starting with horses later in life

[brynhildr]

Is it necessary to have started riding/caring for horses already in childhood to be able to be a good horseperson/work with horses in adulthood?

I would like to hear some stories of people who did not grow up around horses but have been able to learn how to ride/care for them/work with them in adulthood. It would be very valuable to me (and boost my confidence!) to hear of this I don't get much support from home!

My own story in the next post to keep the first one short and simple and not bore anyone to death!

[brynhildr]

My own story so far:
I grew up in the Italian Alps in a very "non horse" family.
As a teenager I avidly read and re-read every issue of "Pony Magazine". I also spent as much time as possible with the few horses that lived up the mountains in summer, which were usually 5-6 mares and a few foals. I would watch them, get closer, stroke them and generally "hang around" with them. As Monty Roberts's first book had just come out at that time and Pony Magazine talked a lot about it, I tried out a few simple things and got the horses to follow me around using body language. It was so exciting! I nagged and nagged my parents and eventually I was able to have a few riding lessons, even if the school was far away and expensive. Between ages 12-13 I had about 30 lessons, of which the first 10 spent trotting on a lunge in the round pen and the others in the outdoor arena. I cantered once, but became quite good at trotting (no sitting though!). After that there is a break of about 12 years in my riding, in which for various issues I did not get the chance to ride or be near horses again. Only last year I finally got into the saddle again. I could afford to ride twice a month.I don't think I learned much in those crowded lessons, but I was in the saddle again! My next step was to get a horse on loan, which didn't go very well as I was given an anglo arab stallion who kicked me in the hip when I tried to bring him in from the field one day. After that I found a much more suitable quiet New Forest pony to care for. Last november I was finally able to take riding lessons again, having now a full time job. I now have lessons twice a week, ride a school horse one more day by myself and also have another horse on loan at weekends. I am reading all I can about horses and horsemanship and will be taking the Monty Roberts Introductory Certification Course in May/June. My dream is to become a certified instructor and work with horses, but I am constantly meeting resistance from my family and friends because "you have to have grown up with horses to attempt such a career".
What are your thoughts on this? Is it possible to become a competent horseperson in adulthood? Do you have a success story? A non success story? Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[ladyndibs]

I rode as a teenager but boyfriends then marriage etc came along. I bought my first horse just a couple of weeks before my 51st birthday and though I don't do any riding at the moment I did used to hack out on my own with a cob I owned.
Initially the plan was that I rent a paddock from someone I worked with for Dibbles, my first horse, the person I was renting from was to be my 'mentor' as she had been keeping and breeding horses for over 20yrs.
It didn't go acording to plan and though there were huge areas of knowledge I could never hope to match the very first winter it was me advising her regarding feed rugs etc as her horses had all come through the previous winter in very poor condition.
We had to suddenly move our horses as one of hers had run through a 4 bar fence and attacked my horses and though it was a little nerve racking as I had no friends with horses we managed.
I expect there are lots of people who's horses are looked after better than I am able to look after mine but I have only ever had good things said about their condition but they could just be being polite.
I do a lot of internet research, if a condition or subject is mentioned I don't know anything about I will often spend several hours reading up on it and though I wouldn't be comfortable looking after someone elses horse I'm fairly happy with the job I do with mine.

Don't forget to add some pictures as we all love photos.

This is Lady in the temporary round pen for our visit from Suzanne Marshall

This is Dibbles the evening Silky arrived

Dibbles being nosey

And this little lady is Silky

[curlytobiano]

Welcome brynhildr!

I cannot see any reason at all why you should not have a career with horses if that is what you are committed to achieving. I think sometimes those who have had to struggle for something have a better chance of achieving it than those who are 'born to it'

I would also say that from what you have written, you have not come to horses all that late in life anyway.

I should think that many of us from 'non horsy' families will have found that our families are not very encouraging about a future with horses, often I guess because they worry that we will end up very poor and having to work very hard - probably true, but they don't understand that we feel it is worth it!

Good luck. You sound very dedicated and I am sure this will bring you great success.

[brynhildr]

here are some pics (now that I've worked out how to post them!)

Horses in the Alps



Alladin the New Forest pony I had on loan for a while



Bratina, who is teaching me to ride!



Xander, my new loan horse

[ladyndibs]

Hi Brynhidr some how I didn't see your story when I read this originally. I think with a little determination there is no reason why you can't progress, and do really well, I think it may even have a few advantages as you have come to it with some life experiences but a fresh pair of eyes as far as horses are concerned.
Good luck and you still have years and years to put to good use all the IH skills you will aquire later this year and in the future.

[sharoncforster]

Hi Brynhidr, go for it girl, I bought my girl as a 2yo shes now 8, when i was 51, we are learning together, thought she is learning faster than i am (ha) my first riding lesson was when i was 28 and having ridden in the last 6 years i now understand i was a passenger not a rider ! my next aim is to do a HNC in equine management (that will be interesting as i left school at 14 and havent been in a class room since, my sister and mother think im nuts, ) Nuts ,but happier when im messing about at the yard than anywhere else. good luck,

[natty]

I grew up in a non horsey house but luckily I had people around me that had horses so spent a lot of time with horses growing up, at 14 I had my 1st horse on full loan a 3 year old unbacked cob, my mum who was scared of horses then got the bug at the age of 37 and although she has still never sat on a horse she nos all about the care and I trust her 100% to look after mine. She even takes my daughters pony for walks around the village and she's a strong pony.
My OH had never been around horses till I met him 8 years ago and he sat on my mare when she was being backed and at her worst when all she wanted to do was rear and now it's his dream to be an RA and he's 30 so no I don't think you are ever too old to get into horses or a career in horses, I no someone at the age of 50 who is starting a nursing degree this year so in 3 years time she will be qualified! I think follow your dreams because one day you will live to regret it if you don't!
Good luck with it all xxx

[brynhildr]

well it's great to hear I'm not the only one and that success is possible at any age! these stories are very inspiring and encouraging and I'm glad to hear its not only my family who thinks I'm nuts!
I told my dad I'm attending the monty roberts intro course last night and immediately got a switch to grumpy mode and a "stop throwing money away" grunt...so I'm not getting much support but I'll show them yet!

btw ladyndibs lovely horses!

[nigel]

I first rode a horse nearly 3 years ago at the age of 40, prior to that I hadn't had anything to do with horses.
Having spent over 20 years in the building trade I'm now getting ready for a complete career change, this year aiming for certification as an equine body worker and hopefully taking my MRPCH. I also teach people to ride and handle horses specialising in novice or nervous riders and people lacking confidence. I'm regularly asked advice by people who "have grown up around horses".
Don't let anybody put you off, if it's what you want and it feels right, go for it!

[wabuska]

Bryn... I think you're blimin' fantastic and don't let anyone put you off. You may never get validation from your parents for what you do, I certainly never did, but I'm so glad I didn't listen to anyone when planning my life. AND........................... you are young! Very young in fact. I took a 20 year break before returning to riding and started initially at 11 so a relatively late start.

The fact that you are older (sigh, I'm a fossil by comparison ) means you're bringing some life experience to the job and probably great communication skills for getting through to people. It's no good working with horses with the challenge of changing the minds of owners, if you flat can't get on with anyone. Inspiring, friendly trainers with intelligence and real heart are rare, and the centre of a successful yard, and we have some wonderful IH ones. It sounds to me as if you'd make a super instructor/trainer, whatever you wanted.

Standing up to your parents will just temper the steel.