Getting back on the horse…literally: You’re too old for that

“You’re Too Old For That” is a regular series that explores inspiring activities being pursued by those over 50 years old who feel you’re never too old to do what lights you up.

Larissa Banting, owner of boutique public relations firm El Bee PR, has taken the phrase “getting back on the horse” quite literally – twice in the past two years. In her late 50s, the seasoned public relations professional took up horseback riding to fulfill a childhood dream and bond with her teenage daughter. As a successful entrepreneur, Banting was able to give her daughter, Luba, something she always wanted for herself growing up. Her daughter, a recent high school graduate, has been horseback riding since she was five and now competes in dressage.

“Horses have been a huge part of our lives,” Banting said. “I realized two years ago that I had no hobbies of my own, so I took up horseback riding lessons.”

Banting said her daughter was “excited and a bit proud,” relishing the opportunity to give her mother pointers and guidance as she learned the basics.

“My goal is to take over my daughter’s horse when she leaves for university and compete in dressage,” she said. “Having been a professional dancer, the exacting technique of dressage really appeals to me.”

Banting described dressage as “a classical form of training where horse and rider perform a predetermined set of exercises in a smooth, harmonious partnership.” She said dressage may not offer the same thrill as show jumping for many riders, but it requires an intense sense of technique and collaboration between the horse and rider.

‘Not If, But When’ You Fall

Banting understood the risks of horseback riding when she started. “Taking on this sport, especially as a more mature adult, requires a fair dose of courage,” she said. Horseback riding is one of the most dangerous sports one can do: riding this huge animal is exhilarating yet slightly terrifying all at the same time.”

It wasn’t long into her journey that Banting took her first bad fall – a tumble sideways that caused her to land on her hip and kept her sidelined for six months. “Thankfully, nothing broke, but it was severely bruised,” she said. “It took a couple of months for my body to feel back to normal; it took longer for me to feel ready to get back into the saddle.”

Her coach was kind and understanding, and Banting ultimately realized it was her mindset that was keeping her from riding. “Once I realized that I could minimize the danger by buying a safety vest and learning from my mistake so I could correct what I was doing wrong, I was able to rationalize riding again,” she said. She took a “more intense and dramatic fall” recently but got back on a different horse just a week later, this time. “Ultimately, it’s my love and enjoyment of the sport that has made me stick with it,” she said.

Lessons Learned on Horseback

Every experience comes with lessons, and these lessons are often transferable to other areas of life. This is something older individuals are more apt to understand. Banting took up dance to eventually become a professional dancer earlier in her life. She joined the PR industry in 1993, and Banting then launched an A-List destination wedding planning firm in Costa Rica in the early 2000s. She sold the business in 2020 and founded El Bee PR.

“Getting back up onto the horse after being tossed off is the perfect metaphor of being a small business owner, as there are constant highs and lows,” Banting said. “Dusting yourself off and clambering back on requires tenacity and an amount of blind love for what you’re doing.”

She added that taking up a new sport has helped her in virtually every area of life. “Improving myself by just 1% at every class helps me become a better mom, wife, woman, and business owner,” she said. “It’s put me in a different mindset. I’m pushing myself to go just beyond my comfort zone, making me grow in ways I’ve not seen for over a decade.”

Trying New Things Later In Life

Horseback riding is highly accessible to physically fit people of virtually any age. Laura Kraut, 58, won a silver medal for the USA in showjumping in the 2024 Olympics. But whether it’s getting on a horse for the first time or following another passion, give yourself time to learn and freedom to fail when you pursue a new sport or hobby.

“I’ve had to learn how to be a beginner again,” Banting said. “Be ready to be humbled and frustrated and know that it’s all okay. Learning a new sport helps keep the ego in check while sharpening the brain.”

If your newest passion involves a sport or physical activity, spend the money on the best protective equipment you can find. Take time to warm up and stretch. Allow yourself to rest. “Be aware that because we’re aging, we don’t bounce back like we used to,” Banting warned.

However, it’s all worth it – for the social aspects, the physical challenge, and the sense of accomplishment as you improve your skills over time.

“Age [is] nothing but a number when you’re with a group of people who share the same passion as you,” Banting concluded.

Are you doing something inspiring? Do you know someone who is pursuing a passion in their older years? If you or someone you know is 50 years old or older and should have their inspiring story told, please email the editors at Nifty 50+