Don’t. You. Dare. Quiet Quit. – An EC Blog by Deb Purdy
Photos courtesy of Deb K. Purdy.
Don’t. You. Dare. Quiet Quit.
The arena does not need fewer seasoned riders.
The barn aisle does not need less wisdom.
The next generation does not need us stepping aside politely.
They need to see what longevity looks like.
They need to witness someone adjusting goals without abandoning identity.
They need to hear a woman say,
“I may ride differently now.
But I still ride.”
Quiet quitting is not about the work you do.
It is about self-erasure.
And aging riders are especially vulnerable to it —
in a culture that glorifies youth, speed, medals, and newness.
But horses do not measure worth that way.
Horses understand partnership.
They understand consistency.
They understand steady hands and seasoned timing.
A 25-year-old rider may have quicker reflexes.
A 69-year-old rider has depth.
And depth does not fade.
It strengthens.
This movement is about refusing to disappear from something that still gives you life.
You may ride shorter.
Compete less.
School differently.
Choose safety over speed.
Mentor more than you chase ribbons.
That is not quitting.
That is evolution.
Quiet quitting whispers, “Step aside.”
The Aging Active Rider declares,
“I will adjust — and I will stay.”
So hear this clearly:
Don’t.
You.
Dare.
Quiet.
Quit.
Adjust if you must.
Rest when you need.
Heal when required.
But do not fade.
Stay in the saddle.
Keep riding.
— Deb K Purdy
The Aging Active Rider Movement
Deb Purdy is the Founder of The Aging Active Rider Movement, a voice dedicated to encouraging and empowering riders to continue their journey in the saddle through the later decades of life. Drawing from a lifetime of lived experience, she writes about longevity, resilience, identity, and the deep, enduring bond between horse and rider. Her work speaks to those who refuse to quietly fade from the equestrian world, offering both practical encouragement and emotional truth. Through her writing and presence, she reminds riders that age does not define the end of their story—but the refinement of it.
