If you and the horse are both in excellent physical condition and only traveling one week, you can push it harder, to cover up to 40 miles a day. If you’re both really elite athletes, you can push it as far as 50 miles — but listen to the horse!

A more fit horse may cover more distance if he is able to trot or canter for part of the time. 100 miles or 160 km in an Endurance competition on 1 horse where you are trying to win can be done in about 14 hours, not counting the stops for vet checks. This is a fast pace.

A horse can travel 100 miles in a day if it’s a fit endurance competitor. A typical trail horse in good shape can travel 50 miles a day, at a brisk walk with a few water breaks and time to cool down.

Horses can run at a fast pace (a gallop) without stopping for about 2 miles until fatigue sets in. At a slower pace, horses can travel for as long as 20 miles in one day at a walk or a trot. The average that horses can canter without stopping is between 1 and 5 miles if their pace isn’t too fast.

between 20 to 25 years old

The bottom line is, it’s all right to take short double rides occasionally if: You are riding bareback or you are both able to fit comfortably in the saddle. Your horse is big and strong enough to carry you both comfortably. Your horse is calm, quiet and reliable.

Deb Bennett, PhD, founder of the Equine Studies Institute and an expert in the biomechanics of horses, has advised that the “Total weight of rider plus tack must not exceed 250 lbs. There is no horse alive, of any breed, any build, anywhere, that can go more than a few minutes with more weight on its back than this.

They monitored horses for heart rate, breathing rate, rectal temperature and loin muscle condition when carrying loads of 15, 20, 25 and 35 percent of their bodyweight. The researchers found that an average adult light riding horse could comfortably carry about 20 percent of their ideal bodyweight.

If you can afford the time and money required to own or regularly ride a horse and are in reasonably good health, you’re not too old to be an equestrian. There’s no reason why people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond shouldn’t enjoy horses and the health benefits that riding them can provide.

If you have a sudden fancy to become a horseback rider at an older age, you are in luck because it’s never too late to learn to ride a horse! So when is it too late to start horseback riding? The short answer is never! Starting horse riding at 50 or 60 is possible.

Well, the good news is that you’re never too old to ride a horse! * As long as you can manage to get in and out of the saddle, you’ll be able to embark on all the equine adventures you could wish for.

You might be surprised, and pleased, to know that you’re never too old to learn to ride, regardless of whether you’re 30, 40, 50 or even over 80! As long as you’re able to get on the horse you can ride.

Please don’t get your own horse until you are confident about your all-around horsemanship and horse skills, not just in the saddle. You are never too old to start riding. There is no age limit in riding, though the level you can aspire to reach is obvious limited by age.

Where to start? It has been my experience that for people taking 1 riding lesson a week, it generally takes approximately 2 years to develop enough competence that you can safely to all the basics of horse care and riding on your own (e.g. catch, tie, lead, tack up, ride, go down the trail).

Here are seven horse breeds that are often touted as ideal for novice riders…

• Morgan Horse.
• Friesian Horse.
• Icelandic Horse.
• American Quarter Horse.
• Tennessee Walking Horse.
• Connemara Pony.
• Welsh Cob.

Yes, It is possible to teach yourself how to ride a horse and there are many resources available for learning all the basics needed to get started. However, you would need the right equipment, the right horse and eventually you will also need an instructor to take you further and teach you proper equitation.