Hi all, I've been having lessons for about 5 months now & my instructor has suggested I start going on groups hacks to get more confidence with cantering. This is something I very much want to do as when I first returned to riding after a 20+ year break I had envisaged just going on the odd hack now and again rather than having lessons. However, I've found riding to be more challenging than I remembered but also highly addictive and I really want to improve my confidence and technique. My issue is that I don't have any horsey friends to ride with. I go to a wonderful stable but I've never encountered anyone older than about 20 there. The few times I have hacked I've been placed in a group with little children and it makes me feel so old!! (I'm 45). I would really like to meet some other riders in my age group but I don't know where to begin. I've looked at joining my local riding club but it's all aimed at people who own horses. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I could meet other riders of my age and limited ability who might want to go on hacks with me? I live in South Devon and we are spoilt with lots of hacking opportunities, particularly on Dartmoor where there are lots of stables that offer long hacks.
Ways to meet other horsey people?
- Thread starter Dazzle
- Start date
Hello
are you on fb? Maybe try local horse groups on there? I don't have a fb account but keep being told it's a good way into the local horsey community.
are you on fb? Maybe try local horse groups on there? I don't have a fb account but keep being told it's a good way into the local horsey community.
I dont know anyone either. Sorry no, I know one rider now at our RS.
Group hacks is the way to meet people but I was always deemed to fragile or incompetent to go on group hacks at our school. Completely bananas as I have always gone on group hacks when away, at other RSs.
But you sound to be younger than me, so I suggest you do go on a group hack now and then - provided you feel safe to do so. Do you know why you went with children and whether the school has adult groups? It is possible you need to be secure in canter before going out with the adult rides. I have been told that people come to our yard for the group hacks who have ridden all their lives and want a fast hack -
I also met people (fellow students) doing a BHS stable management course. If your school offers courses that is a good way.
I met many staff by helping out at a yard. I met clients too but owners and staff are a different social class. I got ticked off by the YO for socialising with her friends. But from the point of view of horsey networking, knowing yard managers and yard staff is brilliant, and through them you know the vets and farriers people use and the saddle fitters.
Group hacks is the way to meet people but I was always deemed to fragile or incompetent to go on group hacks at our school. Completely bananas as I have always gone on group hacks when away, at other RSs.
But you sound to be younger than me, so I suggest you do go on a group hack now and then - provided you feel safe to do so. Do you know why you went with children and whether the school has adult groups? It is possible you need to be secure in canter before going out with the adult rides. I have been told that people come to our yard for the group hacks who have ridden all their lives and want a fast hack -
I also met people (fellow students) doing a BHS stable management course. If your school offers courses that is a good way.
I met many staff by helping out at a yard. I met clients too but owners and staff are a different social class. I got ticked off by the YO for socialising with her friends. But from the point of view of horsey networking, knowing yard managers and yard staff is brilliant, and through them you know the vets and farriers people use and the saddle fitters.
First I'd ask your school if they have other riders your age who's lesson/hack you could join, there may be someone right there feeling exactly the same as you
Then I would also pop along to your local riding club to volunteer, if everyone wants to ride at riding club events they always need a pole picker-upper, score keeper, timer person and you are bound to meet people that way and who knows get offered some private hacking perhaps
Then I would also pop along to your local riding club to volunteer, if everyone wants to ride at riding club events they always need a pole picker-upper, score keeper, timer person
and you are bound to meet people that way and who knows get offered some private hacking perhaps 
First I'd ask your school if they have other riders your age who's lesson/hack you could join, there may be someone right there feeling exactly the same as you
That's what I did when I got back into riding after a very very long break. I joined a riding school for lessons and once i felt a bit confident I asked if their were any lessons with just adults in them. I ended up in a lesson with lovely people and even though we have all moved on and don't go to the riding school anymore we are mostly all still in touch and we all go out to a trekking centre a few times a year for a good catch up and a laugh..
Thanks everyone. The reason I'm being put with children is because of my level of riding. I've only just started cantering so the hacks I've been on were walking/trot only. I've been advised now to go on a 'steady hack' which is for riders who want a couple of little canters but nothing more. I'm fully anticipating these will be full of kiddies as well! The weekend group hacks at my stable are all for advanced riders, so those would have adults but it's way of out my league at the moment as it would include lots of cantering and the odd gallop. Maybe in 5 years time!
When I first started riding I chose the stable I go to because it advertised a 'ladies group' for women returning to riding. It sounded like the perfect way to meet others in my age group & position but I was, and still am, the only person to sign up to it.
Regarding volunteering, that would be lovely but at my stage of life I simply don't have the spare time. I'm self employed and run a business so currently only get to ride once a fortnight. If I had my way I would go every day. I think I probably just need to become more advanced so that I am in a position to join the faster hacks - something to aim for!!
Skib, I find it strange that you are "deemed to fragile or incompetent to go on group hacks at our school", don't they have different abilities? I've found hacking less intense than lessons as the horses all tend to just follow each other so I don't have to work quite so hard to get my horse to move.
When I first started riding I chose the stable I go to because it advertised a 'ladies group' for women returning to riding. It sounded like the perfect way to meet others in my age group & position but I was, and still am, the only person to sign up to it.
Regarding volunteering, that would be lovely but at my stage of life I simply don't have the spare time. I'm self employed and run a business so currently only get to ride once a fortnight. If I had my way I would go every day. I think I probably just need to become more advanced so that I am in a position to join the faster hacks - something to aim for!!
Skib, I find it strange that you are "deemed to fragile or incompetent to go on group hacks at our school", don't they have different abilities? I've found hacking less intense than lessons as the horses all tend to just follow each other so I don't have to work quite so hard to get my horse to move.
I would perhaps try a different riding school. When I returned to riding after a break, I went to a riding school that did adult only lessons, and had an adult only riding club where you could hire school horses to compete once a month. It was great and I made loads of friends. Is there anywhere else you could try?
Can you not go on a private hack? Just you and an instructor?
I've did this a couple of time before I had a horse. It was really a sort of lesson as you go at a pace you are happy with but the instructor takes you a tiny bit out of your comfort zone ...in your case it would probably be a short canter.
Or ask at your riding school if they will try to get a walk/trot only hacking group together, even if its only once a month. I'm sure your'e not the only one who doesn't want to canter to gallop all the time.
I've did this a couple of time before I had a horse. It was really a sort of lesson as you go at a pace you are happy with but the instructor takes you a tiny bit out of your comfort zone ...in your case it would probably be a short canter.
Or ask at your riding school if they will try to get a walk/trot only hacking group together, even if its only once a month. I'm sure your'e not the only one who doesn't want to canter to gallop all the time.
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