How to Adapt Your Riding As You Age

There comes a day, for most of us, where our foot struggles to reach the stirrup. Maybe our heart is trying not to see the end of the road, the place where we will have to make some hard choices. Maybe our hips are hurting so badly after every ride that we can barely swing out of the saddle. Maybe we’re alone now and the chores and physicality of maintaining horses is getting to be too much.

 

More and more often, I’m talking to riders who are secretly facing these realities. Their minds are still willing but their bodies, among other things, are slowing them down.

 

Looking about, there’s precious little written for those who are feeling trail worn… a sad situation as we’re all getting older!  So here, my friends, is what I do know about overcoming physical and mental limitations when it comes to our horsemanship.

 

You’re not getting older, you’re getting better… and other little platitudes.

My advice isn’t needed by every ageing rider… and I can hear some of you scoff as you read it. There is much to be said for getting older, an increase in experience and wisdom, a raised ability to think instead of react. But for those of you who are feeling it–the niggle of doubt for the first time, the joints that are voicing complaints–this is for you.

 

There’s a stigma of shame involved with getting older and riding is no exception. Our culture celebrates beauty and athleticism, we love the prize winners, above all. Sometimes we need to recognize this, to talk openly and make a few tweaks to keep riding safely a part of our plans.

 

I find that the people who claim that ‘age is just a number’, to ‘move on and rise above’, have often not been dealt the cards of serious illness or injury. Perhaps they’ve yet to give instructions to a body that just won’t. We’ve talked before about being an aging rider but this time, let’s talk about what we can actually do to help!

 

Taking action in ten steps…

1. Avoid getting hurt!

How simple this sounds but it is true. Mounted safety on that bombproof horse, or as close as we can get to it, usually means riding an equine senior citizen. Why? Well, even though there are many young horses that are quieter or better schooled than their older counterparts, it takes a certain amount of living to have seen it all. The more a horse has coped with in his life, the less he will feel the need to react.

 

I love big horses but there is something to be said for riding a smaller horse, or even a good pony. The larger horses are harder to saddle if our shoulder mobility is an issue. They can be challenging to mount without a step and as we all know, they’re a long way from the ground if we should take a tumble. I know of one senior rider who traded her incredibly talented sport horse straight across to a keen, deserving (but broke) junior rider who had outgrown her large pony.

 

The maintenance needed to keep a faithful older horse going is generally worth the extra trouble and money. Some people find that gaited horses allow them to ride pain free… just make sure these horses are really well schooled. Experience has taught me that too many individuals among the specialty breeds are not as well trained as those in the mainstream. They exist but you have to be careful.

 

I’ll repeat this – your riding future as you age will depend greatly on finding the right horse.  He must be kind, reliable, well trained and fairly smooth moving.  Avoid entirely anything that wants to pull on you, buck or shy out.

 

2. Get fit.

Not ‘size six jeans fit’, but as strong, flexible and lean as you can be. Start working out a little, both in walking exercise and strength training. Myself, I have hip issues and now, I pay particular attention to stretching my hip flexors. I’m no jogger but I walk a fair bit. I’m being more mindful these days about my posture and my breathing. I’ve found that if I work with my body from a health and healing standpoint, it’s easier to stick with it, than if I’m just trying to get into a smaller set of clothes.

 

Getting enough sleep seems to be more challenging as we age. What a difference sleep makes, coping with pain and also to our concentration and physical reactions!  Exercising earlier in the day can do a lot to help us get a decent rest.

 

3. What not to wear…

Clothing runs the gamut from boots that will allow my foot to slip out of the stirrup to comfortable, seamless underwear and correct bras for riding. I have found that some of the fads that are ‘in’ are not necessarily what my body needs right now.

 

I’ve hung up while dismounting in thick crepe-soled boots and now I stick with leather soles. Certain jeans will twist or ride up while I ride and if my inseam is rubbing my knees, I’m not going to ride well.  Kimes Ranch jeans are worth every penny. Even if you ride western, you might want to consider a helmet and yes, I know you’ve gone eons without.

 

As far as underthings go, this is not a time for shyness. Bras come in all sorts of configurations, including ones specially designed for riding. I got a great one from Hobby Horse online. No bouncing, no uniboob, and no straps that slip.

 

Few people talk about the fact that if you’re riding long enough, hard enough, the elastic in panty legs will wreck you. Boils and open sores are a big price to pay for serious saddle time. Some gals swear by moisture-wicking, padded cycling shorts; I’ve found really comfy ‘invisible’ ones without leg elastics at Mark’s Work Wearhouse. Best of all, they’re cheap.

 

4. Saddle up…

Our tack can make a real difference in how much wear and tear our body receives. My saddle has to be narrow enough through the twist to suit me. A wider one will put outward pressure on my hips.  On a stock saddle, the stirrups MUST be turned to facilitate pain-free knees and ankles. This one simple thing would greatly improve the quality of riding for so many people, no matter their age.

 

As we lose limberness, our saddles should allow for more angulation of the hip, knee and ankle to cushion our ride. This might involve shortening our stirrups enough to allow this elasticity. It might mean choosing an older style dressage saddle without thigh blocks that hold our legs in a vertical clamp.

 

Many people start wanting to ride a lighter saddle. The average custom stock saddle weighs in at thirty pounds or more. I like a quality saddle, however, so I choose one with a smaller set of round skirts and a tree with a narrower, lighter fork. Don’t laugh, but getting some coaching about our technique when swinging a stock saddle up onto a tall horse can really help.

 

If our horse is gentle and amenable, a real sheepskin held on with an elastic racing surcingle can be wonderfully restorative to ride on. Our hips benefit from riding this way due to the gently undulating, downward stretch.

 

Reins can make a difference with arthritic hands. Closed reins or ones with stops or grips can be a help. There are wet-weather reins with gel grips that are comfortable for anyone to ride with, even if they’re not into Eventing. Keep your reins soft and pliable with tender, loving care. On cold days, slipping a pair of shake’n’bake hand warmers into your gloves, as well as tucked into your lower back, can keep you from seizing up.

 

I coach many people with hip issues who’ve decided that sidesaddle riding will allow them to keep on keepin’ on.  We joke that if we can sit on a bar stool without too much hip pain, we can probably ride aside!

 

5. Mount up…

Use a sturdy, stable mounting block. Use it every single time, both when getting on your horse and getting off again. It doesn’t matter what discipline you ride or what people might say. Trust me, your horse will learn to prefer it.

 

6. Learn your triggers.

I’ve learned to listen to my body. I pay attention to what things cause me pain and discomfort after I’ve eaten them. In my life, I’ve learned that if I avoid orange juice, for example, my hands will be pain-free. If I indulge in processed foods, I won’t feel well. We all have our little triggers and we get very good at blocking their messages to us. Often these foods are ones we really crave. Sorry, folks, but alcohol is another one to limit.

 

Beyond the food we eat, the company we keep can make a difference to our level of pain. Certain people will make us flare up more than others. These are the people who have toxic ways of feeding off our goodwill and emotions, without giving any support in return. Other people will strengthen our spirits. You probably know which people fall into which group without too much thought.

 

7. What’s up, Doc?

This seems a no-brainer but your doctor will want to know your activity level and your riding plans. He or she may have ideas about medication that will enhance your riding experience. If hip and knee replacements are on your radar, then bite the bullet and get them done! I’ve seen so many friends quit riding or enjoying life due to hip pain. Soon enough, they’re back in the saddle after receiving their bionic joints.

 

If you need a hearing aid to hear the riding instructor or the caller in the dressage test, look into it. Hearing well makes a huge difference to your mood and to your safety. I’m an active but hearing-impaired rider and I find that keeping my hearing aid in my ear is a real challenge. It bounces out all the while I trot and lope.  But I’ve also noticed that as my hearing diminishes, my other senses are heightened. I’m relying more on feel and intuition to keep me out of trouble, as much as I used to trust my strength and athleticism, so it’s not all bad.

 

If you’re feeling dizzy and dealing with vertigo, there are things that can be done to lessen this. Talk to your doctor.

 

Incontinence is very common with ageing riders, particularly among women. This means emptying our bladders before we ride, even part way through if we’re riding vigorously. Please don’t be ashamed about leakage. It’s a fact of life as we age and many accomplished riders can sit tall in the saddle thanks to their Depends. You are not alone.

 

8. Eat a little, a lot and hydrate.

Healthy snacks eaten regularly will allow you to avoid low blood sugar. These spikes and dives are not safe for you and the scattered, panicked energy of low blood sugar can have adverse effects on your horse. Just keep easy snacks, usually something with protein – a boiled egg, a slice of meat, some almonds or a piece of cheese – and lots of water in the glove box of the truck or in the tack room. Then, remember to eat them.

 

A thermos of hot tea is a time-honoured way to rehydrate and give an energy boost, even in blazing hot weather.

 

9. Find your tribe…

While riding alone is lovely, riding with like-minded souls is good for you, too. The laughter and company of good people and their horses are proven to raise even the lowest of spirits. A group of riders of our own age is comforting, they understand us. Riding with younger people, however, will pull us out of our comfort zones. They’ll keep us fresh.

 

Understand that our memory can be affected as we age. This can make learning dressage or other tests a challenge, particularly during the nerves of competition. If this is you, don’t panic. Find out to what level you can have your tests called and then, make use of the assistance.

 

Unmounted, if you’re a senior, now is a great time to volunteer. If you’re able, it can really boost your mood to share your expertise and love of horses with others. This can be in the office at a horse show, running the study group and quizzes at the local Pony Club branch, to judging 4H public speaking or helping at therapeutic riding.

 

Mentoring is a seldom discussed way of passing your knowledge along to others. The driving horse world comes to mind when I think of this. Historically, there have been few ways to gain driving experience when it’s so hard finding safe horses and good equipment. Whatever your sport, exchanging knowledge for labour is of great benefit to an ageing rider who might need the enthusiasm and muscle power that only the young can provide.

 

10. Keep riding!

As ageing riders, we lose both our nerve and flexibility very quickly if we cut back on our riding time. People seldom acknowledge this. Getting enough riding in can be hard in the winter months. The trick is getting up there as often as we can, keeping our riding a regular part of life. I tend to take lessons through the colder months and then chug along on my own when the weather warms.  This lets me ride regularly all year long.

 

Try becoming adaptable, to the point of learning something new. Often a new sport will regenerate enthusiasm that has begun to wane. Whether we decide to try riding sidesaddle or carriage driving to beat our hip pain, just know that success will be dependent on finding a trusted teacher and as close to a bombproof horse as possible. Remember that specialized sports require specialized training, if not specialized horses. Find a teacher that you can trust, one who understands you but challenges you just the same. 

 

Whenever we feel ‘too old to do something’, we have only to do it once more to prove ourselves wrong. 

 

What to do when we’ve had enough…

Now, the very tough heart-to-heart talk on what we do, and how we know, when we’ve had enough. Because all the cute little inspirational quotes aside, we know that day is coming.

 

So, the big question.  When is enough, enough?  Do we keep on keepin’ on until we become that unhappy story in the local news?  We all know there is just one little mistake, one bad moment, before something happens that we can’t think our way out of.  This is made so much worse as we age, whether or not we work alone.

 

I’ve talked with older riders who get the feeling that it’s only a matter of time before they get hurt. Where do these thoughts come from, after a lifetime of being brave? So much of our bravado is linked to our health.

 

The trick is in deciding whether it is one’s nerves or one’s wisdom trying to keep us safe. I’ll say this again, if we’re feeling any nervousness about our regular riding, we need to question the safety of our horse. Remember, this horse is going to be the key in keeping us in the saddle as long as we possibly can.

 

There’s something very cheeky and uplifting in telling ourselves that we’re only as old as we feel. That to follow our passion, we have to do what we loved as a kid. Yes, we go on as long as we’re able – but if we’ve a foot in any kind of reality – we know there is going to be an end.  The question is what form this ending will take.  Sometimes it’s easier putting a beloved pet down when it’s time, than it is putting our dreams to sleep.

 

So, what are our choices when it all becomes too much?  For me, it will involve mentorship to good and worthy young people who might like a leg up. I’ll keep going as long as I can by exchanging my brain, such as it is, for their brawn.

 

Making plans…

Meanwhile, one way to lessen our worries is in figuring out The Plan. You know, the one that tells the people we leave in charge how to look after our animals–horses, cats, dogs—in the event that we no longer can. Having this in writing, then letting someone else know that it exists in safe keeping along with our legal will, greatly lessens the worry of growing older. This is a necessary step for any horse or pet owner, yet is so often forgotten. Do we even have a backup person to see to our chores quickly, if we grow suddenly ill?

 

Finally, we have to be open to knowing when our special horse, usually an older fellow, has had enough. Regular vet care is a must here, so that there is some sort of a baseline, an outside eye, to see when this dear horse is no longer feeling well, when he starts to deteriorate.

 

No two people will have the same feeling as to when it’s time to euthanize a failing horse. I’ve noted, though, that the passing of one’s longtime equine partner is the day that many an older rider calls it quits. They’ve been wondering and then, suddenly, they just know.

 

What else have you been thinking you’d do to prolong your days in the saddle? Beyond finding the right horse, the right crowd, the right teacher? Beyond improving your fitness so that your body has a ‘fighting chance’? Beyond putting a plan into place to protect your beloved animals… and then going and getting it done?

 

What else can we do to ride as long as we’re able? Please share your thoughts.

By the way, I may as well admit it. I’m trying to build my email list to offer books and get help with reading chapters and reviews in the future. You are my tribe! Rather than fill your face with pop-ups on the blog page, please, I’d be so grateful if you’d trust me with your email and subscribe with the red button. Thank you!