08/12/2026
# # Louise Renwick — 96 and Still Riding
At 96 years old, Louise Renwick is a wonderful reminder that a lifelong love of horses doesn’t come with an expiry date.
Still happiest with the reins in her hands and a good horse beneath her, Louise continues to ride well into her tenth decade — carrying with her the unmistakable spirit of the American West.
For Louise, horses have never simply been a hobby. They have been companions, teachers and a constant presence throughout a lifetime that has witnessed enormous change.
The world around her may have transformed, but some things remain wonderfully familiar: the creak of a western saddle, the feel of the reins between her fingers and the quiet companionship that exists between horse and rider.
And perhaps that is what makes photographs of Louise in the saddle so special.
At 96, nobody expects her to ride as though she were 26 — nor does she need to. There is something far more impressive about seeing someone who has spent a lifetime around horses still able to climb into the saddle and enjoy the simple pleasure that first captured their heart all those years ago.
There is confidence there that cannot be taught overnight. It comes from decades spent listening to horses, understanding their movements and learning that good horsemanship often has far more to do with patience and trust than strength.
For younger riders, Louise's story carries a lovely message.
We often talk about riding careers in terms of achievements — ribbons won, competitions entered, distances travelled or horses owned. But perhaps one of the greatest achievements of all is simply being able to look back after a lifetime and realise that the passion never disappeared.
Because horses have a remarkable way of staying with us.
The horses themselves may change through the years. Beloved old friends eventually leave us and new ones enter our lives. Saddles become worn, photographs begin to fade and the rider looking back from those early pictures becomes almost unrecognisable.
But the feeling can remain exactly the same.
That moment when you settle into the saddle.
The first few steps of a ride.
The view between a horse's ears.
At 96, Louise Renwick is still experiencing those moments.
And maybe that is why her story resonates with so many horse lovers. She represents something many of us quietly hope for ourselves — that no matter how many birthdays come and go, there might still be another beautiful day when someone asks:
**"Fancy going for a ride?"**
And the answer is still:
**Absolutely.**
