When I was younger, I didn't fear being bucked off or falling off or getting dumped at a jump, I just rode.  I got bucked off, fell off when my horse spooked and landed a few jumps without my horse.  No big deal, I just rolled with it.  Now that I'm over 50, I worry about losing my balance and falling off my horse.  I really worry about getting injured.  My reflexes aren't as sharp as they used to be and my strength is no where near what I used to have and my weight is, well how do I put it politely....I've gained weight.

I know, from all the information available from sources like Equisearch, so much more about riding even though I've never been formally trained.  But still I worry about falling off and getting hurt.

(Did I mention I have an Arabian?)

Does any one out there have any exercises or mind strategies to help with this?

Being a novice rider I can't really offer any advice except to ask do you really want "fearlessly," but rather, "confidently and in control."  Seems to me that'd stem from knowing your horse, your and his/her abilities, and riding within those.  After that, it's all luck!  Oh, and trying not to tighten up when you fall, just let it happen.

Mary

Fear of falling off.  I believe as we get older we all have that fear. So join the crowd.  I agree witht he above.  You need a relationship with your horse.  You trust him and he trust you.  But there is always that deer that is going to pop out from behind a tree at the wrong moment.  Or a jogging person that looks like a monster with a backpack on.  Myself I have 2 -4 years olds that have had 90 days on them I will hopefully be riding this spring.  Am I scared.  Yep.  But I will do alot of arena work and just getting to know them first.  There is a good possibility that I will get dumped when I start trail riding them. 

The trainer said for me to just take her out on the trails by herself and she will look for me to trust.  But if I don't trust her then I really do not think that is a good idea.  LOL  I will be nervous and she will feel it.  So, I will have someone ride her mama with me the first couple times.

To help with the situation.  I will use the wide trail sturrups for better grip and stablization..  I will wear a helmet.  I will hook a lead rope on the horse so if I have to dis-mount fast I will still have hold of the horse.  I will try to control the situation before I fall off. I will never ride alone.  I will carry a car phone if all of the above doesn't work.  If I fall hopefully it will be gently.  LOL  Another precausion I took because of getting older is I went to a smaller horse.  If I do fall I want the ground to be close. 

Good luck with you new horse and enjoy.

This theme has come up on more than one message board.

As we start getting "up there in years", we have this growing awareness of our own mortality and start re-thinking just how agressive we want to approach certain issues in our lives.

I have been on a horse since I was two --- that totals up to almost 59 years of riding for me.  

Figuratively speaking, I have always worn the "No Fear" T-shirt but, in the last two years I find myself figuratively wear the T-shirt that says "If you have no fear, you haven't gone fast enough" lolol

I approach things with a lot more caution than I used to.  That extra caution covers everything from horses to driving, to keeping my own back covered when I'm in a crowded store or parking lot.

I have gone from "riding down" the worst Widowmakers east of the Mississippi to riding nothing but my own four horses.   Two of them have some spook factors.  They will occasionally do some mild dipping and spinning, which I will take any day over bucking and rearing.

Others have given really great advice that I hope helps.

If I can say one thing to a new Over 40 horse owner or one getting back into them after a several year hiatus, it would be to buy a well seasoned, "I've done everything" horse that is laid back and generally non-spooky by nature.   Buy it even if it's not pretty because you can't ride pretty if pretty doesn't have a lick of sense in its head. 

Remember when mom told as children that "looks aren't everything, you need to see what's inside the person".  Horses are the same way

To paraphrase Solomon, fear is the beginning of wisdom.  Try substituting the word wisdom for the word fear.  Instead of "I am afraid" therefore I will not ride alone, say "I am wise, therefore I will not ride alone"  or use whatever phrase you need to use.  Our minds make up for all kinds of gaps when we let them, and thinking about wisdom instead of fear may help you be more calm and this in turn will help to settle your mind and give you confidence.

I have always had a little fear of the really fast - horses, cars, motorcycles, etc. That said the only horse (other than the old lesson horses you couln't beat into a trot) I rode without tooooo much fear was my OTTB gelding who'd been through a lot of lesson barns and was just looking for that one person to take care of: I sat through some spooks with him, he learned to slow down when he reeeeally wanted to revert to the racetrack, and in the end we both had total confidence that we would not deliberately try to hurt each other.  That mutual trust and confidence is everything.  Having had some bad experiences since I lost him, finding that trust is harder to come by.  Going back to the beginning is what always works for me - finding that dead broke lesson horse to get me through getting fit AGAIN, finding my seat AGAIN, regaining my balance AGAIN, so I can move up to something a little more fun AGAIN.

If you have a fiesty Arab, and you're like me (feeling alot out of shape and insecure in your seat because however delicately you put it, I've definitely put on weight) then you may want to get back to that starting place on another horse first.  Or you may in the end make the difficult decision I've made and start over in my search for a horse that will be a friend and soulmate.  The mutual trust is what makes it good and helps control the fear for me.

I like that KCS... very well said.

 KCS, I love that ....hmmmm, maybe I can coax DH to carve me a sign with an appropriate inscription ....make it my new life motto

When we were young, we were invincible    As we mature we come to the realization that is not the case -- nor was it ever & is even less so as we get older.  So enter trepidation & hesitation & second-guessing ourselves - all in the name of self-preservation - is that so bad

So, going with my KCS inspired new life motto, I say put the fear behind you & instead  say 'I know my reflexes aren't as sharp & I'm not as strong & I'm a bit fluffy , so what can I do to adapt ....'

So my suggestion to help improve balance & thus lessen the risk of falling off is to practice yoga & pilates exercises. Both of these forms of exercise will make you very body aware - they help with balance & flexibilty. If you can get your hands on the February 2005 issue of Horse & Rider, there is a great section on yoga exercises especiallyfor the rider.

Also here is a link to some great all-round exercises to help improve your riding posture & strength. 

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/training/general/getfit_122805/

countrymouse:

So my suggestion to help improve balance & thus lessen the risk of falling off is to practice yoga & pilates exercises. Both of these forms of exercise will make you very body aware - they help with balance & flexibilty.

Country Mouse - Thanks, I do practice Yoga, but may have to add Pilates to my routine.

Let me add Briahna is not a new horse to me.  I've ridden her for five years, owned her for four, so we have bonded.  She's an Arab.  I practice the Parrelli Games with her and I know she sees me as her leader most of the time!  I've only fallen off her once in that five years, when she sunk up to her belly in quicksand down at the creek and I freaked out thinking she was going to have to rear up to get out, so I bailed.  LOL!!!!!!  I only fell two feet because she was up to her belly in wet sand and it didn't even hurt, I just got covered with wet sand!!!!

I'm just concerned about falling and hurting myself and not being able to ride!

The truth of the matter is we do get hurt worse when we fall.  Our bodies are more fragile and take longer to heal.  I am as safe as I can possibly be.  I have a horse I trust, always wear my helmet and I don't do things like trail ride alone.  I am not jumping the huge CC jumps now and I am focusing more on Dressage and just having fun with my friends and my horse. The dressage has also helped my balance and control over my horse.  I agree with the ride smart and be prepared for anything crowd.  Fearless is kind of stupid.  When I took a clinic with a 4 star rider and I asked if the courses were scary he told me the day he wasn't afraid was the day he would stop eventing. Relax and enjoy yourself. L

I am almost 60 so I've been where are.  I returned to riding after many years but I didn't have the fear issues.  Maybe I was just always cautious but my friends my disagree.  I've done 3 riding vacations since I turned 50 and have several more planned.  My daughter and I did an unguided ride in Ireland (hard riding), a cattle drive in Wyoming, and a pack trip in the Grand Canyon area - hard riding.  Of course, all of these were on unknown horses.  I get lots of practice on my 2 horses at home - a foundation quarter horse gelding and an Arabian mare.  I do always wear a helmet these days and have for several years.  I am not stupid. 

 I think you should find a horse you really trust but always be prepared for the unexpected.  Even my Quarter horse gelding has his moments.  And my Arabian has really taught me how to ride out a sideways spook!  At least she doesn't run away.  And some days I pony the mare.  We've had some adventures doing that as well. 

I will ride as long as I am physically able.  I can't get on as easily as I once could.  I am more cautious about other people's horses.  And I've learned to really pay attention the horses' body language.  And learn how to fall off or jump off.  Sometimes jumping off a runaway horse is the best option and knowing how to do that with minimal injury is critical.

 You are smart to be concerned, and certainly not alone. I am approaching 50, and while I can count the times I've come off a horse on one hand, all but one of those were in my youth when I still bounced rather than broke! After being bucked off in my 40s, I have a whole new respect for riding. I also ride highly spirited gaited horses, and while they are 99% dependable, I don't believe there is a horse on which you are 100% safe because the safest, dead broke horse can still trip and fall. That said, you have to approach riding like you do driving a car in traffic: you keep both hands on the wheel, your mind and body engaged in what you are doing, you react the best you can when something happens, and you hope for the best because after all, statistically you are pretty safe. The only alternative is not to drive at all! And for most of us for whom horses are more than a pastime - they are a lifestyle choice - we accept those risks as the cost of doing business with horses. Riding is not the safest sport but nor is it  the most dangerous. And if you learn as much as you can and keep your wits about you, you can make it as safe as you can. Even at my advanced age, I ride bareback a lot both on trails and in the arena, and this keeps me even more focused and in control of my mount since I only have my balance and grip to remain seated should something go terribly awry. Obviously, my horses are seasoned, smooth, and very dependable, but I never take my safety for granted. If I expect the terrain, weather, or circumstances to be more challenging, I use a saddle, but here in Arizona between the rock and cactus strewn landscape and the occasional critter burrows, you have to remain focused on where your horse is going, and this helps stay engaged in your surroundings in order to anticipate something ahead that may cause a spook or a stumble. Do your due diligence and keep the faith, because what would life be without our magical rides on these mythical creatures?

I have only been riding again for 6+ years.  In that time, I've been dumped twice, once my fault the other an ornery Pony's fault.

I am fortunate that a good friend of mine is a trainer.  Not only horses but people as well.  She puts me on horses that she knows will not spook or buck.  She is giving me aids in how to train my 2 yr old gelding.

I have 2 horses now..... a 2 yr old gelding and a 4 yr old mare.  Both I trust, even though I've never been on my 2 yr olds back.  I work with and get to know my horses every day and although they are animals and as such can be unpredictable, we have an understanding of what I want from them.  (I'm sure if anyone would watch me "puff up" as I establish alpha role, they would laugh uncontrollably). 

I can't WAIT for spring!  We are reaching record snow falls and I'm sick of the cold.  Yesterday it was almost 50 degrees, today it's 20 something.  Uggghhh!

Horses "feel" when we are afraid.  Our fear becomes theirs.  I know that because I've felt it.  Expect the worst and you will surely get it (or something comparable).  I can't say enough about getting comfortable with your horse.  Grooming, saddling, bitting, yeilding to pressure all on the ground.  When I long line my gelding, all I have to say is "out" and he listens and goes around in a circle.  When I say "out" my horses know no matter where we are I want them away from me.

Nice to meet you!  I, too am (way) over 50, and I also have an Arabian, a gelding named Shammar.  I totally understand your feelings.  I rode as a kid, then didn't get back to riding until I was in my late 40's.  I leased, then later bought an Arabian gelding; when I lost him I found a wonderal Arabian (do you see a pattern here?) mare I shared my life with for 11 years.  I recently lost her last summer, and was devastated, thinking, no, I am not getting another horse at my age!  Guess what!  My guy is light grey, too, as was my mare.  They seem to seek me out.  I am still getting to know my new partner in crime, but overall he is very sweet, as Arabs tend to be.  Yes, I have gone off of him once, due to my own silliness, but being in a plowed field, was fine, except for my ego.  I think getting to know your horse, and him to know you, is key.  Practicing safety around horses is always important, no matter how well you know your horse.  Wearing a helmet is a must, as far as I can see.  No one, especially us "lades of a certain age" need to land on an unprotected head, or bump into a branch or whatever without protection.  Lots of miles in the saddle will help your reflexes and the riding muscles.  I would really suggest exercising otherwise, whether it be strength training, flexibility training, or whatever you like and can do that will build up your endurance.  I joined a gym and am doing a bit of all of it within my capabilities.  Even walking or doing exercise at home, is great and will be a big help.  Anxiety may get much better once you feel physically more capable, and you know how your horse is going to react to things.  After riding my mare for 11 years, I am going thru a similar phase where I am re-learning how my horse will act, and getting used to his gaits, etc.  I still feel unbalanced a bit at the canter and gallop, but it's getting better every time.  I hope your horse is a sweet and wonderful as mine is, and I'll bet he is, too!  Enjoy!  And please let us know how you are doing!