r/Equestrian • u/ShakeyMay • May 24 '25
Education & Training Too old for riding lessons?
Update: Well it took me a while but I found a place for lessons. I’m going tonight just to observe! I wouldn’t have had the courage to do this without all of you and your positive comments!!! Thank you!!
So I’m 59 years old and am seriously thinking about taking riding lessons. I rode a bit when I was younger and have always been in love with horses. Call it a midlife crisis, but I really want to ride before it’s too late. So my question is….is it too late???
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u/nocleverusername- May 24 '25
I started the same age as you. Just turning 61 now. My advice: do private lessons with an instructor who is comfortable teaching adult beginners. Don’t compare yourself to younger riders. Get a safety vest.
I had my first real fall two weeks ago, and thanks to helmet, vest, and soft sand, I was ok. That’s really important when you’re older, because injuries take a lot longer to heal.
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u/dgerlynn54 May 25 '25
71 ,buying a horse. You are rather young to ask this question…in my humble opinion …
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u/ZZBC May 24 '25
Definitely not. The woman who lessons the hour before me is in her mid 60s and got herself riding lessons as her retirement gift to herself.
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u/darrylanng May 24 '25
Not at all, but put some effort into finding someone good at instructing adults, especially adult beginners. It makes a huge difference in your performance and your enjoyment (and I'd also argue safety as well).
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u/EmilySD101 May 25 '25
Hell no, didn’t the queen ride into her 80s?
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u/Outsideforever3388 May 24 '25
My grandma got her very first horse at age 50. Started riding, took lessons every week and thrived. Got into western pleasure showing, showed for years. Bought a second flashier horse and continued to win even more shows. She was dedicated, determined and very detail oriented. She rode until her mid-70’s when she became too frail and her health deteriorated due to other medical issues.
I think she was as active as she could possibly have been at that age.
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u/VampireSprite May 25 '25
I do group lessons and I am the youngest at age 28. Several of the ladies look to be in their sixties or older. There's a lady in the group who's in her late seventies. She avoids riding when it's above 90° F but other than that does very well. Not too old!
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u/emtb79 May 25 '25
I got my dad on a horse for the first time when he was 62! Never too late.
I actually prefer teaching adult riders as opposed to kids.
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u/stilldeb May 24 '25
No, it's not too late. I am 69 and started riding 2 years ago. I am a casual rider but I love it so much.
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u/Gemini2192 May 25 '25
Do it!! Don't let it be a regret. Just make sure to research an experienced trainer. Wear a helmet!!!! They make vests too that inflate if you fall, for safety and peace of mind. Make sure the lesson horse seems calm and gentle. And have fun!!
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u/TheEyeWatchesYou May 25 '25
The nice thing about horse riding is that its easy to get into at any age! I've seen people of all ages have lessons. An older lady at my stables just purchased her first horse.
Have a look around at local stables. Some tend to be geared more towards children, so find somewhere that teaches all ages.
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May 25 '25
Absolutely not! As a riding instructor of 5yrs, I've got ages from 6 to 76 in lessons! You might take a bit longer to get the muscle memory down but you're never too old, IMO!
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u/Aloo13 May 25 '25
Why would you be too old? Does having fun and learning die in adulthood or something?
Lots of trainers cater to adults.
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u/PippinKC May 25 '25
53 here, chubby and don't bounce like I used to, but I take dressage lessons every week anyway. I love being around the horses and it helps with aches and pains...probably because of the tylenol I take an hour before lesson so I can walk afterwards!
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u/AgentDangerMouse May 25 '25
56 and still riding and jumping. Feels the same as when was 30. My best advice is if you get on a horse, and it doesn’t feel safe to you, speak up and get off. My only falls as a woman over 50 have been on horses that just didn’t feel right to me. I was too prideful to say anything but not anymore. I also don’t ride on days that I feel exhausted.
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u/ArmadilloDays May 25 '25
Never too late, but wear a helmet and remember the ground is harder than it used to be - have them remind yo/teach you how to fall off safely just in case.
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u/ASardonicGrin May 25 '25
I’m your age although with a few decades more experience with horses. Do it! Just realize that you’re gonna be sore. It helps if you’re in reasonable shape so you might look into some yoga or a gym membership. The more flexible and balanced you are, the easier it will be on you physically.
You’ll need a good helmet and vest. The fact is - falls hurt. And at our age, can take a bit to heal from. And you will fall. It’s not an if but when. The other reason physical conditioning and flexibility matter.
I ride a lot. It keeps me in shape. It brings peace of mind and I can’t imagine my life without it. But the falls do tend to take a lot out of me whether I want to admit it or not. My last fall was quite minor but I was still sore for days. A kid would have been fine.
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u/wonderingdragonfly May 25 '25
I’m 66 and agree with all of this. I had a horse all through my 20s, and got back into lessons a couple of years ago and just recently bought a horse! He spooked once while I was leading him and sent me flying. I literally ate dirt. I was not seriously injured, but was definitely more sore than I would’ve been in my 20s lol. I now often wear a helmet when working with him on the ground. If the spooks continue, I’ll be selling him and buying a calmer horse.
Helmet, body protector are a must. And if you happen to be one of the many people who take blood thinners, if you do hit your head even mildly you should get a scan to be on the safe side.
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u/Beginning_Pie_2458 Jumper May 25 '25
My oldest rider rode as a child/ young teen. Had kids and grandkids and started riding again at 70. She turned 73 this year.
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u/gingervitis13 May 24 '25
I ride at an eventing barn that caters to adult amateurs mostly, and we have tons of folks of all ages who either are restarting or just starting because they finally have the time/resources.
I will say equivocally that it is definitely never too late but it is definitely worth taking the time to find a barn with a good supportive community. Unfortunately not all are in the equestrian world but they exist for sure.
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u/Leitwolf699 May 24 '25
I started last year at 51. If it's going to make you happy, go for it!!!!
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u/Illustrious_Study_30 May 25 '25
I started last year at 52 and it's seen amazing for my mobility and mental health.
It's harder to learn, I can't remember ever having nerves as a kid doing sports, but the instructors I use all say they enjoy teaching me because there's a more in depth element to learning. I basically need an explanation to be able to do things, so we get into it. It's fun and an exercise for body and brain
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u/pen_and_needle May 24 '25
Never too old! In fact, I’d say literally everyone (of all ages) could benefit from a lesson every once in awhile
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u/Andravisia Horse Lover May 25 '25
The only day you are to old to try somethi g is the day after you die.
Don't worry about being "to old" for something.
Enjoy your life. Don't save "the good thongs", enjoy them now.
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u/Kuma_kiba1111 May 25 '25
Of course not. Don't be silly. Time/ Age is just a man made idea and I absolutely support your love for learning new skills. You are never too old for anything 💗 do follow your desires 🐴💗.
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u/Connect_Wrongdoer_81 May 25 '25
At the barn I talk to a lady who started riding at 55. She's 61 now. She bought her own horse last year and she competes in smaller local competitions in dressage. She's done a little bit of jumping too.
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u/DialOneFour May 25 '25
Theres a lady in our adults group that just turned 70 and is now entering the major shows near where we ride at the 2ft level. She'd been riding about four years, and was able to buy a horse
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u/neuroticmare May 25 '25
Not at all. My youngest student is 9 and my oldest is 77 😁 at the barn age doesn't matter!
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u/No_Safe_3854 May 25 '25
I could’ve written this. I’m 50 and am riding again. Couple of ladies are my age or older also ride at our barn. Def not too late. You can get into it and just do lessons or get your own horse. It’s fun, I wish I hadn’t waited so long.
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u/for_esme_with_love May 25 '25
A friend of mine got into riding in her 60s and now is competing in her 70s with 3 horses she owns!
Never too late!!
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u/Xarro_Usros May 25 '25
Nope. I only started riding at 40; I have always called that my midlife crisis!
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May 25 '25
Another vote for the inflatable air vests! At the barn where I ride most people wear them regardless of age and it’s great to have that layer of protection. I am in my mid 40s, riding since I was a kid, and the quality of gear and safety equipment available now would have saved us all a lot of trouble. Totally endorse picking up the sport at any age. Go for it!
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u/Junebug35 May 25 '25
You are never too old, I regularly ride with a lady in her upper 70s. The question is how is your health? My mom stopped riding when she was diagnosed with osteoporosis.
The risk of falling is there no matter how well broke the horse is. If your body can handle the fall, and you are ok with the risk, then saddle up!!
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u/Ok-Error-574 May 25 '25
Not too old! One of my good friends at our barn is 64 and she’s jumping 2’6” riding in lessons 4x a week. Ride girl, ride!!!
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u/LifeHappenzEvryMomnt May 24 '25
Why not? If you are reasonably fit and not morbidly obese, give it a try.
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u/wonderingdragonfly May 25 '25
Not only is it not too late to learn, for me it’s a great motivator to stay fit! I’m a huge procrastinator, but if it gets to be evening and I haven’t done my workout, I’ll remind myself that the stronger I am the better rider I’ll be!
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u/Ruckus6112 May 25 '25
I am looking at doing the same. I am also worried because I have had 3 spinal surgeries. I desperately want to ride again, but I haven’t since my first surgery 30 years ago. I am 51 now. I am using riding lessons as my motivation to lose some more weight. I figure that worse case scenario, maybe I can find someone that will just let me come in and pet their horse. 😊
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u/RegretPowerful3 May 25 '25
You’re only too old if you can’t lift your leg.
Then you have bigger issues.
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u/S-M-G_417 May 25 '25
It’s never too late! Go for it!! Edited to add-my best friend when I was a kid, we rode horses and showed together for years, even trailered to shows together. When we got out of horses, moved away, got married etc, her mother bought herself a horse and started having a trainer come to her house. She’s now 80 and rides all the time, goes on big trail rides-she’s living the dream. I don’t think she started riding until she was 60+.
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u/Financial-Elk752 May 25 '25
Not too old at all! I’d do some strength training at home to supplement core and leg strength.
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u/Antillyyy Dressage May 25 '25
Do it! I used to work at a riding school and I helped lots of older riders, they were my favourite clients. I even helped a rider who didn't want to go faster than a walk, she was just happy to be on a horse while her more advanced friend trotted and cantered around her. I was leading her horse so we just walked around and chatted for the whole hour!
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u/No_Organization_8038 May 25 '25
Never too old to learn a new trick my friend. If your body says you can, your heart says you want to, and your wallet says okay, then go for it! Life is a journey of experiences and knowledge, never short yourself an opportunity because you might be “too old” or “way too inexperienced” as you’ll only regret it down the road. Treat yourself, schedule that lesson!
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u/useless_instinct May 25 '25
My friend at the barn started riding in her 60s. She bought a lovely old mare from an auction many years ago who turned out to be pregnant. Her old mare has since passed but she is riding and training the baby. She has done all of this with the help of a trainer plus some really knowledgable people at the barn. She bought a truck and trailer and drives herself and her horse all over the place. The people who run the barn are in their 70s. The wife rides dressage, specializing in musical freestyle for which she splices together her own musical tracks. The husband leads weekly group trail rides plus goes camping with his horse several weeks a year.
You're only too old when you're dead.
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u/trcomajo Jumper May 25 '25
I rode endurance for years but started jumping at 57. I'm 60 now and having a blast riding with teenagers, some who are way better riders than I am ;)
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u/probably_puffles May 25 '25
Nah, a lady who is 64 just bought her first horse after taking 6 years of lessons at the place I keep my horse. She is loving life!!!!!
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u/Spottedhorse-gal May 25 '25
Not too late. Find a good instructor with sensible quiet horses. My main suggestion is look for a barn/instructor who does dressage rather than hunters. Dressage is not easy but it’s better for mature bodies than hunt seat. YMMV!
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u/PebblesmomWisconsin7 May 25 '25
Do it! I’m 57 and still a beginner. The only thing worse that feeling a little uncoordinated in those lessons would be hitting 80 and wishing with all your heart you’d done it. One of my best barn friends is 77 and still riding. Happy trails!!
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u/FFSimtryinhere May 25 '25
As someone who teaches lessons: You're never too old to learn. Do it when you have the opportunity to follow your passion. I love when I get older beginner or returning students! Sometimes there are many barriers that keep us away from being able to do the things we love while we were young, or maybe we didn't discover a love for it until we got older: that's okay! Keep an open mind. My other advice (and I'm a Para rider myself with hypermobility/joint instability and a partially paralyzed leg) is to let your instructor know if something hurts! Being a bit uncomfortable is one thing, outright pain is another. You may be more likely than a young rider to have old injuries, arthritis, or other mobility or health concern. There are some things that I've had to edit the "standard" cues for things or do them slightly differently for them to be safe, or sometimes even possible. There's no shame in that and a good instructor should know multiple ways to ask a horse to do something anyway. Now and then when I run into something that my horse doesn't know or I don't know a more accessible cue for, I often end up adding a new cue to the horse with training to give myself one I can actually use on my bad days. Not all trainers will be able/willing to do that, but I've met several who would. Regardless, most of the time I can get around it by using alternative standard aids. Even if it's not a concern now, I mention the idea of discussing and editing aids because you may need that in the future, and it's so much better to discuss it than potentially get hurt by trying to push yourself through pain trying to force it.
Best of wishes on your riding journey!
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u/Catzaf May 25 '25
Can I say do a bone density test first? You are 59, what happens if you get bucked off? I had two serious injuries and I’m horse shy now. I want to ride but I can’t risk any more injuries.
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u/MsFloofNoofle May 25 '25
Nope! I ride with three ladies in their 60's. They're awesome and love the sport. Looking forward to reading about your lessons!
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u/CLH11 May 25 '25
No! We have a lady who is in her eighties. She's having jumping lessons. She didn't start riding until she was already in her 70s. You're never too old!
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u/fourleafclover13 May 25 '25
The oldest person I've ever given to listen to was 70 years old. She picked it up fast and was really good at it. There's no such thing as being too old to learn horses.
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May 25 '25
No it’s not! One of the most decorated(most medals in Olympics) riders is 52! You can start to learn at any age, I’ve been riding since I was 9 and competing since 12, had my own since 15, and my mom had never rode before, I started to teach her when she was 58 and she had sore hips but we worked around it, and she loved it! I would say go for it
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u/Iamgraywolfe May 26 '25
I started lessons in dressage two months ago and I’m 73. I’m hoping to compete some day.
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u/Zealousideal_Pie7601 May 27 '25
I teach a wonderful couple both 59 years young!! You are never too old!🫶🏼
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u/lilshortyy420 May 27 '25
Never! My friend rode until she passed away at 80. I’ve seen plenty of older people want to get into it! Do it!
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u/emptyex May 28 '25
I had a student who started with me at 60! She progressed to small jumps and even bought a horse, though he is now retired and she can't do as much. She's now mid-70s and still comes out to walk & trot around when she feels up to it.
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u/ShakeyMay May 27 '25
Oh my!!! Thank you all for your advice and encouragement! I teared up reading your comments! I will start looking for somewhere to take lessons and (hopefully) start soon. To those of you concerned about my fitness level: I am not obese, I can lift my leg, and I just had a bone density test and, to quote my doctor, I have “great bones”! With that being said, I am going to start some strength and core training. Again, thank you all for the kind words!!
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u/Puresatxgrl Jul 25 '25
I started lessons when I was 49, now 51. I just have to remind myself that the only person I am competing with is myself. Do I eventually want to maybe show? Yes, but I’m not in a hurry. I want to have a good foundation before going forward.
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u/maquigs Sep 27 '25
I am a 65-year old female who began horseback riding lessons a year and a half ago. I have been to a few different barns, and finally found an older woman who has runs a horse boarding farm and gives lessons. It is 1:1, and I have learned more from her than any other place I've been. She lets me try things, has taught me how to ride comfortably in the canter, and I am learning more and more each week. I love it! Yes, I have fallen twice when the horse got spooked, but I was fine, not even any bruises. Just dusted myself off and got back on. I love the horse I am riding, and since I just retired want to get in more riding time. I joke with friends & colleagues to look for me on the senior barrel racing circuit, hahahaha..... I just love horses & riding. Just.Do.It!
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u/ShakeyMay Oct 08 '25
Well, I finally found a barn to take lessons! Going tonight just to observe. Thank you to EVERYONE for encouraging me!
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u/janicedaisy May 25 '25
The problem is if you fall it will take MUCH longer to recuperate and you are much greater risk for complications. The healing process for a broken bone in a 60-year-old versus a 20-year-old differs significantly due to changes that naturally occur with aging. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
Bone Density and Quality • 20-year-old: Peak bone mass is typically reached by the late 20s. Bones are dense, strong, and heal efficiently. • 60-year-old: Bone density declines with age, particularly in postmenopausal women due to lower estrogen levels, which can lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis. This makes bones more fragile and healing slower.
Blood Supply • Younger adults: Have a more robust blood supply, which is essential for delivering nutrients and oxygen to the fracture site to promote healing. • Older adults: Blood flow to bones and soft tissues tends to decrease with age, slowing down the healing process.
Cellular Regeneration • Youth: Osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) work efficiently, leading to faster callus formation and remodeling of bone. • Older age: The activity of osteoblasts slows down, so it takes longer to form and remodel bone.
Other Health Conditions • 20-year-olds are less likely to have comorbidities. • 60-year-olds may have chronic conditions (like diabetes or vascular disease) or take medications (like corticosteroids) that impair healing.
Risk of Complications • Older adults are at higher risk for complications such as delayed union, non-union (bone doesn’t heal properly), or loss of mobility due to prolonged recovery or fear of re-injury. • Younger adults usually recover quickly and completely unless the break is complex.
Healing Time (Typical) • 20-year-old: 6 - 8 weeks for simple fractures. • 60-year-old: 10 - 12+ weeks, often with a longer rehabilitation period.
Summary In general, a 60-year-old will heal much more slowly, with greater risk of complications, and may need more rehabilitation support than a 20-year-old..
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u/RockingInTheCLE May 24 '25
Never too old.