I'm considering starting horse lessons at the age of 24. Is it too late? I want to do some type of jumping. I'm a bit worried about being in a class with a bunch of young girls lol. But I don't really want to pay extra for privates though. I have rode a few times so I know some basics. If it's not too late, how do I go about finding a good stable?

mods - hopefully i'm in the right area, wasn't sure if i should put it in health & fitness or here. please move if it's in the wrong place.

If you dont get a lot of replies, ask a mod to move it to fitness

I think if you want to do it, you should absolutely go for it. I have friends who have started WAY WAY older than you. It is never to late to do something you love.

As for finding a good facility, the best thing to do is visit some, or if there is a horse show in your area, go as a spectator and walk around the barns and trailers and see if you can pick up a good vibe from one of the trainers. You wont want to bother them too much when they are getting their riders ready, but you can ask for their name or get it off their trailer, and perhaps get a chance to talk to them a the end of the day or at lunch.

A show program will also have some advertising in it. You can also google for any riding clubs in your area and get a feel for the members who also give lessons.

good luck!

Originally Posted by CobaltBlu

If you dont get a lot of replies, ask a mod to move it to fitness I think if you want to do it, you should absolutely go for it. I have friends who have started WAY WAY older than you. It is never to late to do something you love. As for finding a good facility, the best thing to do is visit some, or if there is a horse show in your area, go as a spectator and walk around the barns and trailers and see if you can pick up a good vibe from one of the trainers. You wont want to bother them too much when they are getting their riders ready, but you can ask for their name or get it off their trailer, and perhaps get a chance to talk to them a the end of the day or at lunch. A show program will also have some advertising in it. You can also google for any riding clubs in your area and get a feel for the members who also give lessons. good luck!

thank you! i have looked more into it and emailed a few stables. it appears it is not as uncommon as i thought to start riding later in life, so i think i will go through with it :). i looked into the hunter/jumping club in my area and emailed some of the people that were members and held shows. what questions should i ask the instructor? i was going to visit a few stables, what should i look for? i'm completely clueless in this LOL

Never too late. I've been riding 32 years, was an instructor for almost 15 as well as a rider/performer in a popular dinner theatre. I no longer instruct, but still board a couple at my farm along with my own. Have taught some adults, though mainly kids in the past. The main thing is to find a reputable barn, with solid references, and make sure if you are doing a group lesson that you get equal attention.

I took some riding classes in college.........24 is not much beyond that.

I have friends in their 50's just starting to ride. It's expensive out here and the gals couldn't afford 75.00 a lesson when they were younger and now can do a few a weeks :)
Its never too late.

I agree with the others. If you want to do it, do it. I was going to take lessons as well when I was a child, but right when I was signing up, Christopher Reeves got into that accident and my grandma immediately called my mom forbidding me from it, so there it went. I still wish I had been able to take them, and maybe one day I will!

Good luck finding the right trainer and stables

I started riding when I was 9, took a break when I turned 15, *** now I'm 20 *** back in *** saddle again. Today marks my one year anniversary ** my return ** riding, *** let me tell ya, it's so worth it. Riding is something people ** every age can do. I know people who just started riding after they turned 50!

Other posters have said this already, but I'll just reiterate: I'd recommend checking out some local horse shows so *** can get a feel for *** people involved in *** sport locally. Call up your local barns *** ask them ** show *** around so *** can see which places seem ** be *** best well kept, how they treat their horses, how *** trainer treats his/her students, etc. Don't just expect *** first stable *** visit ** be everything ***'re hoping for. I've been at barns that let people hit their horses when they misbehave *** trainers who yell at their students for *** slightest mistake. That is no place a beginner needs ** be.

Good luck in finding *** right place! I'd love ** hear if there's ** update

Go for it! It's never too late to start something that interests you. I'm your age and just started ballet classes in January and though I will never have a dancers physique it makes me feel great and I love it!

Better late than never !

Originally Posted by AlinaRose

I started riding when I was 9, took a break when I turned 15, *** now I'm 20 *** back in *** saddle again. Today marks my one year anniversary ** my return ** riding, *** let me tell ya, it's so worth it. Riding is something people ** every age can do. I know people who just started riding after they turned 50! Other posters have said this already, but I'll just reiterate: I'd recommend checking out some local horse shows so *** can get a feel for *** people involved in *** sport locally. Call up your local barns *** ask them ** show *** around so *** can see which places seem ** be *** best well kept, how they treat their horses, how *** trainer treats his/her students, etc. Don't just expect *** first stable *** visit ** be everything ***'re hoping for. I've been at barns that let people hit their horses when they misbehave *** trainers who yell at their students for *** slightest mistake. That is no place a beginner needs ** be. Good luck in finding *** right place! I'd love ** hear if there's ** update

thank you! i went ahead and emailed/visited some barns and found one i liked. i had my first lesson today! it was harder than i thought, my legs are gonna be sore tomorrow, lol. i thought it might be a bit boring because i would probably only be walking on a lunge line, but there were several challenging exercises the instructor had me doing.

Originally Posted by gymangel812

thank you! i went ahead and emailed/visited some barns and found one i liked. i had my first lesson today! it was harder than i thought, my legs are gonna be sore tomorrow, lol. i thought it might be a bit boring because i would probably only be walking on a lunge line, but there were several challenging exercises the instructor had me doing.

yay! I'm glad you've already had some success! You might want to try doing some stretching exercises before and after you ride just for the next few weeks. It'll help your body get acclimated to riding more easily. Also, if you don't already, do some basic sit-ups and other exercises on the ground that strengthen your core. Although it might not seem apparent now, your core plays a major part in riding, and the stronger it is, the easier riding will become when you start learning how to sit at the trot, and especially if you wish to pursue dressage later on down the road. You can ask your trainer about that if you're curious

Originally Posted by AlinaRose

yay! I'm glad you've already had some success! You might want to try doing some stretching exercises before and after you ride just for the next few weeks. It'll help your body get acclimated to riding more easily. Also, if you don't already, do some basic sit-ups and other exercises on the ground that strengthen your core. Although it might not seem apparent now, your core plays a major part in riding, and the stronger it is, the easier riding will become when you start learning how to sit at the trot, and especially if you wish to pursue dressage later on down the road. You can ask your trainer about that if you're curious

any suggestions on some exercises i could do? the instructor suggested some calf raises and pretend posting (lol, best description i could come up with) on some stairs. i already do crunches almost everyday and jog/walk 2.5 miles about 5 days a week.

I am starting to ride again and we are close in age. Hoping we can support each other. I am going to visit a stable this week. How are your lessons going?

Its never too late to fall in love with riding, You will love it.

Please let me know how its going for you?