Returning to riding
Advice to get you back in the saddle
THEY SAY ONCE a rider, always a rider, and it does seem that way. Many people take a break from horses for all kinds of reasons, sometimes for several years, but the pull back to the saddle is strong and most end up there once again. If this is you, you’ll find things have changed since you hung up your boots — from riding techniques and kit, to horse management and care, not to mention your confidence and mindset, especially if you’re a parent now. When it’s time to get back in the saddle it can feel quite daunting. Your imagination goes into overdrive as you obsess about all the things that could go wrong. It doesn’t stop us, of course, but knowing what to expect and finding the right horse for your first ride is important if you’re going to make your return a joy from the off.
Riding skills revisited
The skills for anything diminish if you’re not using them, but relearning is usually quicker than learning them the first time around — good news. Give yourself a break and try not to stress about your lack of expertise when you first get back on board.
That said, over the years the technique of riding has progressed considerably as we’ve learnt more about horses. So whether you now have new skills to learn depends on when you stopped for your break. For some, riding may have been a bit of a ‘push, pull’ affair when they were last in the saddle and they’ll need to understand about such things as steering without the reins, half-halts, constant contact, engagement and keeping the horse off his forehand. Not to mention going sideways. Don’t underestimate how capable you are. You might be a rusty rider, but you’re a rider, brimming with the motivation to get back to peak riding fitness. You don’t need to be brave, and it’s OK to admit you have things to learn. A hack can be a good reintroduction to time in the saddle. Find a sensible, safe horse and go out with someone experienced, also on a sensible horse. You can relax and relish the moment with none of the stress of a lesson situation.
Acknowledging the fear
What happened to that dewy eyed, gung-ho, fearless girl who started riding all those years ago? The one who had a fit of giggles every time she fell off, which was often. Please be assured that if we’ve just described you, but you’re now wobbling like jelly at the mere thought of mounting up, you’re not alone. The Your Horse team meets riders like you who’ve lost their confidence after a break, week in, week out. It’s incredibly common. The fear is often linked to increased responsibilities — mortgage to pay, children to bring up, money to be made, elderly parents to care for… It all adds up to you being hypersensitive to not injuring yourself. But we have good news. Horses are safe and getting safer. Recognising finally that rider confidence is fickle and not everyone wants the sharpest horse in the box, more is being done to breed for sensibility and enjoyment. You just need to choose your mount carefully, whether you’re buying, loaning, or riding at a centre.
The second bit of good news is that there’s so much more equipment designed to keep you safe now. Air jackets, safety stirrups, gadgets to cling on to if things get hairy, hi-vis, sticky bum breeches — the list goes on.
“Recognising that confidence is fickle and not everyone wants the sharpest horse in the box, more is being done to breed for sensibility and enjoyment”
All change in the horse world
The thing that has developed massively in recent years — and continues to do so — is how much more we understand about why horses behave in the way they do, and how they need to be cared for. It’s no longer just about the rider; these days our lovely mounts have a say in the matter too.
For instance, we now know that living in a herd is essential for a horse’s wellbeing, and that his learning is based on a reward system. We understand why he might be scared to hack alone, why bad behaviour is more likely to be related to pain or misunderstandings rather than to him being awkward, and how we should react to issues such as rearing in the correct (and safest) way.
We also have more knowledge about what horses should eat, about preventative health care, about how a horse sees, hears, and so on. We would suggest that if you’ve had a lengthy break from the saddle, there’s more new stuff to learn about horses’ behaviour and care needs than about the skill of riding. It’s important to do this to ensure that your horse is happy in body and mind.