Is it too late to star riding horses at age 17?. i want to do show jumping. "i do trod and gallop very well"

Question

I joined the equestrian club about 2 months before and now im doing very well in the gallop lessons. my dream is to enter show jumping contests. the problem started when i asked the pro rides about the age in which they started to ride, and the answer was disappointing they all started before 10 so am i wasting my time or do i have a good future?

Answer 1

Heavens, no!!!!!  Don't be intimidated by people who started riding so young.  Some of us never started until after age 30!!!  Doesn't matter.  What matters is your committment to riding and horsemanship and getting better.  Heck, I WISH I had been able to start when I was 17.  

Answer 2

its never to late to get into anything

Answer 3

That story about them starting at ten is a bunch of talk and nothing more.  Less than half the ones I know started that early.  Besides, many of the ones that do start that early in life quit once they get the keys and discover the opposite gender.

If the folks you talked to were sincere, they would be encouraging you, not discouraging you.  Are they afraid of some new competition?

Go for it.  You're not too young.

Answer 4

i must admit, 17 is rather late to start training to be a professional horse rider, you'll need to work extra hard to improve your flexibility and stamina. However, if you think you have a talent for it, then go for it! 17 isn't exactly old is it? There are lots of different show jumping competitions that range from Novice to Expert, so you'll deffinatly be able to compete no matter what your skill or ability. If you are thinking about entering a competition like Olympia, you may need to practice really really hard for another 6 years before you would be at the standard of having a fair chance to win. But don't be dismayed. If you are doing well at it don't give up because you think your too old.

The only reason that children are put into the saddle at a very young age is to build their confidence, agility and strength. It also teaches them how to treat the horse fairly. But if you have that already, then it doesn't matter. I think that people are better off starting at a older age, because that way they can be sure that they will do it in the future. A lot of my pony club friends have given up horse ridding because they have gotten bored of it and want to do something different. They would rather go shopping than go horse ridding- that sort of thing, y'know?

So if you are good at this and you really love it and will work hard, i'm sure that you can have a promising future!!!

Good Luck x