'Use it or lose it'

Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity

- Becky Murray

WALT DISNEY once said, “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional,” and this couldn’t ring more true when it comes to riders – and horses.

The gift of horses is that they can bring a unique childlike joy to their owners and riders, no matter what that person’s age might be. And similarly, we all know or remember that one older horse, who needs to be at the front while hacking or they’ll proceed to jog the whole way, like a coiled spring ready to burst with excitement.

Equestrian sport welcomes and celebrates combinations of all ages, confirmed by many legends still at the top in the Olympic disciplines, and this is no different across the levels.

Maggie Richardson turned 70 last month, but says she walks around like a teenager after a morning on the gallops with her 23-year-olds, Black Beauty (BB) and Max A Million.

“It’s all about how you feel in yourself. There are some mornings it might feel a little bit of an effort, but I say to myself, ‘Come on, you know how you feel afterwards.’ I come home from the yard energised. I don’t feel my age,” she says.

Maggie rode as a child and in her early years worked in a point-to-point yard. She gave up horses when she moved to London, but returned to the saddle aged 52.

“I was hooked, and horses took over my life,” says Maggie. “I started riding BB in 2017 when her rider had lost their confidence. I got her going and she was later gifted to me. We were winning everything in showjumping and someone said, ‘Why don’t you affiliate?’ I thought, ‘God, at my age?’ But I gave it a go – and we were competitive. I stopped British Showjumping this year, but we still compete in unaffiliated leagues and she’s still winning,” says Maggie.

“Max doesn’t jump anymore as he’s got arthritis. However, he enjoys a good blast on the gallops once a week. He’s an absolute character.”