Hi Guys!

I've been completely bitten by the horse bug! I started riding  at the beginning of September,and am consumed by it! I'm learning English and would eventually like to compete in Dressage. I'm grooming pretty well, learning to tack, and can steer a little better each time I'm on the horse. I'm currently learning to post the trot.....whew....remember when you were learning to drive a car and nothing felt right? I'm having trouble finding the rythmn of the trot.I think one of the problems is I'm having to think about breathing,posture,position all at once. I've basically been training for 4weeks.For the first 2 weeks, I rode once a week. Lately, I've been trying to get in 2 sessions a week.Does anyone care to share their experiences about being a beginning adult rider? It would be wonderful to find some common ground with other adults who are discovering this whole new world. By the way, I've just turned 40 in May and discovered my new passion!

welcome! it is a wonderful passion. if your having truble posting a trot first try to post a walk and get the rythom of your horse. it helps, but most of all pratice..if you have no access to a horse more then once a week, a excise ball works great. you get the bounce and everything. can you sit a trot?

Welcome to the forum!!! 

Well you're waaay too young, but there is a sticky thread for the 50+ Gang and we do allow others to view it from time to time. LOL  It contains lots of info for riders starting as adults and from adults who have been riding all their life.  Pretty Cool!

And welcome to the addictive world of the horse... there's a thread for those who find themselves getting"in to deep" too!

Pretty soon you'll want to lease so you can ride more often and work on your training, then you'll have to buy a horse and that opens up the $$$$ world of tack, and toys, and blankies...

Then you'll need another horse to keep the first one company and so family and friends will be able to ride with you...

Then you'll see a horse for sale that you just can't resist..

Just remember we'll be with you every step of the way.

I will try the exercise ball!  When we start the posting, my instructor puts the horse on a longe and has me post on the walk. Then, she will ask the horse to trot and I try it from there. I'm not leasing a horse yet( I've only been riding for around 4 weeks) . I thought I'd probably need about 3 to 6 months of experience before taking it on. I see the problem though. How do you practice otherwise? My instructor said that for now I should be riding (at best) 2x a week. I wish I could ride everyday,but that's not reasonable.....I just looove being on a horse!

Thank you so very much! I've found everyone to be so warm and welcoming. I'm a little overwhelmed by all I need to learn,but that's part of the fun,right?

My husband teases me about going to tack stores all the time.He said he was the same way when he discovered flyfishing years ago.

I guess if you get that bug, you're never the same. I was a musician ( rock and blues) for a very long time,and recently decided to pull back from performing. When we moved out here last year,I kept telling my husband that I'd love to learn to ride( there are a lot of horse farms out here). i finally got my nerve,and wow! If I could ride everyday ,I would!

 Well I started riding as a "young" adult about 3 years ago and have had my ups and downs on it.  I remember getting the post down was so hard for me i would be practicing at home on my couch...LOL.  My husband got it right away...go figure!  Try to feel him naturally push you up and remember up-down-up-down saying it quickly or having your instructor say it will help.  Lunge line is a plus so you dont have to direct.  Try to get the rhythm and then worry about position and posture...you dont want to lose all composure but getting the motion down will allow you to move onto worrying about legs and shoulders...LOL.  I still forget to push my heels down! 

I now own 4 horses and love it.  I don't ride as much as I like, just started retaking lessons which makes a huge difference!  Keep with lessons, get the basics down and when you feel comfortable lease a gentle bombproof horse...I leased after 3-4 months of lessons 1-2 times per week.  its a slow process but you will get it.  i still have a ton to learn...getting hurt set me back and confidence building is my new goal!  have fun! 

 Wow! 4 Horses! You are in love!   Do you plan to compete or do you just like to ride for pleasure?

Yeah, another one converted to horses, although I'm western and your english but who cares they're horses!!!  Be careful its a forever thing.    I guess I'm not totally an adult but who cares!?!  So one piece of advice that I have for you is to listen to people and follow their advice if you like their relationship with horses.  I didn't listen and it eventually cost me a relationship with a horse.  So ya, good luck, this forums a great place for new people.

Oh, man, I can relate to this. Granted, I started riding when I was nine, but had to stop for years, and came back only to find that when your body isn't what it used to be, riding is much, much more of a challenge. I'm only seventeen but some back injuries from work and an old broken tailbone that healed funny made me feel much older, especially when I found my muscles definitely did not work the way my brain expected them to. Hang in there, and know that with every ride you're conditioning your muscles. Even though you'll have bad days, each lesson you should be able to feel the improvement in your balance. There are plenty of mistakes you make as a beginner, or just someone who is out of practice (leaning forward is my big one, when it's been awhile I find myself slipping forward and my balance is just GONE.) Has your instructor had you ride on a longe line at all? This can be a huge help, because you learn how to drop the reins and ride with someone else in control of your horse so that all you have to focus on is your body. It can be scary at first relinquishing control, but it works wonders. Good luck! You'll feel sore in all sorts of places, but eventually posting becomes second nature, I promise!

yup 4 horses...woohoo. I plan to maybe compete next year but for now just riding for fun...love to trail.  I acquired my guys here and there....George was a lesson horse (1st horse my husband rode) so he bombproof- good to hop on and ride bareback but not very fast so I got JoeBob, my dream 6 yo black QH who needs someone with a stronger hand.  Hubby couldnt ride him, and George was getting too old to tote him on long trail rides so here came Clu our 16hh 5yo palomino who was pretty bombproof but still has his day and then of course I "needed" my paint horse bc well bc I wanted a paint colored....LOL.  Don't worry with time and lots of work you will get it and then you will be finding whatever reason to get a new horse bc you cant resist loving them...LOL.

Congrats on getting bitten by the horse bug! I’m only 22 but I just started riding about 4 months ago! I know exactly how you feel about posting; it will get easier I promise! I just learned to sit the lope with out having to hold on to anything and with out thinking I’m about to eat dirt. I’m currently sporting a nice scabby bum blister too! Lol. It hurts but it is worth it. I do once a week because I work the other 4 week days, wish I could do more and still afford to eat. Good luck with your new found obsession!

Welcome to the addiction! You're going to fit right in here, lol!

Here's an article I wrote which might be of interest to you.
Considerations for the Older Rider - http://equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/training/beginning_rider/eqolderide1846/

When the horse bug has bitten, it doesn't matter how old you are. Here are some considerations for the older rider, to help you enjoy riding and safe from injury.

Be sure and check in the 50 Plus Gang thread at the top of the page (ok, so you're not quite there yet, lol, but you'll see there are lot of mature riders just discovering the joys of horses, as well as those of us that rode a horse before we could ride a bike

Welcome to the forum! :) I'm Jessi in Az. I started riding when I was 12 (I'm 27 now), but I still remember having difficulties learning to post! My instructor also had me on a lunge line until I got it. Don't worry, it gets easier. Before you know it, you'll be able to post without stirrups ;)

Nice to "meet" you! :)

Jessi

povertybyhorse:

And welcome to the addictive world of the horse... there's a thread for those who find themselves getting"in to deep" too!

here here

Hey Jessi!

i appreciate your encouragement! I know i'm probably worried over nothing.I know I'll get it sooner or later. i wish that i had discovered the world of horsies when i was younger ( well, on 2nd thought, maybe it was a good thing I didn't-I might be broke now-ha ha!) Are you riding english? Are you interested in dressage? I always feel like when I get into something new,I like to have a goal. I'd eventually like to compete in the lower levels of dressage.I hope that that's a realistic goal( given the fact that I'm 40).....well, keep in touch and let me know how you are progressing!

suzanne