The signs of aging are never pleasant, especially when you’re only a 38 year old woman already making groaning noises trying to zip up your riding boots. It’s even worse when you’re looking in the eyes of your horse and finally start to see them too.
I was lucky enough to find Jack when he was just 3 and I were a foetus at 21. Now, almost 17 years later, here we are. Jack is now 19, going on 20 and while that isn’t a great age for some, for his heavy Clydesdale-esque body, it’s definitely in the ‘older guy’ territory.
He’s without doubt my longest running relationship outside of my immediate family unit, most likely because he doesn’t argue back and because of that he’s been with me through everything. From living at home on the bank of mum and dad (I paid for my horse but I didn’t have the joys of mortgages or gas bills) to moving out, buying my first flat, meeting boyfriends - leaving boyfriends - to meeting my now husband. He was around when I made life changes bigger than I ever imagined like getting married, moving house and having children as well as pet dogs coming along and much to Jack’s disgust, more horses coming along.
The big bay lad has seen it all and been my one constant throughout, regardless of what life has thrown at me. From unexpected career changes to losing loved ones; morning and evening I’ve seen his face. So witnessing his body getting older and perhaps not finding things as easy as he once did on his heavy, draft horse legs is a tough scene to witness.
But I’m tougher… and after acknowledging what my own body is capable of after children and surgeries, I know it’s not over yet. Far from it in fact and I’ve told the boy, ‘age is but a number’ along with a plethora of other cliches such as ‘use it or lose it’. While his stringhalt may be more prominent following a winter of swamp like conditions and more time in his stable than either of us would like (and another winter looming), there are certainly things we can do. From a structured and planned exercise routine along with supplements, which may or may not only be thinning my bank account for little to no benefit - but we’ll try them anyway!
I’m choosing to see my ‘older guy’ as 19 years young and with that change in attitude, a brighter future for him, especially if we can head into this winter stronger and fitter.
And with that, we have a very exciting few years ahead with both of us returning to work following injury. Him getting back to his best after some stringhalt struggles and me getting back to riding fit after struggles with the dreaded M word - menopause! Yes, you heard me right, at the grand old age of 38, I’m in the swing of menopause (artificially inflicted I might add) and all that wonderful change brings with it.
With HRT now firmly handing me back that all important spring in my step I’ve missed the last few years, I see a horizon of pub rides and bridlepath hacking ahead - the equestrian equivalent of day drinking I believe. We’ve even found a rather fabulous instructor who’s a little over a 5 minute hack away. Tell me what could be better than that?
Jack’s has enjoyed some lessons and shown that not only does he remember some things but he’s missed the mental stimulation of trying to figure out what my flailing body is trying to ask of him.
It’s an awfully fun game for him that goes a little like, “she just lost a stirrup, so does that mean she wants me to canter?” Or “She’s bouncing about like tigger and whispering outside rein, inside leg, does she want me to flex and bend or just run her into the arena fence?”
While I’m lucky enough to have three younger equines bringing up the rear, two of whom aren’t even backed yet, it would be all too easy to give Jack an early retirement and let him become the level of chocolate Labrador he once dreamed of achieving. But when he shows such gusto when we’re heading towards our favourite pub and I see the glimmer in his eye when the waiter brings our fruity cider and cheesy chips, I know the end is far from nigh and the fun of being older and wiser and has only just begun.
Coming back from injury isn’t always easy but when the albeit wintery sun’s shining and there’s an adventure to the local watering hole to be had… it makes it a whole lot easier.