The Unbreakable Bond: Why old horse riders can't give up their sport

What keeps us older riders reaching for the saddle, brushing off our horses and tacking up for yet another ride - even when everything aches and our energy levels are sometimes lower than a double bass?

What keeps us middle-aged equestrians climbing into the saddle despite the inevitable bumps, bruises on older bodies, moments of doubt, and the sheer day-to-day slog of having horses?

Yes, we’re talking about that undeniable bond between horse and rider - a connection so deep it somehow overrules the stiff joints, the creeping fears, and, though L’Oréal might be a cheaper way to do it, even seems to pause the passage of time when we mount up. Bold claim, I know!

It’s no secret that riding is a risky sport even when you’re young and bounce like a beach ball. We’re dealing with half a ton of animal with opinions of its own. The sting of a fall, once shrugged off with youthful bravado, now lingers a little longer and leaves behind that nagging voice whispering, “Are you sure you want to do this again?”

And yet - we come back.

We saddle up.

We ride on.

But why?

Any other middle agers out there like me still hooked on horses?

A Lifetime in the Saddle

For me, the love of horses goes far deeper than adrenaline or bravado. It’s a passion built from decades spent alongside these fabulous animals: bringing some into the world, watching them grow, starting them under saddle, competing them, then letting them ramble peacefully into old age on our wee Scottish farm.

This forges a bond that non-horsey friends can’t quite grasp. But when you walk into the field and a mare who was born here twenty years ago wanders over, ears pricked and happy to see you - well, that’s the kind of joy that lights up your whole day.

Queen Amelie - born here over 20 years ago.

For other older riders, the journey will have been different, but I’ll bet most of us had one thing in common: as kids, we were pony-mad. Some grew up with horses, others - like me - galloped brooms over homemade jumps and doodled ponies across every school jotter until the day we finally got our own. My parents (still very much around and still baffled) keep asking how I never grew out of this “phase.” But fifty-odd years and many many horses later… here I am.

The Pull That Never Fades

Over time, because horses are my hobby and not my job, my expectations have changed - but the pull hasn’t. From the soft nudge of a velvet muzzle to the thunder of hooves when you open up a gallop oacross a field, there’s a magic that can’t be replicated. Once a horse-adrenaline junkie, always a horse-adrenaline junkie.

Yes, we may not be as brave as we once were. Age has a way of swapping recklessness for caution. Our bodies protest more, our nerves fray more easily, and we occasionally question our own sanity. But the love remains, strong as ever.

Freedom and a sense of happiness

In the saddle, I still find a freedom and peace that the outside world sometimes struggles to offer. You have to be present on a horse - it forces your worries to quiet down for a little while.

It’s not always sunshine and roses, of course. There are days in deep winter when I’m knee-deep in mud, cursing the weather and wondering how glamorous life might be in a tidy little townhouse. But then I picture myself actually living that life… and I can feel the walls closing in.

So here I am, still on our farm in Scotland, surrounded by a herd of horses, and not even close to ready to give it all up.

You Never Stop Learning

One of the best things about this sport is that you never, ever stop learning. That keeps your brain sharp. I know so much more now than I did in my 30s or 40s, and now - in my 50s - I’m fully aware that even if I live to 100 I’ll never know it all. And that’s part of the joy.

Keep on keeping on

So, fellow equestrians, I suppose that’s why I keep on keeping on - riding, learning, loving these amazing creatures. And if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you feel the same way.

Comment below and share your thoughts: What keeps you in the saddle, and why?

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