THE BACK FORTY Lee McLean dishes the hard truths about aging as

The Long ‘n’ Winding Trail…

Life is a marathon, not a race. Here are some tips for maintaining your time with horses. By Lee McLean, Photos by Twisted Tree Photography

1. Avoid Getting Hurt!

More and more often, we’re talking to riders who are secretly facing these realities. Our minds are still willing but our bodies may be slowing us down. Now, this advice isn’t needed by every aging or unwell rider! But if you’re feeling it –that niggle of doubt for the first time, the joints that are voicing complaints – this one’s for you.

There’s a stigma of shame involved with getting older, or struggling with recovery from illness or injury. Riding is no exception. Our culture celebrates beauty and athleticism, we love the prize winners, above all. Sometimes we need to recognize this, to talk openly and make a few tweaks to keep riding safely a part of our plans.

How simple this sounds. Now is when we’re really looking for the good-minded horse. Depending on our sport, we’re not above riding a teenager, or older. Though there are many young horses who are quieter or better schooled than their older counterparts, it takes a certain amount of living to have seen it all. The more a horse has coped with in his lifetime, the less he will feel the need to react.

The maintenance needed to keep a solid, high-mileage horse going is generally worth any extra trouble and money.

2. Get Fit.

Not ‘size two jeans fit,’ but as strong, flexible and lean as we can be. We can start working out a little, both in walking exercise and strength training. If sore hips are an issue, we might pay particular attention to stretching our hip flexors. We’ll grow more mindful these days about posture and breathing. When we work with our bodies from a health and healing standpoint, it’s easier to stick it out, than when we’re just trying to climb into smaller jeans.

Getting enough sleep seems to be more challenging as we age. What a difference sleep makes, in coping with pain and also

There comes a day, for most of us, when our foot struggles to reach the stirrup. Maybe our heart is trying not to see the end of the road, the place where we will have to make some hard choices. Maybe our hips are hurting so badly after every ride that we can barely swing out of the saddle. Maybe we’re alone now and the chores and physicality of maintaining horses is getting to be too much.

just about everything else. 3. What Not to Wear…

Some of the fads that are ‘in’ are not necessarily what our bodies need right now. Those of us who grew up wearing leather-soled boots may still prefer them, rather than riding in those with crepe soles. These can be sticky when dismounting, especially if we’re not as limber as we used to be. Too many fashion jeans, even if long enough to ‘stack,’ will twist or ride up. If our inseams are rubbing our knees, we can’t ride well. Jeans specifically designed and meant for riding are worth every penny. If we’re feeling nervous, we might consider a helmet, even if we’ve gone eons without.

As far as underthings go, this is not a time for shyness. No-bounce bras come in all sorts of configurations, including ones specially designed for riding and running. Few women talk about the fact that if we’re riding long enough, hard enough, the elastic in undies

will wreck us. Open sores are a steep price to pay for serious saddle time. Some gals swear by moisture-wicking, padded cycling shorts. The seamless, bamboo undies at Mark’s are inexpensive and comfy, too.

4. Saddle Up

Our tack can make a real difference in how much wear-and-tear we put upon our bodies. Saddles have to be narrow enough through the twist to suit us and what works for men won’t always feel good for us women. A too-wide seat can put a lot of outward pressure on the hips. On a stock saddle, the stirrups MUST be correctly turned to allow for relaxed joints. Doing this one simple thing would greatly improve the quality of riding for so many of us, no matter our ages.

As we lose flexibility, we may need more angulation of the hip, knee and ankle to cushion our ride. Shortening our stirrups, even just one hole, can allow this.

Many older people start wanting to ride a lighter saddle. The average custom stock saddle weighs in at over 30 pounds. Those of us who like a quality saddle, however, can ride one with smaller skirts and a tree with a smaller fork up front. Don’t laugh, but getting some coaching about our technique when swinging a stock saddle onto a horse, can be a help.

5. Mount Up

We shouldn’t be ashamed to use a mounting block, both when getting on our horses and stepping off again. It doesn’t matter what disciplines we ride, or what other people might think. If we listen to our horses, most of them say they prefer this, particularly if we struggle to mount.

6. Learning Our Triggers

We can learn to listen to our bodies. We can pay attention to what things cause pain and discomfort after we’ve eaten. Ordinary, ‘healthful’ foods like orange juice can cause arthritis flares. We all have our little triggers and yet, we get very good at blocking their messages. Often these foods are ones we crave, such as processed snacks and alcohol.

Beyond the food we eat, the company we keep can make a difference to our pain levels. Some people will make us flare up more than others. These folks have ways of feeding off our goodwill and our emotions, without supporting us in return. We probably already know who around us also depletes us, without giving it too much thought.

7. What’s Up, Doc?

This seems a no-brainer but for those of us who’ve been away from it for a while, our doctors will want to know our activity levels and new riding plans. He or she may have ideas about medication that will enhance our riding experience. If hip and knee replacements are on the radar, then bite the bullet and get in line! So many people who have had to stop riding due to severe pain, are surprised to find themselves back in the saddle again with bionic joints.

Hearing aids make a real difference between understanding the trainer in lessons, or the ring master at the shows. Hearing can make a surprising difference to our day-to-day moods and overall safety. Memory can also be affected as we age. This can make learning set patterns a challenge, particularly during the nerves of competition. Some events allow tests to be called, while others mean that we need to practice enough to get those patterns down cold. We all have different ways of learning and remembering, from reading or watching others, to walking through a test on foot.

Incontinence is common for women who ride, particularly among those of us who are aging or in recovery after childbirth. This means not being ashamed, of knowing to empty our bladders just before we ride, even part way through if we’re going hard. If we’re feeling dizzy or dealing with vertigo, there are new exercises and really effective meds. Again, talk to the doc.

8. Hydrate… and Eat a Little, A Lot.

We need to drink our water. Healthy snacks, eaten regularly, allow us to avoid low blood sugar. These spikes and dives are not safe for us and the scattered, panicked energy of hypoglycemia can have adverse effects on our horses. Just keep easy snacks, usually something with protein, on hand. Then, remember to eat them… and again, let’s drink our water, right?

9. Finding Our Tribe

Riding with like-minded souls can be so good for us, especially if we spend much of our time alone. The laughter and company of like-minded people and their horses are proven to raise even the lowest of spirits. A group of riders of our own age is comforting, because they understand us. Riding with younger people, however, keeps us fresh and pull us out of our comfort zones.

Getting out of the arena and onto the trails and ranches is good medicine for both horses and riders, alike. Sometimes it may be necessary to step away from the stress of the show pen and head for the healing that is found in nature. Sometimes, we have to discipline ourselves to slow down, turn off our phones and to really see.

10. Keep On Keepin’ On!

As aging riders, we can lose both our nerve and flexibility surprisingly fast when we cut back on our riding time. It can be hard to acknowledge this. Getting enough riding in can be challenging come winter! The trick is getting up there as often as we can, making our riding stay a regular part of life. If we can take lessons religiously through the colder months, it’s easy to chug along at our own pace, as soon as the weather warms. It’s good to make a point of being adaptable, to be open to learning something new. A new sport can regenerate our enthusiasm, if it has begun to wane. Be aware that specialized sports often require more training on the horses, if we’re to take part and stay safe. Finding that trainer or mentor we can trust, one who understands us but challenges us, is key.

Yes, there will come a day when you and I will have to quit.

Until then, remember that whenever we feel ‘too old to do something’… we have only to do it one more time to prove ourselves capable. To lengthen our years in the saddle for as long as possible, it will take faith, hard work, good help and a plan.

Lee McLean is best known for the storytelling on her Facebook page, Keystone Equine, and for her good ponies. One of eight women to race, sidesaddle, at the Calgary Stampede, Lee is resolved to write for, teach and represent other ordinary riders… the people who ride despite illness, injury, fear and changed plans! Her first book, HORSE WOMAN: Notes on Living Well & Riding Better, was just published and is available on Amazon. Lee lives with her husband, Mike, in the rolling hills of southwestern Alberta.