Back to school

Taking up riding during childhood is how so many riders begin their love affair with horses. But what if you come to riding later in life? Katie Ward gives some advice to the grown-up starter!

So, you were bought riding lessons for your 30th or 40th birthday and you´re really excited, but suddenly you realise that you are in a mine-field. What do you wear? Will you have to ride a fat pony and will the instructor be like something from the Thelwell cartoons?

This article attempts to address some of the problems that thousands of adult learner riders face when they set out on the scary journey to be a rider. First things first: make sure the riding school you´re going to is correct for you. Not all establishments cater for the ‘older' rider. Check — give them a ring to find out if they have adult-only lessons, or if you prefer, for an extra fee, you may be able to have a one-to-one lesson to begin with. Find out what kind of horses they have — you will probably have to disclose your weight (quite traumatic!) and your height so that you can be matched to your perfect steed! Essentially, ensure that you discuss your options fully so that you are comfortable with what you are going to do.

What to wear?

The next thing to do is to find something appropriate to wear. It may sound improbable, but if you wear the wrong thing it can ruin your first riding experience. Starting from the top down, the most important piece of kit is your riding hat. You don´t need to buy one for your first riding lesson as this should be supplied to you (check with the school before you arrive). All riding hats must adhere to a kite-marking scheme, and if you are given a hat to wear at the riding school ensure it is in good order before you put it on. Hats should be discarded once they have received a certain amount of wear, so look at the overall condition before you put it on. You may know your head size, but essentially your hat should fit so it´s snug but not too tight, and it shouldn´t be able to move down so it hits the bridge of your nose! The chinstrap that must be present must always be properly tightened before you get on your horse. If you do purchase a hat make sure you buy it from a reputable dealer and try on several different makes before you make your choice. You don´t need to spend a fortune: just £40 will buy you a safe, kite-marked hat.

This is just an extract of the published article. To read the entire article purchase Horse Buyer Issue1 October 07.

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