Riding Through Midlife – Reality, Joy, and Staying in the Saddle

I’m not 25 anymore. Some days I wish I were. And some days I’m quite happy to be in my 60s.

One thing I do miss, though, is the flexibility and resilience of my younger body. You know, being able to lift my leg into the stirrup and mount without giving it a second thought! It’s one of the reasons I ride a pony. If you’re returning to riding after several years away, you may also enjoy my article, Getting Back in the Saddle in Your 50s.

Our bodies simply don’t bounce back quite like they used to. As Roy Rogers once said, “When you’re young and you fall off a horse, you may break something. When you’re my age and you fall off, you splatter.” I think I may shatter rather than splatter!

But here’s the thing: getting older doesn’t mean we have to give up riding. It does mean we need to be a little more thoughtful about looking after ourselves.

Stay at it. Stay strong. Make time for exercises that develop strength, flexibility, balance and confidence. This might mean establishing a regular fitness routine that becomes part of your riding life.

Exercises such as planks and other core-strengthening movements can help develop stability. Yoga and stretching can help maintain flexibility, mobility and body awareness. These are all important if we want to continue riding comfortably and effectively as we get older.

Our horses deserve a rider who can move with them, maintain their balance and communicate effectively. The last thing we want is to become a sack of potatoes balanced on top of our horses!

Understanding how your body moves and influences your horse becomes increasingly important as we get older. Through rider biomechanics, we can improve our balance, coordination and effectiveness in the saddle. Learn more about rider biomechanics and horse simulator training.

Stopping is not an option.

Those well developed muscle memories may forget. It is not uncommon to see 70- and 80-year-olds still out there riding and thriving. Not because they’re fearless, but because they’ve never stopped moving. My equestrian heroine, Christilot Hansen Boylen announced her retirement from international TEAM competition in 2020 at the age of 73.

And,

Let’s not forget Ian Millar, who at the age of 72, announced his retirement from international competition.

Once you stop it is twice as hard to restart. So keep your feet in the stirrups.

That doesn’t mean you have to keep chasing the same goals. It doesn’t have to be competition. These days, I’m less interested in being told what to do for an hour in a lesson and more interested in developing my horse by hacking out with friends. This doesn’t mean I am not progressing.

I study.

Develop programs to improve my horse’s topline.

I design training programs and I record my progress. I have more direction and make more progress. It isn’t for a competition or show ring. It’s for me. This chapter of life isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about riding smarter, with joy, and wisdom. Progressing to the next level of your success.

Whether you’re looking to maintain your skills, work on specific challenges or simply enjoy regular time in the saddle, continued learning makes a difference. Explore my riding lessons in Nova Scotia and discover how structured rider development can help you keep enjoying your horses.

Want to keep going into your 70s? Stay strong. Stretch daily. Know your limits. And above all—ride consistently. Not long, just regularly. Your horse, your body, and your soul will thank you.