Never Too Old to Ride Horses!

One of our riding tours this summer gave us a wonderful reminder that age really is just a number.

Earlier this year, we were preparing to welcome a private group of friends from Colorado. When we received the guest list and information about everyone’s riding experience, one detail immediately caught our attention: one of the riders was 85 years old!

We have to admit, we were a little nervous.

Before meeting him, we imagined that he might join the group in the support vehicle, perhaps riding for a few hours here and there and meeting the others for lunch. We were very excited to meet him — but also wondering how such a demanding riding tour would work for an 85-year-old rider.

Then we picked the group up at Hotel Borg. All our worries disappeared almost immediately.

He looked much younger than his age, was in fantastic shape and, most importantly, it was obvious that horses had been a part of his life for many years. We were incredibly relieved!

Still, we assumed he might choose to take a day off now and then, or perhaps ride only part of each day.

We could not have been more wrong.

He rode every day. All day.

And we never had to worry about him.

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This was his first time riding Icelandic horses, and it was wonderful to watch him with them. He was calm, gentle and respectful, and our horses seemed to respond to him in exactly the same way. There was something very special about watching such an experienced horseman discover the Icelandic horse for the first time.

The whole tour turned out to be one of those trips we will remember for a long time. The group of friends from Colorado were all excellent riders, full of enthusiasm, laughter and wonderful energy.

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But our 85-year-old rider definitely left an impression on us.

He has now become something of a role model. We can only hope that when we reach 85, we will still be getting into the saddle, spending long summer days on horseback and enjoying every minute of it.

Luckily, we still have a few years to go — although time certainly flies when you are having fun!

So, if you are dreaming about a riding adventure in Iceland, remember: you are never too old to ride horses. Whether you are 12 or 85, what matters most is your riding experience, your love of horses and your sense of adventure.

Our small-group riding tours combine beautiful Icelandic horses, comfortable hotel accommodation and the chance to ride alongside local horse people.

Maximum 5 riders, good hotels and unforgettable days riding with the locals.

Discover our horseback riding tours:https://www.exploringiceland.is/horseback-riding-tours