Question:

Do you have to start horse riding when you are young to be good?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

I started horse riding at when I was 18 and have been doing it for about a year now.I really wish I had started when I was younger.Does starting later disadvantage you in anyway?

 Tags:

   Report
Answer The Question I've Same Question Too

27 ANSWERS

Sort By: Date  |  Rating

  1. some of us are just born riders. It just comes natural to some folks.Have'n a good horse to teach you makes a big difference as well.Ride like the wind ever chance you get rain, sleet, snow,summer, spring, fall, winter, you get the point.


  2. Yes it does, unfortunataely, but if you are progressing well and are doing good then nothing matters coz you will catch up.

    I dont even know HOW to ride a horse!!! (wish I would!!)

    Lulu x*x

  3. I started at around 20 and was almost showing by the time I was 23-24 (had to get rid of my horse then :-( ).  So I don't think that it really matters, if you put your heart and mind into it.

    I think the only advantage of starting earlier is probably that you would be less afraid of falling lol.  Once you've broken a bone or two, falling off becomes less fun!  So maybe since kids are naturally not afraid of things like that (breaking bones, ect), they'd have a tiny advantage that way!

  4. No it doesn't. I coach people of all ages ( from 6 - 60) and can say that it makes a difference. I have had both younger and older riders that show a lot of talent and some of them are even competing in showjumping and dressage. All you need is hard work, a good coach, a good horse of course and a goal to strive to. My freind started riding when he was 30 and today he rides for his country competing on an international level in showjumping. My advice is to read up on horses as much as possible, attend any seminars that you can. A lot can be learned by observing so watch when somebody is training so try to pull out as much useful info as you can. Do not think that starting at an early age is such an advantage, a child doesn't  absorb so much technical knowledge as an older rider, you can already understand the importance of a lot of terms used by your coach, while a child still has to learn those things. So there you go, aim high and good luck!

    P.S. Try to organise a small group of people with the same level of riding and get in contact with your national equestrian federation to see if there are possibilities to have a pro coach hold a 3-4 day coaching session, with classroom lessons and riding lessons. We do it very often, we all split the costs of organizing such a thing and our federation is happy to help. This is a very good way to improve your riding and you will see different mehods of training. Who knows? Maybe they chose you to help them on further courses.

  5. Anyone can ride horses. Someone who starts earlier will just have more time on a horse and more experience. That doesn't mean however, that you won't be a good rider. Practice practice practice and you will be just as good as anyone else out there.

  6. I don't think so,   I do think practice and a good teacher are more important.  I have ridden for a long time, but am not very good because I have mostly just ridden for fun.  I am a backyard rider.  So, get a good teacher,  and practice hard.  And by the way, 18 is young.  You will be doing great!

  7. sure, practice and experience

  8. well in a way it does because when u start younger u learn things earlier and go on....... but in some cases u have to be a certain age to do certain things. at my riding lessons there is a girl named mandy and she is eight.......she has been riding for about 2 years now but has not gotten to the bigger jumps( only on poles) yet because of her size..... and me and my sister are pretty tall(we are 10 and 13) and we jump about 2 feet and have been taking them for 9 months. so it really depends on how fast u learn and how old u r.

  9. You ARE young!!!! No there is no disadvantage. At your age you understand how things work. You are strong enough to hold on well. & You are old enough to  appreciate the hard work you put into it & how much work it does take! Good luck & don't let anyone tell you any different!! You can be as GREAT as you want!!!!!!

    ********EDIT*********

    LuLu~~~~ You are showing you are a UNEDUCATED little girl !!!!! Educate yourself be for spuuing c**p !!!!!

  10. I dont think so. Some of the greatest riders started in thier teens! Just be positive and work hard. You will get the results you want!

  11. No Not In The Slightest

    I Started Riding When I Was 8 & Have Been Riding For 5 Years But That Wouldnt Make Me Any Better Than Someone Who Was 18 When They Started Riding & Have Been Riding For 5 Years

    Do You Get My Point ?

    Its Not Your Age That Matters Its Your Enthusiasm & Effort You Put In

  12. absolutely NOT!    I am eleven and have been riding for a few years and I'm still not as good as some people my age and younger.   Age doesn't matter.    You need a good horse to start on like one that is already a good horse AND you need to know it and all about it.    My horse is stubborn but I'm used to it so i just work around it.   You need to practice and just get used to the feel of your horse.    trust me.         also you have to work either with your horse to get over the bad spots or around the bad spots so you know what to expect every time you ride.   I'm an expert at that because my horse bucks when I first start riding in the spring but that's just her personality.                 LEARN YOUR HORSES PERSONALITY!!!   IT HELPS!!!!!            

              Hope i helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. It can because you dont have the experience and stuff but not really i guess.

    take proper lessons at a professional barn if you would like to be up there with the people who started when younger.

  14. Hey girly...I was in the same boat at your age. At 18, I had ridden horses but had no direction at the time or formal training. I have found that I have more persistance and drive than most my age (26) that have been riding since they were 3! Experience gets you far, yes, but don't forget that drive and ambition can get you just as far too! It all depends on how bad you want it and how much you're willing to devote to your goals. Don't be discouraged, you've got your whole life to improve and if you just give it time and devotion, you will! Keep it up!

  15. NO WAY!! I've been riding since i was like... well 4 ever and well this year at the show i got 8th in the world and i just got my new horse. SO it dosent relly matter

  16. Personal experience....I have been riding since I was 5 years old. Now I'm 18. My boyfriend has been riding for 5 years and he is just as good as I am(if not better...lol!). A lot of patience and practice will help you on your riding...just take the time slow and steady. You'll end up being a really good rider!

  17. No! I have students that have ridden all their life and can't ride good yet. It's a gift and you have to have a passion for it. If you truly want it, I mean truly want it, you will become an excellent rider.

  18. not necessarily- and i'd consider you young at 18. one year is JUST the beginning.

    it's hours in the saddle and the quality of your training which matters most.

  19. Certainly not!

    Hard work is the only thing that will make you better- you nearly have an advantage because you can understand what the instructor is asking better than a seven-year-old!

  20. Not at all.  I used to feel that way when I was a teenager, but now that I'm older I know it's not true.  Good instruction on well-trained horses can get any person of any age ahead.  It might sound impressive to say "I've been riding since I was 2" or "I've been riding for over a decade" but it doesn't really mean too much all by itself.  You are not at a disadvantage whatsoever.

  21. NO. no no no. being older does disadvantage you though. if your fit, healthy, and ready to learn shouldnt be a problem. older people also have less spare time.

  22. no my mom didn't and now her horse is on every cover of horse mags. so no i think you will be fine. =)

    ~Anna~

  23. Not really. If you want to learn properly, take some lessons. It's a skill that can be learned, and age isn't as important as proper training and practice.

  24. no of course not! some of the best olympic riders started riding later than you did, and i know plenty of barrel racers that have started in their 20s and are amazing, s***w anyone who is discouraging you, go for it, follow your dreams, and practice makes perfect, if you ride everyday you should be up to speed in no time, good luck

  25. You don't have to start riding at a young age to be good, you just have to have the desire or be a natural.

    I rode once in a blue moon from age 2 to 16.  Then regularly from 16-19 and then constantly from 20 until now.  I'm 37.  I'm what some people call a natural...meaning I am a good rider who has not ever had any lessons, but took to riding as if I had been riding all my life.

    Starting later can sometimes cause you to be more fearful which in turn can cause you to stiffen up instead of relax.  If you start riding when you are older and take a fall or are in an accident with a horse, you may be less likely to just get back on.  Those are the only disadvantages I can think of.

  26. No, not all, I know my grandma is 60 and she began riding when she was 58, and she's great at it, it takes time, and it doesn't exactly matter when you start.

  27. Just take a look at Tiger Woods and you'll have your answer. Our brains form pathways as we experience things.  A young unfettered brain is ripe to develop these pathways, and does it better when we start young with learning anything. A child that is riding bareback at 4 never loses those pathways...and a 17 year old can't go back to being 4.  All you can do is develop to your own potential and that should be good enough.  Greatness can still be achieved, but if you are up against the Tiger Woods of horsemanship, you may be at a disadvantage.
You're reading: Do you have to start horse riding when you are young to be good?

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 27 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.
Register Now