Horse riding as an activity — yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Horses don't need little (or big) humans riding on their backs for fun. Cut them a break, please. Seriously.

Sure they do. Horses like jumping. If they didn't like it, they wouldn't do it. Same with driving, reining, cutting, etc. They like it.

Dogs like agility courses. You don't feel bad for them, do you? Why do you feel bad for horses?

Look, I know they're crazy about some things, but tell me: what here can you really disagree with?

https://www.peta.org/students/student-life/say-neigh-to-horse-riding/

[Anonymous]

I’m so what convinced that most people in this thread talking about riding have no clue about riding. I have two girls that ride saddle seat. One is rec and one is starting to show. Group lessons are 50 a week for 45 minutes. This is for both my riders. Both also volunteer at the barn helping with grooming, mucking stalls, poop patrol etc. it teaches responsibility and how to care for living creatures.

Our barn doesn’t jump, the owner believes it’s too dangerous. My youngest has been riding for a year and isn’t really near cantering.

[Anonymous]

I can't hold myself out as some big expert because we are smack in the middle of this as well, but here's our deal. DD, 8, has been riding off and on for 2.5 years. We started at a local riding academy (not in DC), but it moved about an hour away, so we stopped lessons and honestly DH and I hoped it would all go away. NOPE. DD kept begging and with covid, we gave in because she really needed something to be excited about. She is completely and totally obsessed with her lessons, horses, the whole thing. (And yes we have a dog to the PP.) I hate how dangerous it is and DH hates how expensive it is (we pay $65/hr for private lessons once a week) but it truly brings her joy. She is now with one of her former instructors from the academy who is a hunter-jumper and runs the local hounds chapter and has taught a million kids to ride - basically they go on trail rides once a week and DD is learning all the basics. She has shown zero interest in competition etc and I hope it stays that way, but we're going to let her keep doing this unless it comes to a head in some way: cost, time, conflict with her dance, etc. I don't have any clear answers but I think what we have figured out is just to take it one step at a time since she is still so young and something else could easily come along and replace it without us having to be the ones who forbade her to do something she loves.

[Anonymous]

Dont do it. Total money suck and useless skill. Take her horseback riding a couple times this summer with you as an activity. That is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dont do it. Total money suck and useless skill. Take her horseback riding a couple times this summer with you as an activity. That is enough.

They're all "useless", soccer, little league, ballet. Even piano or violin lessons, drama, art classes. All useless, if you mean that they won't lead to a professional career. So that's a meaningless point.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the whole thread, so it may have been mentioned...but I am so EXTREMELY disappointed that your title didn't say "yay or neigh?"

[Anonymous]

My 12-year-old started weekly group lessons at age 8. It's ~$60/lesson, plus ~$80 for a helmet and boots. Until last year, she just did one lesson a week and loved it. It was so good for her -- it has taught her independence and assertiveness, given her a chance to move from a total beginner to a leader in the barn (helping younger kids learn how to groom and tack), and just gives her so much joy. Plus the athletic benefits of balance, core strength, etc. During the pandemic, the barn was closed for a month (sad kid) but after it re-opened it has truly been a highlight of this crappy year. She's taking two lessons a week now, and also practicing with the low-key show team twice a month, although she's not sure she'll actually compete once the team starts attending shows -- she's not a real competitive person, but has enjoyed the casual shows that the barn has for their students each year. I've also started taking weekly lessons this year for the first time as an adult, and it's been a great experience -- not sure if I'll keep it up once life gets busier again with commutes and other weekend obligations, but it's been great this year for my health (physical and mental) and for bonding with my kid. I did fall off (the horse in front of me spooked and startled my horse), and my kid has fallen off, but we are both fine, even if we felt a bit shaken up. We talk casually about leasing a horse since it's something we would both enjoy, but so far we're able to enjoy our riding without sinking that big cost.

So my bottom line -- if your kid is interested and you can afford weekly group lessons at a barn that has an established program for beginners (because they will likely have rock-solid beginner horses), then it is worth trying. By the time your kid would be moving up to jumping or other riskier riding, you will know more about the barn and the safety aspects and what you are comfortable with. It doesn't have to turn into an expensive competitive sport; it can remain a (not cheap, but not outrageous) hobby and still provide a lot of benefits.

[Anonymous]

4-H has horse riding clubs which may be of interest. In addition to riding, they do lots of horse-y things like a horse trivia contest with regional/state/national competitions, visit veterinarians, learn about equine science, etc

https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/horse.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dont do it. Total money suck and useless skill. Take her horseback riding a couple times this summer with you as an activity. That is enough.

They're all "useless", soccer, little league, ballet. Even piano or violin lessons, drama, art classes. All useless, if you mean that they won't lead to a professional career. So that's a meaningless point.

+1
My child rides and I am fine with lessons and she has learned a lot. It gives a young child a lot of confidence and responsibility to be able to ride and care for an animal that big....it's just not comparable to having a dog as was mentioned before. I don't find shows worth the money, drama, or time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dont do it. Total money suck and useless skill. Take her horseback riding a couple times this summer with you as an activity. That is enough.

They're all "useless", soccer, little league, ballet. Even piano or violin lessons, drama, art classes. All useless, if you mean that they won't lead to a professional career. So that's a meaningless point.

MY kids do swimming and tennis. I would consider both lifelong sports to keep themselves physically engaged as adults and not "useless." Music also have lifelong benefits and helps with brain development.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should have asked Yay or Neigh

[Anonymous]

My husband has one rule- no horses. His ex was a horse girl and it's a money pit. We live in a horsey area and I rode as a kid but he's adamant.

My rule is no pets we have to keep in a cage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you should have asked Yay or Neigh

haha, yes!

[Anonymous]

I know someone whose child was thrown from a horse and suffered from TBI and it has been very difficult. Now, there are obviously many examples of kids getting killed or injured in car accidents yet we let them drive. Nevertheless, that put horseback riding on the nay list for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband has one rule- no horses. His ex was a horse girl and it's a money pit. We live in a horsey area and I rode as a kid but he's adamant.

My rule is no pets we have to keep in a cage.

Which is exactly where horses are placed when they're not being ridden. It's cruel.