Taking the Reins in My 30s: The Unfolding Journey of an Adult Horse Rider

Loz & Maestro half-passing in life at a 2025 clinic - bareback pad & bitless!

From First Lessons to Owning Maestro and Managing Hypermobility

There’s a certain magic to horse riding—the blend of freedom, partnership, and challenge that hooks you in. For me, that magic didn’t arrive in childhood, but rather in my 30s. Starting a horse journey as an adult comes with its own set of joys, hurdles, and discoveries, especially when managing medical quirks like hypermobility. Here’s my story, shared in the hope of encouraging fellow adult riders to take the reins, no matter where you’re starting from.

Why I Started Riding in My 30s

I’d always admired horses from afar, that sense of connection between rider/owner and horse. As early as I can remember, my childhood bedroom walls were always covered with posters of horses and foals. However, my family were never in a position to have horses (which is AOK too). Fast forward a bit to my 30s, with life a bit more settled, I finally took the plunge. Well, my husband was kind enough to notice my photos from my childhood photo album, and researched local horse riding schools, and secretly got me a “Beginner 5 Pack of Horse Riding Lessons”. This was back in April 2014.

There was a real mix of excitement and nerves—would I be “too old” to learn? Could I keep up physically? Those feelings soon faded, replaced by the thrill of leaning into something new and the reminder that it’s never too late to chase a dream. From that first lesson up until today I have not stopped riding/being with horses! (Lucky hubby! As he rolls his eyes. lol)

And, yes, this is me doing my first rising trot on Zeke in my first ever riding lesson (ah the memories; we all have to start somewhere):

Loz in her first ever horse riding lesson, riding Zeke and rising trot

Facing Medical Challenges: Riding with Hypermobility

Living with hypermobility means my joints and muscles bend a little further than most, which sounds handy until it comes to stability and strength—key ingredients for safe, effective and stabilised riding. At times, I struggled with balance, leg position, and even gripping the legs and reins. But instead of letting it hold me back, I learned to adapt. Working closely with my coaches, we modified exercises and found tools that worked for my body, proving that medical challenges don’t have to be roadblocks—they’re just part of the journey. In fact, I would say that this exponentially expedited my ability to feel in my body and feel into the horses body… more on this later.

Structured Learning: From Lessons to Leasing

I started simply: one private lesson and one group lesson each week at the Riding School. Having both was invaluable—private lessons for personalised feedback, group lessons for camaraderie, healthy banter and competition, working in an environment with numerous horses and people, and learning from others’ experiences. As my confidence grew, I moved to part-leasing a riding school horse, then full-leasing. Leasing was a big step, teaching me about responsibility and the “real life” of caring for a horse, not just riding for an hour and handing the pony back.

The Leasing Experience: Learning Care and Commitment

Leasing taught me that being an equestrian is as much about what happens on the ground as in the saddle. I learned to tack up, manage feeding routines, seasonal rugging, spot early signs of discomfort, veterinary responsibilities, and handle the emotional ups and downs of horse care. It was a taste of horse ownership, without the full commitment—until I felt ready to take that leap.

Overall, I leased for around 1.5 to 2 years. This was an invaluable approach and would recommend it to others considering horses as part of their everyday lives. It ensures there is no rushing into the commitment and responsibilities of horse ownership.

Buying Maestro: My First Horse

The search for my own horse was daunting but exhilarating. After meeting several horses (think around 20-odd), Maestro—my 17.1hh Friesian x SH gelding—stood out. His gentle nature, intelligence, and presence made an immediate impression. As soon as I sat in the saddle, I felt this “warm, comfort, connection and my heart felt suddenly hugged”. Other horse owners know this feeling I am talking about. That “heart horse moment”.

Settling Maestro in was a steep learning curve but seeing him relax and thrive made every challenge worthwhile. From those first rides to our quiet moments in the paddock, Maestro has taught me more than I could have imagined about trust, patience, and partnership. 100% we have had amazing moments, and not-so-good moments, but that is a part of learning and growth - for both of us. And, of course, I can't get over his beautiful French mustache - "the tash" (you have to see it to appreciate the awesomeness of it)!

I've been there for him through thick and thin:

• Having benign sarcoids removed from his neck (yes, I was present in the surgery/operating room with him - it was an incredible experience, and he was more at ease knowing I was there the entire time; the Camden vets are amazing!)

• Australian stringhalt and his rehab and recovery (I have created a little course on how you can rehab your horse if you experience stringhalt)

• Helped him overcome his head shyness (now he absolutely loves having even the inside of his ears rubbed or scratched)

• I trained him to load himself onto the float. The first time I floated him; I got severe rope burn because I wasn't aware he was quick to reverse while on the float. Now that I know the necessary precautions, I've promised myself to make it the most enjoyable experience for him (and the fact he gets on willingly is testament to that I reckon).

• Participated in the vibrant world of showing, dressage, adult riding club events, clinics, day trips, and a variety of other activities

  • Proud that our dressage scores were always over 72%! It reaffirmed the training I was doing with him was having a positive effect. Yahoo!

  • I will point out that I am not a stickler for competing, due to costs, I shifted my focus on functional training and fun outings

First ever formal dressage competition: I smiled the whole way around (despite being nervous as anything)!

First ever jumping for Loz and, boy, it's a long way down!

Hitting some shows as a hunter

• Discovered which coaches and training methods suited him (and subsequently me) – his well-being and comfort will always be my top priority in his life

• I taught him how to "hug" me and others, as well as some other tricks, like climbing onto large tractor tires using only voice commands and scratches.

• Identified his consenting expressions and signals (which now serve as my basis for determining if I can ride him)—much like us, they have their good and bad days, and I want to allow him that freedom of choice

• He is a "cortisol bolter," so I've focused on helping him with self-regulation and making sure I remain calm and relaxed to guide him through his worries. This approach has significantly boosted his confidence and reduced escalating situations through the early de-escalation techniques I've trained him in (huge appreciation to Mark Langley and his training methods here).

  • A "cortisol bolter" is an extreme flight response in a horse. It sees something, hard freezes/fixates to try and analyse the threat, and then completely bolts to get the hell out of there running away-all in a matter of seconds

  • No aids, interrupt this behaviour/response (i.e. one rein stop)

• Ensured the tack he has is what fits and works best for maximising his functional movements - saddle/bareback pad, bit/bitless, double bridle, types of halters/lead ropes, shoeing (he is short-heel long-toed in the front) & training whip types (I never use whips on his body unless I gently touch somewhere to bring his awareness to his particular body part, otherwise, I use it to stir the air to work on aid responses)

• Made sure to take, and continue attending, courses on equine first aid and have the necessary products with me to manage any injuries or medical situations.

Gosh the list could go on... I am just in awe, reflecting that this amazing partnership with Maestro is now almost a decade long and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Loz & Maestro

Understanding Horse Management: The Daily Realities

Owning Maestro meant mastering the basics: feeding, rugging, hoof care, vet visits, and more. Suddenly, things like dental checks, worming, picking hooves and pasture management became part of daily life. It’s been a journey of trial and (occasional) error, but over time, I’ve built routines that keep Maestro happy and healthy.

Finding the Right Coach: Matching Learning Styles

One of the best decisions I made was seeking out coaches who matched my visual and kinaesthetic learning styles. I thrive when I can see demonstrations and physically “feel” the movement by putting it into practice with or on the horse. That’s where working with people like Ann Montgomery (The Mindful Rider), Belinda Bolsenbroek (Belinda Bolsenboek Academy), Mark Langley (Mark Langley Horsemanship), Lauren Woodbridge (Black Pearl Horses) and Thirza Hendriks made all the difference. Each brought a unique approach—whether it was Ann’s focus on mindful connection to the body (on a micro and macro level biomechanics and how it affects the horse's movements), Belinda’s practical and deep anatomical skill-building, Thirza's ability to challenge using more advanced combinations and strive for quality movement, or Mark and Lauren’s horsemanship wisdom to create a horse that is relaxed and strives for self-management. Their tailored guidance helped me progress significantly faster and more confidently. And to this day I have my own unique way of training with horses due to embracing these positive styles.

Ongoing Upskilling: Clinics and Continuous Learning

The learning never stops. You will often hear me say “treat every day like you are a beginner”. It keeps my mind open to learning new things, reflection, challenging existing beliefs and more. However, once you feel and know what works ideally for you and your horse - stick with this, and don't keep mixing it up as this will create confusion/frustration for you both. Don't be a clinic/coach/lesson "hopper". Top tip - see if you can audit lessons or clinics to get a feel for the coach and how they interact/educate their students and horses. You will know pretty quickly whether they are someone you would like to re-engage with. This will save on money, time and your frustrations.

I would say that biggest key to my progression is attending clinics, and regular lessons with my key coaches. This has opened up new perspectives, from refining my seat, to micro-awareness, to micro-anatomical movements in the horse, to understanding equine behaviour. Each session brought practical takeaways and boosted both my skill and confidence, reminding me that growth is a lifelong process. It also enables me to be consistent, set pathways to goals, practice for permanency and showing up for Maestro like he does for me - he is not a machine and deserves to have the best I can give him.

To refine and further enhance my understanding and applicability of my equine skills, I ask myself the why and keep asking the why, and then what do I notice. An example, I may see in a video of me riding, what is causing me to twist my pelvis at the rise in rising trot, and keep asking why until you get to the root cause of the issue. In this example, it was because the kneeling weight in my inner knee bones was uneven causing me to physically compensate. I take this same approach with horses both on the ground and under saddle. It has enabled a very sharp eye for picking up on various things (such as noticing a horse’s hoof twisting in walk as it weight bares, and the why!). I know I will continue to sharpen my eye by taking this approach and I can’t wait to see what else I learn in this space.

Complementary Strength Work: Weights, Pilates, and Yoga

To support my riding and manage hypermobility, I incorporated strength training—weights for muscle support, Pilates for core stability, and yoga for flexibility and mind-body connection. These routines have made a noticeable difference in my riding posture, balance, and resilience to injury. This doesn't mean I'm unaffected by life changes, like menopause, which also impacts the body in numerous ways. However, it helps me stay as agile as possible and maintain my balance while dancing with my horses (riding/training them).

As you age the effects of hypermobility change your body. Due to the increased amounts of micro-tears on soft tissue at its extremities, your body creates scar tissue, and you start to get increased restriction in joints and muscles with higher painful mechanical movements. Currently, there is no cure or ability to get rid of the pain. It is something you have for life which increases with age. I will continue to do what I can to stay mobile and fluid for my love of horses. It is something I cannot change, nor get upset over.

'Nil Sine Labore'

Latin for nothing without hard work.

This motto takes me back to my high school days (see if you can guess which school it was). It’s always stuck with me, because it’s a reminder that what you get out depends on what you put in. This couldn’t be truer when it comes to the world of horses. People often just see the end result with your horses, but all the late nights, early mornings, and tough moments are happening behind the scenes.

I wanted to talk about this because, in my experience, there are generally two main types of horse people:

1. There are those chasing the “silver platter” – hoping things will fall into place without wanting to put in the time and effort. They expect their horses to just magically behave and perform without truly working for it. Often you'll hear the expression "All the gear. No idea."

2. Then there are those who roll up their sleeves and commit to the work, day in and day out. These are the ones who may not have all the fancy gear, but they have hearts of gold and do their absolute best for their four-legged mates. They’re open to learning, make time for their horses, and put their horses’ needs first. Grit, commitment through consistency, and determination are what set them apart.

   
   

I know, hand on heart, I’m one of the second group. I’m on this wild horse journey for the long haul, arms wide open. I’ll always be the one cheering others on, lending a hand, celebrating a moment, or sharing a kind word along the way. If you’re keen, I’d love for you to join me in this adventure!

Here's to your journey; Nil sine labore!

Reflections and Encouragement for Adult Learners

Looking back, beginning my riding journey in my 30s was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made (cheers to you hubby!). There were bumps and bruises—sometimes literal—but each stage, from first lesson to owning Maestro, felt meaningful and empowering. For any adult considering horse riding, my advice is simple: be patient with yourself, find coaches who “get” your learning style, and never underestimate the value of groundwork and strength training. Most importantly, savour every moment with your horse—it’s a partnership like no other and it takes time (like a LOT of time... years, if not, decades). Embrace it with empathy and open-mindedness - the world will be your oyster!

I would have never thought that by 2025 I would have 3 horses (including a baroque/warhorse youngster... well they are all baroque/warhorses lol - a bit of a pattern there) and loving every minute of it. They are my fur family!

Maestro, Thor & Gwen (the baroque trio & Lagoballo herd)

What makes someone special or an expert with horses isn't the length of time they've spent with them, but rather their willingness to keep learning, growing, and challenging themselves. Some people might doubt my knowledge given the time I've spent learning about horses, which can make adults hesitant to share this information. However, maturity, and being that "grit and determination gal", in this field is shown through actions, not words. I remind myself that everyone is on their own journey, so I say, "Congrats!" and carry on! We should focus on sharing our love and passion for our furry companions during our short time here.

If you’re standing at the edge of your own horse journey, I hope my experience encourages you to take that next step. The saddle’s waiting, and there’s plenty of room for late bloomers. If you feel you are connected to me through my journey, and are located in the Canberra region (ACT, Australia), I can work with you also, as I offer lessons too (you do need your own horse):

Private Lesson: Laura Ushay

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Deepest ongoing love and thanks to my hubby for supporting me with this hobby I am so deeply passionate and invested in, and continue to build on. His continued support behind the scenes is what keeps me going.

Tell me your journey and key parts of that journey or if you have any thoughts/questions you want to throw out there. Let's start a conversation - we are all part of that lovely horse community and journey together.