One of my favorite things about teaching is watching adults discover – or rediscover – their love of horses.
They often walk through our barn doors with a story.
Maybe they rode as a child and have been away from horses for 20, 30, or even 40 years. Maybe their grandparents had a farm, and some of their fondest childhood memories involve horses. Maybe their best friend had horses growing up, and they always wished they could ride, too.
Or maybe they have never ridden at all.
They simply reached a point in their life where they decided, I’m finally going to do this.
And I love that.
Life has a funny way of making us put our dreams on hold. We grow up, go to college, build careers, raise families, pay mortgages, and spend years taking care of everyone else.
Then one day, we realize there are still things we’ve always wanted to do.
For many people, horses are one of those things.
You Are Never Too Old to Learn About Horses
But if you’re going to do it, make a commitment to yourself.
Riding takes physical strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, timing, and body awareness. Your body has to learn what to do while your mind is learning how to communicate with another living creature.
That Takes Repetition
Coming once a week is a perfectly good way to begin. You will make progress. It will simply be slow and steady progress.
If your schedule allows for a second lesson each week, you may find that the additional time in the saddle helps you build confidence and skills a little more quickly. But we understand that adults have busy lives, families, careers, and many responsibilities.
There Is No Need to Rush
The most important thing is consistency.
Put your lessons on your calendar. Show up. Be willing to learn. Give yourself permission to be a beginner.
And don’t compare your progress to someone else’s.
Some people are naturally athletic. Some have ridden before. Some have never been on a horse. Some adults will find balance quickly, while others need more time to develop the strength and coordination riding requires.
That’s okay.
We’re not trying to rush you.
We’re Trying to Help You Build Skills That Will Stay With You
For those who would like to take a second weekly lesson, we offer a discount because we know that additional time in the saddle can be beneficial.
Most adults aren’t coming to us because they want to become world champions.
They want exercise. They want companionship. They want friendship. They want a reason to get outside and breathe fresh air. They want to spend time with horses.
And sometimes, they want to rediscover a part of themselves that got lost somewhere along the way.
We Love Teaching Adult Students
There is something incredibly special about watching an adult who has dreamed about horses finally make that first step. Sometimes they’re excited. Sometimes they’re nervous. Sometimes they’re both.
And sometimes, we get to watch someone fall in love with horses all over again.
What a privilege that is.
