My 5 year old BLM Mustang gelding Sierra

Question
I acquired my Mustang after much though the end of last spring. I live in Minnesota so we are limited with the seasons for working with the horses when no indoor arena is available which is my case.
Sierra was green broke when I got him. I am 53 years old and this is my first experience with the breed.
The girl I bought him from is a student I have gone to school with for over 2 years during my four years as a student of Equine Science. I trusted her opinion of this horse.
He has done very well with all lunging and ground driving. He chews allot during training and he wants to work. I had his teeth floated which were very bad and he is up to date on health and farrier.
When asked to face a object that is new during ground driving I have seen him put the breaks on, as if he would never consider going close, but with a little coaxing he surprises me so far and sometimes chooses to go right next to the object than further around it ie, piece of farm machinery by a tree..,
He had been ridden some for me at the time of purchase, before I got him and he walked and trotted and loped under western saddle for a little while.
If he performs well for me on all ground issues, do you think I should try and ride him at my age, or should I get someone else in the arena on him first...he was harvested when he was 8 months old. He seems so much smarter than my Morab, and I was told by a trainer a few years ago that my Morab is very smart...Wow, I just love Sierra. Hope I do right by him and I am good with the Mustang Breed. I have trained my Morab to be a therapy horse, I am working on my NARHA certificate, that is my goal for the Mustang as well to be a service animal for Equine facilited theraputic riding...thanks, Sherry

Answer
Sherry,

Welcome to the world of Mustangs!  They are very smart, much smarter than domestic horses. They also bond much more closely with you than most domestic horses.  I think you should be the one to get on him, he trusts you and will do better for you than a stranger.  You've done all the work with him and gotten him to trust you and your judgement.  He's shown that when you've introduced him to new things.  He's already been ridden, I think he'll be fine.

Don't let your age get in your way! I turned 59 yesterday and plan on getting on my 8 yr. old Mustang mare that I adopted in Dec. this summer.  She's been doing ground work and is quite advanced so that's next.  She wouldn't trust anyone but me to get on her.  I trust her not to do something stupid when I do.  I don't bounce nearly as well as I used to!  

Go for it!  Just make sure you wear a helmet.  

Lyn