Riding strong: Elaine Lobb’s new-found passion for dressage

It was a fall about 20 years ago which changed the course of Elaine Lobb’s horseriding journey. Now, her whole family lives for the saddle.

Elaine Lobb has been riding horses since she was four years old, and is still going strong at the age of 85.

But 20 years ago, a chance encounter with a dressage horse altered the course of Elaine and her family’s life, and changed her riding forever.

“When I was 65, my daughter had a nasty fall, and lost her confidence. I had ridden, but not regularly,” Elaine said.

“I said to her, what if I get a horse, to encourage her to ride. We happened to buy a horse that could do dressage and we thought that we’d better learn.”

Riding dressage is different to other forms of riding, Elaine said, and required many years of riding habits to be unlearned.

Elaine Lobb is from Romsey, Victoria, has been riding horses since she was four-years old. Now in her 80s, and she has turned her hand to the skill of dressage riding. She is pictured with her horse, Holly. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“The way I learned to ride, you use the reins. In dressage you’re using very little rein, it’s all in the movements of the body,” Elaine said.

“Some of it is natural, and you learn to look where the horse is going, but it’s all in the subtle differences.”

These days, Elaine is often out riding her Clydesdale-Australian riding pony, Holly, with her daughter and granddaughters.

“We both enjoy riding now. It makes you feel good, it’s out in the fresh air, and it’s exercise … it’s physically and mentally challenging,” Elaine said.

“I’ll keep riding as long as I can. My horse is 22 years old. She’s not a young horse. I’m hoping she’ll go for a few more years yet. I’ve built up a connection with her, and every horse is different.”