They say, “Age ain’t nothing but a number,” which tends to be…untrue in most sports. At the recent Olympic games, a big deal was made about how old the gymnast Simone Biles is – the ripe old age of 27.
In many sports, thinking of athletes competing well into their retirement years is simply unfathomable. But horse showing isn’t like most sports. The Select Division (for competitors age 50 and over) is incredibly vibrant and competitive – with many riders competing well into their late seventies. However, simply because it is doable, doesn’t mean it’s easy.
We spoke with champion Select competitors Kathy Tobin and Joe Whitt to get their tips for how they’ve remained so competitive as they’ve aged.
Find the Right Horse
Your body just isn’t the same as you age. Not only is it easier to sustain more serious injuries, but those injuries take more time to heal. As a result, our experts emphasized the importance of finding a safe, reliable horse that meets your skill set.
“When I was younger, I rode three–year–olds in hunter under saddle futurities without a second thought. I used to be braver in my youth, I guess,” Tobin laughs. “However, the older I get, the more cautious I am, which has impacted the type of horse I’m attracted to as a show partner.”
Tobin continues, “While I used to be mostly concerned with talent, now I put a lot of focus on my horse’s mind more than how fancy they are. I want a reliable, sane, safe horse – something that has been shown for a few years and is a little more ‘been there done that.’”
Whitt adds, “Finding a horse with great natural self-carriage is especially important. The reality is that your body isn’t what it used to be, and many Selects, like me, struggle to keep their legs on their horse. Therefore, if you have a horse that doesn’t need as much leg support, it can make a huge difference in your ability to get them around the arena without falling apart.”
Whitt explains, “Also, if you are doing showmanship, finding a horse that will match your stride well is critical – similar to a dance partner. If you are limited in your ability to run in showmanship, it is especially important that your run and your horse’s trot stride match.”
Find The Right Program
The horse isn’t the only factor that goes into a winning team. The program you are in can have a big impact on your ability to find success.
Whitt emphasizes, “I think it is critical to find a barn where the trainer works with Selects and where there are other Selects to ride with. It adds to the camaraderie of the barn to have someone who is at a similar place in life. You also need a trainer that can help you prepare your horse for where your body is at – someone who can understand your goals and work with you to achieve them.”
Keep Riding
The muscles we use to ride our horses effectively are not used in many other physical activities. While you may be able to get away with infrequent rides in your youth, doing so as a Select is a lot more difficult.
Tobin reminds us, “You must keep at it, especially as you age. If you don’t ride, you lose it quickly. When I was younger, I could take time off and return right where I left off. Now, I lose those ‘riding muscles’ pretty quickly. Therefore, I think it’s important to keep riding as much as possible to be competitive.”
Whitt agrees, saying, “Being able to ride as often as possible is critical to keeping your body fit while you are showing. Exercise and stretching can help, but few things come close to getting on the horse and practicing.”
He adds, “At our age, I recommend riding 1-2 times per week to maintain the skillset and fitness level to be competitive and show your best.”
Dress Your Best
Confidence in the arena can go a long way, but it can be harder to maintain as one’s body changes and ages.
“As you age, you probably want to avoid the popular cotton candy colors for youth,” Tobin laughs. “I’m not afraid of color, but you want to find something tasteful and complimenting your figure.”
She continues, “One of the struggles with aging is that your body isn’t what it used to be, which can affect your body image, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be proud of how you look in the arena. I recommend Selects find something that makes them happy, confident, and comfortable.”
Tobin recommends riders look into compression socks, saying, “I use Tommie Copper compression socks. I recommend you get a thinner sock and one that isn’t super tight, but a light compression helps my feet and legs stay comfortable on long days.”
Warm Up
Most people accept that a horse needs a good warm up before a class, but they aren’t the only ones. Our experts recommend that Select riders also make a point to warm up prior to classes.
Whitt explains, “I struggle to keep my heels down and keep my legs on my horse. To help with that, I try to loosen up my legs before I get on to stretch those muscles. But it is also important to remember not to override and exhaust yourself before it’s time to show. Your endurance changes as you age, and you could burn yourself out if you try to do too much at the show.”
Tobin admits, “I like to practice square corners to warm my body up so that I can stretch my seat and back and get my muscles moving a bit before I show. If there is room, I also like to do extended trots and lopes because that helps me stretch some muscles and pump my blood.”
Choose Comfortable Tack
Our experts highlighted the importance of saddle fit for riders and horses.
Tobin recommended, “Select riders should try out different trees from saddle manufacturers to see if there is a seat that can help support their pelvis and back a little better. Every body is unique, and so is every saddle. As you age, it only becomes more important to find a comfortable saddle that fits your seat well for those long days.”
Take Care of Your Body
While everyone knows that it is imperative to take care of your horse at a show, it can be harder to remember to have some self-care.
Whitt emphasizes, “It is so important to rest up and eat healthy. As you age, your body needs to recover during the horse show – not afterward, like you could do when you were younger. Your nutrition and rest are critical to your ability to show your best, so it can’t be something you let slack while at the show.”
Tobin agrees, “Getting good rest and sleep on a quality mattress is super important. I bring my pillow because I find that helps keep my back aligned so I can sleep better and fall asleep more quickly.”
Enjoy the Moment
Finally, although our final tip isn’t unique to the Select Division, both of our experts emphasized the importance of enjoying the moment and focusing on having fun.
Tobin admitted, “I’ve found, as I’ve aged, it can be harder to be satisfied with a go because my mind wants to do it better than my body can. But, at the end of the day, I do this because I love it. Horses are so special in that you can keep at it into your seventies, like me. Many other sports don’t allow you to compete into your later life, and I’m so thankful that I can continue to do what I love.”
Whitt adds, “I think the Select group is such an awesome group to show with – and it’s highly competitive. I have such an incredible group of friends in my division, and being a part of it brings me so much joy.”
He reminds us, “We spend a lot of money and time doing this, so it is so important actually to enjoy it. I try to be realistic with myself, recognizing that the competition is amazing and you can’t always win. I am happiest when I look at my progress and how I can keep improving – the win is in the progress and the bond you have with your horse.”
Whitt laughs, adding, “Another way to ensure you enjoy it is to drink lots of wine!”
“Cheers to that!” Tobin smiles. “And cheers to all the Selects out there – here’s to many more years enjoying our horses!”
