Can Seniors Learn To Ride a Horse? (2021)

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It’s never too late to learn a new skill. Many believe they’re too old to climb up onto a horse, let alone ride one successfully. But can seniors learn to ride a horse?

Seniors can certainly learn how to ride a horse. As long as you have the time, willingness, and money to learn, your age won’t prevent you from hopping into the saddle. You’ll be using several different muscle groups, so you’ll need to be physically fit to learn horseback riding safely.

Let’s take a closer look at how seniors can learn to ride a horse.

Sign Up for Lessons

If you have never ridden before, the first thing you’ll want to do is sign up for beginner lessons. The instructors will run through all of the basics of what you’ll learn and what you need to know to ride properly.

It may surprise many to learn that the first thing you learn may not be how to ride. In fact, the first thing your instructor is going to go over is how to properly clean and saddle your horse. This is vital information. Care of the horse is almost as important as the care of yourself.

Things you’ll likely learn in those first few lessons:

What tools are used for maintaining your horse
Proper brushing techniques
How to correctly saddle a horse
How to lead a horse the right way

Learn the Safety Guidelines

If you are learning how to ride a horse in an arena setting, it’s important to follow the arena’s rules and guidelines. This is known as Arena Etiquette. Following the arena guidelines will prevent accidents with other riders in your area.

It’s also important to know the correct safety measures to take if you or another rider falls off their horse. Ask your instructor what the proper way to fall off a horse is to reduce the risk of injuries. Believe it or not, if you know how to fall off, you’ll be able to protect yourself better.

Below is a list of safety tips to keep in mind as you learn to ride a horse:

Stay in front of the horse when approaching – You want to make sure your horse sees you approaching them. Horses can spook easily, and if they don’t see you there, it could frighten them.
Wear boots and a helmet – A horse can easily break the foot of someone standing next to them. All it takes is a single side-step from the horse as your work on them. Wearing the proper protective gear is vital.
Use a quick-release knot when securing your horse – Horses are as unpredictable as humans. If your horse gets out of control, you’ll want a way to quickly release him to protect yourself.
Keep a hand on the horse at all times – This allows the horse to know where you are when they can’t see you. It also requires you to stand close to the horse at all times, which will reduce your risk of accidentally getting kicked by the animal.
Don’t ever wrap your lead rope around any part of your body – When leading your horse, never cover the lead rope around your hand, arm, or other body parts. The horse is always going to be stronger than you, and if they dart away from you, you want to be able to let go of that lead rope quickly.
Don’t mount or dismount near fences, trees, or other structures – Mounting and dismounting can be tricky. You want to make sure you’re clear of any hard structures that could harm you if you landed on them.

Work Out and Maintain Your Fitness Level

It’s no secret that when we age, our muscles and strength begin to weaken. If you don’t keep up an active lifestyle, this can happen sooner than others. When learning to ride a horse, you’ll notice immediately that you’re using muscles you may not have used in years. Knowing this before you begin can save you hours of stiff and sore body parts.

Before you start riding your horse, you should get your fitness level up and maintain it. You can do this through simple workouts every day to boost your endurance and muscle strength. As an older rider, you want to approach your fitness in gentle ways, but ways that keep your flexibility high. Below are three great exercises to try that promote good balance and mobility:

Squats – Use a chair when you do this exercise so you don’t lose your balance. Doing squats every day will strengthen the muscles in your legs and glutes. This will give you better control over the horse in the event he spooks.
Lunges – Lunges are another exercise that works your legs and glutes. If you’re worried about your balance, you can use a chair for this exercise as well.
Side bends – This is more of a stretch, but it’s a good one. It will help your upper body to stay flexible and maintain better control over the reins.

Invest in Good Gear

Owning good gear is a must when learning how to ride a horse. Without decent gear, you increase your risk of injuries and losing control of your horse:

Helmet – Your head is the most important thing to protect on a ride. During horseback riding, head injuries are the most common. Make sure you purchase a horse riding approved helmet. Don’t be afraid to invest a good amount of money. A good helmet is worth it.
Boots – As mentioned above, the bones in your feet can be easily broken by a side-stepping horse. There may also be times when you have to lead the horse on foot. Owning a pair of comfortable and sturdy riding boots is important.
Saddle – You’re going to be spending a lot of time on the horse’s back. Owning a comfortable saddle will help reduce sore or aching muscles.
Clothing – You want to be comfortable as you ride. Don’t wear your Sunday best for an afternoon at the stables. Keep the weather in mind for both you and the horse.
Gloves – Caring for a horse is a rough job. Protect your hands with a decent pair of gloves.

Get To Know the Horse

Every horse is different, and their daily exercise requirements are going to vary as well. You want to get to know the horse you’re going to be working with. Try to ride the same horse every time if you don’t own your horse. Using the same one each time will create an excellent working bond between the two of you. The horse will be more inclined to work with you if they know you.

If you’re a beginner with no prior experience riding, try to choose a horse with more experience with inexperienced riders. This will mean the horse is more accustomed to nervous riders or riders who are harder on the reins than others.

Choosing the right horse for you will reduce your risk of injury. It will also ease the learning period between you and the horse.

Know Your Limits and the Limits of the Horse

No matter what your age is, you need to be aware of what your limits are. If you struggle with the physical demands of long trail rides, consider arenas as an alternative. In addition to knowing your own capabilities, you also want to know what your horse is capable of.

Using a more mature horse can be beneficial to you as an older rider, and keep in mind what that means for the horse. As an older horse, they can tire out faster. They may not keep up with your stamina. The key is to find the right balance for both you and your horse.

Summary

Learning a new physical skill as a senior can be very rewarding. Horseback riding is a favorite pastime of many seniors, and it’s never too late to learn. Always remember to stay safe and remain alert while on horseback. Hopefully, this article has shown that seniors can learn to ride a horse.

Can Seniors Learn To Ride a Horse?