Diary of a Late-in-Life Equestrian: Episode 1

People tell me I should write about my horses. I don’t know why. Okay, maybe a story of a retiree who was disinterested in horses all her life and came to own four within five years could be interesting. I was never going to lease a horse, much less own one. Now, my daily life revolves around them. I’m glad I traveled the world before I retired because now I only want to haul my horses somewhere and ride through the countryside.

The Lizard Lady Goes Equestrian

It all started with my knees. I intended to partake in commercial rides around the Sonoran Desert but found that the saddles wrenched my knees. When I complained to my equestrian friends, they recommended I ride bareback. I was telling this story at an authors’ meeting of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). I mentioned this recommendation to the authors around me when one of them mentioned that her daughter taught bareback riding. I had a vacation planned, but I did contact her, Tali, upon my return. I didn’t expect anything to come of this, but I was wrong. Very wrong.

At first, I was content with my two lessons a week, which became three lessons a week. Fortunately, the price was reasonable enough that I could afford it. I was never going to lease a horse, much less own one. No, I was happy with riding my lesson horses without the ownership responsibilities.

My first lessons were on Lady, a lovely palomino. Lady was gentle, forgiving, and protective. I used a bareback pad when I rode her. No stirrups, just my legs holding me on. This built my leg and core strength up rapidly. Riding Lady was confidence-building since she was protective of her students. She would stop if she felt me slipping until I was balanced again.

The trainer devised interesting games for us to play while teaching me essential riding skills.

Once I was comfortable riding Lady, I was allowed to ride Button. She was a red-haired Missouri Fox Trotter. I put my pad on her and sat upon my destiny. The first time I rode Button, I felt she was a special horse. I liked her. Button was not mild-mannered. She was feisty. With the student on her, she would stroll over to the closed arena gate and stand there, daring the student to convince her to move. I was stubborn and determined enough that I did get her to move. A connection was made.

Button was the first horse I trotted. It was a bit too early in my strengthening, so I bounced right off! My theater-falling training kicked in. I rolled my body, so I landed on my back, with my body relaxed. Nothing was broken, but my bottom was incredibly bruised. An intense purple developed. My trainer was leaving on vacation for three weeks, so this gave me time to decide if I was willing to fall off of horses and continue my lessons or give it up. I was 59 at the time. Should I take my improved leg strength (no more knee pain) and move on, or participate in the sport that is more dangerous than motorcycle riding?

To be continued. In the meantime, enjoy my favorite view: