+ brain but I can't for the life of me think of any others.  Justin Morgan was a Horse, errrrrrrr....

Can you think of any others???????

B's Mom, I think Justin Morgan HAD a horse...lol. 

How about Brighty of the Grand Canyon?  Billy and Blaze? (the whole Blaze series, in fact).  I know there are more...

More by Marguerite Henry:

Born to Trot, Album of horses, Cinnabar the One O'clock Fox, 5 O'clock Charlie, White Stallion of Lipizza, Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hate Stallion, Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West, and Our First Pony. The last three were not illustrated by Wesley Dennis.

I kept all my original hard-cover copies. Can't part with old friends can you?

Well, surprise! I went looking for my favorite thread and found it moved after all. At least I knew where to look.

 I remember all those books still... it comes from multiple readings.

 I've spent the afternoon running to the barn. Neffy (Arab) was shivering when  I went down at noon. It's not real cold but we have a wet snow and she stands out in it instead of going into her stall. I threw down hay and ran for a blanket and towels. The hay stopped the shivers and I took her inside her stall (temper tantrum since the other two were outside) and dried her off, put on her wool cooler blanket and a water/wind proof sheet. Checked back in an hour ...O.K. An hour later, shivers... so I put them all in and closed the barn up. I took off the sheet and cooler and she was completely dry... so I brushed her good to get her hair up and gave everyone more hay. I just checked and she seems fine... I'll go down and check a couple of more times and give more hay at 10. I do have a winter blanket but hate to start that since she's never been cold enough to shiver in two years and it's been much colder... -30 degrees. Today it was +28. I think it was getting wet and she's dry now. One more shiver and it's blanket time. The other two are fine. My Morgan looks like a teddy bear and the Paint who lives with us is O.K. too The joys of horse ownership. Of course, they are all unhappy that I've closed them in.

Ahhh, the memories!!!  I love(d) Walter Farley (read them all) and Marguerite Henry.  I wrote her a letter asking her about Stormy and she answered me.  I thought that was so cool!  Unfortunately I don't remember what they named Stormy's foal!  I just bought a book that I loved as a girl that I don't know that anyone else read, "Hold the Rein Free".  I'm hoping that my granddaughters will want to read some of those books that we all enjoyed.  They have Justin Morgan had a Horse because we board at a Morgan barn and of course own one.  I'm disappointed because I have been out of town this week and was looking forward to seeing my guy Thursday night and we had a big winter storm that kept me home.  Tomorrow though, I'm out there!!  

 Happy Riding All!

Hi Gang!  I read most of the books that you all mentioned but I loved the "Misty" series. They take place in Chintacogue island off of the coast of one of the Carolinas. To this day, they have a round up and swim a herd of wild horses across the channel for an auction. The book was written about one of these horses. I have all of the DVD horse movies but even at my older age, I love Spirit the best. Have a good night. PJ

 Hi PJKam,

 I love Spirit too.  That's the movie that caused my oldest granddaughter to be infected with the horse bug.  She saw the movie when she was two.  Shortly after that I found her in my floor crying.  I asked her why and she just wailed, "I HAVE to see a REAL horse!"  She's seven now and loves to ride.  

How is everyone?? I have been traveling alot and have not been on the computer much or even to see my horse which is unusual for me. We lots of snow here in MN again but hopefully it will melt quickly. I got a horse DVD at Walmart called, "The Winter Stallion." Has anyone seen this one?       PJ

I'm 54 and didn't get my own horse until my daughter was 13.  I don't think my husband would've bought me one, but could never deny his daughter~ She's moved on to college, and I finally got the horse I always wanted!

I've always loved horses, and am making up for lost time.  I've had people tell me my horse is my "anti-drug", because my stable is really my "first home".  I kinda resent that, because if I didn't have him, I don't think I'd be on drugs, well maybe antidepressants lol

Hi Tequila Sunnie!  Welcome to the group!  There are a few of us that are also making up for lost time!  I agree, who needs antidepressants when you have a warm, fuzzy, horsey body to groom & warm, deep eyes to gaze into!?!?!  I can have the worst headache when I arrive at the barn and by the time I finish grooming and am ready to ride the headache is gone.  It's amazing!

Hi Gang- I have been away in CA and now home in MN. I have had a great time with my mare this past week. She really knows me now and I truly love her. Tucsonhorsegal- I know that it was awhile ago but I love your quote,"neither passions nore dreams die with age", that is so true of us who are older and back into horses. Welcome TequilaSunnie- who needs pills or antidressants?? Horses are the remedy of any emotional issue. Ownedbyduke- there is something about the smell, the fur,the warmth and the bond of the horse and rider that keeps us moving forward with these majestic animals.

There is alot of snow here and its so supposed to sleet or snow again today. So, I doubt if I will get to the barn. I had a good ride yesterday and the night before. I am so glad I am at a place where there is an indoor arena.

Have a great day, wherever you are.    PJ