Does Riding a Horse Make You Stiff and Achy When You're Older?

Riding a horse at any age takes a lot of energy.things you need to do to look after your horse
When you return to riding or learn to ride whenmeans that you have to either be or become
you are older, believe me, it can hurt! Getting offpretty fit.
that horse is in itself a major feat, involving aFor a long while, I was so tired I felt as if I was
jump some distance from the ground - not goodwalking around in a fog. The only other life
for ankles. And when you're on the ground,experience I could compare it to is having a baby!
suddenly you've turned into John Wayne!It is relentless in terms of time and energy. No
So is there anything that can be done to avoidsooner have you been down the yard, mucked
the pain?out, ridden and turned your horse out, gone
If you haven't had any major aches and painshome, had a cup of tea and a sit down, and it's
before you begin to ride, there shouldn't be anytime to go back and get her in! Takes up all of
major effects on your body when you start - atyour day, and all of your energy.
least not once you have become fit. Getting fit isBut it does get better. All that mucking out and
the key to overcoming the pain barrier. When Iwalking about eventually makes your fitter. You
first had my horse, at the age of 50, it was aget quicker at the things you have to do to look
huge shock to the system, even though I hadafter your horse because you get into a routine
ridden regularly twice a week for over a yearand it all seems easier. Take things slowly. Pace
before I bought her. Suddenly, it's not just allyourself. Get yourself fit slowly and don't try to
about riding - the majority of my time spent indo too much all at once - you'll get there in the
the livery yard is mucking out, lifting hay nets andend, but hopefully without doing yourself an injury
water buckets, and walking up and the yard doingin the process!
a hundred and one other jobs. Just doing all the