Horse riding as an activity — yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

So many reasons not to. Not safe, expensive, not good exercise or good for your child’s body, very solitary. I had a good friend who grew up riding so I know a lot about it and would never encourage it for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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/

There's a lot to disagree with in your article. PETA is wrong about almost everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many reasons not to. Not safe, expensive, not good exercise or good for your child’s body, very solitary. I had a good friend who grew up riding so I know a lot about it and would never encourage it for my kid.

Anecdotally, horse back riding was great for my posture and straightened my in-toeing caused by femoral anteversion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

There's a lot to disagree with in your article. PETA is wrong about almost everything.

Be specific. The entire article is maybe a dozen sentences. Which of them do you disagree with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Equestrian sport is about as lifelong as a sport can get. Nick Skelton, the gold medalist in show jumping at the London Olympics, was 58 at the time.

Being around horses also facilitates the development of the brain, particularly EQ skills.

Horses have been a lifelong passion for me, and have taught me innumerable skills. The sport fosters hard work, determination, grit, and humility. It fosters a team relationship -- with your core teammate, your horse. Those "boring" horse shows? A lot of hard work goes into those 5 minutes in the ring, and then you aren't always successful. There is a lot to be learned about how much work goes into 'success' from competing in equestrian sport.

I would not be half the person I am today without horses in my life, and all that comes with them. The ups and the downs.

That said, it is dangerous and expensive.

--For what it's worth, from an equine professional (some of us can and do make a career out of it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Indeed we do! I started out playing classical music from 5-17yo (piano and cello) and have since played rock and blues guitar (I’m now in my mid-30s). I do think starting with classical gives good discipline in terms of attention to detail, but it can also make it difficult to switch to an improv mentality, which is extremely important for succeeding as a rock/blues musician. I had to unlearn a certain rigidness in order to progress as a rock/blues guitarist.

I guess my point in posting to you is that I hope that, if your daughter decides to move into non-classical music at some point, that she can take the good from classical training, while being mindful of what she might need to unlearn.

Exactly. You don't know how hard it would have been in terms of ear training and rhythm accuracy if you hadn't started with classical first. As it was, you didn't notice the lack of challenge in that department and only noticed the one skill you didn't have

Yes, but as I said, I had to unlearn rigidity that otherwise would’ve led to failure as a rock/blues guitarist.


OP here. That’s ok, I’m really interested in this also, both as a pedagogical point that applies to things other than music and to music specifically. I trained classically and also regret not doing jazz earlier. Do you know the duo Igudesman and Joo? I think that attitude of seeing music as expression and communication is so important, and often lost when you start with a “do it this way” approach.
I also believe that a good teacher can teach rhythm accuracy and ear training in the context of non-classical music. Keep in mind that most—if not all—excellent rock musicians had no classical training at all.

But I don’t want to derail OP’s thread more than I already have.

Oops, posted amid yours:

OP here. That’s ok, I’m really interested in this also, both as a pedagogical point that applies to things other than music and to music specifically. I trained classically and also regret not doing jazz earlier. Do you know the duo Igudesman and Joo? I think that attitude of seeing music as expression and communication is so important, and often lost when you start with a “do it this way” approach.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WOQaK7NHY-4

I’ll check them out, thanks!

I think you expressed my problem with classical training really well. A classical musician is a vessel for someone else’s music, whereas jazz, rock, blues, etc encourage the musician to express him/herself.

It’s not that a classical musician can’t emotionally connect with the music—they can and do—but they are meant to be a medium for delivering someone else’s music in a very specific way and can’t really diverge from that.

This opinion is shockingly wrong. I'll assume it was an off-the-cuff remark and you didn't stop to think before you wrote. Artists diverge from what's written ALL THE TIME. Even if an artist wanted to, they could not play a piece the way another artist plays it. Of course it's about self-expression, like any other art form!!! I mean, duh. By the way, new classical music is being written every day, and performed publicly everywhere in the world. There are many contemporary classical composers. But even with the guidance of a living composer at their side, each artist is going to have a different take on the music, AND THAT'S WHAT THE COMPOSER WANTS. The performer turns the piece into art, not the composer.

Listen to the Bach Partita II when Hilary Hahn plays it and when Itzhak Perlman plays it - both beautiful, but extraordinarily different in color, timbre, tempo, interpretation. I prefer Hahn's contemplative version, even though it's not the accepted tempo. The truth is that we don't have much knowledge of how great musicians played their music before recordings. Much research has been done, and music has the most wonderful and multi-layered notation allowing someone from centuries long gone to guide your playing - but when all is said and done, you're alone in front of notes and markings, and you make the music your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Equestrian sport is about as lifelong as a sport can get. Nick Skelton, the gold medalist in show jumping at the London Olympics, was 58 at the time.

Being around horses also facilitates the development of the brain, particularly EQ skills.

Horses have been a lifelong passion for me, and have taught me innumerable skills. The sport fosters hard work, determination, grit, and humility. It fosters a team relationship -- with your core teammate, your horse. Those "boring" horse shows? A lot of hard work goes into those 5 minutes in the ring, and then you aren't always successful. There is a lot to be learned about how much work goes into 'success' from competing in equestrian sport.

I would not be half the person I am today without horses in my life, and all that comes with them. The ups and the downs.

That said, it is dangerous and expensive.

--For what it's worth, from an equine professional (some of us can and do make a career out of it)

Ok, but minus people that make careers out of it..

Most adults don't casually horse ride frequently in the spare time for exercise and socialization- nor do most adults own horses. As where, swimming is easily accessible, a must-have skill, and good for your body at any age. Tennis has both social and physical benefits for adults and all you need is a racquet and a court.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many reasons not to. Not safe, expensive, not good exercise or good for your child’s body, very solitary. I had a good friend who grew up riding so I know a lot about it and would never encourage it for my kid.

Ask the pediatric sports medicine experts what their patients do: ball sports and track.

There has been a vertiginous rise in pediatric injuries at younger and younger ages, because of societal pressure to excel in one particular sport to the detriment of bodily health. Repetitive movement injuries in children practicing a reduced set of exercises in their one sport is a HUGE problem.

In contrast, sports like sailing, horseback riding, rock-climbing, and to a lesser extent, martial arts, are more complete exercises and less likely to exert undue pressure on one part of the body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Equestrian sport is about as lifelong as a sport can get. Nick Skelton, the gold medalist in show jumping at the London Olympics, was 58 at the time.

Being around horses also facilitates the development of the brain, particularly EQ skills.

Horses have been a lifelong passion for me, and have taught me innumerable skills. The sport fosters hard work, determination, grit, and humility. It fosters a team relationship -- with your core teammate, your horse. Those "boring" horse shows? A lot of hard work goes into those 5 minutes in the ring, and then you aren't always successful. There is a lot to be learned about how much work goes into 'success' from competing in equestrian sport.

I would not be half the person I am today without horses in my life, and all that comes with them. The ups and the downs.

That said, it is dangerous and expensive.

--For what it's worth, from an equine professional (some of us can and do make a career out of it)

Ok, but minus people that make careers out of it..

Most adults don't casually horse ride frequently in the spare time for exercise and socialization- nor do most adults own horses. As where, swimming is easily accessible, a must-have skill, and good for your body at any age. Tennis has both social and physical benefits for adults and all you need is a racquet and a court.

They could and should. It's very healthy to connect with an animal and go out into nature. I agree with you about swimming (except that chlorine is not good for you). Tennis is a very unnatural way to move your body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Equestrian sport is about as lifelong as a sport can get. Nick Skelton, the gold medalist in show jumping at the London Olympics, was 58 at the time.

Being around horses also facilitates the development of the brain, particularly EQ skills.

Horses have been a lifelong passion for me, and have taught me innumerable skills. The sport fosters hard work, determination, grit, and humility. It fosters a team relationship -- with your core teammate, your horse. Those "boring" horse shows? A lot of hard work goes into those 5 minutes in the ring, and then you aren't always successful. There is a lot to be learned about how much work goes into 'success' from competing in equestrian sport.

I would not be half the person I am today without horses in my life, and all that comes with them. The ups and the downs.

That said, it is dangerous and expensive.

--For what it's worth, from an equine professional (some of us can and do make a career out of it)

Ok, but minus people that make careers out of it..

Most adults don't casually horse ride frequently in the spare time for exercise and socialization- nor do most adults own horses. As where, swimming is easily accessible, a must-have skill, and good for your body at any age. Tennis has both social and physical benefits for adults and all you need is a racquet and a court.

Many people do ride, just maybe not in your friend group. My facility caters to adult amateurs who ride several times a week. we also hold weekly wine and cheese get togethers (before COVID) and hope to start again soon as most of them are in the medical or education fields and have been vaccinated.

Even more people go riding casually on vacation. It's an incredible thrill to go, say, hunting with the Galway Blazers or trekking across Mongolia, and that is something you cannot do without significant experience in the saddle. Riding is also a lot like riding a bike -- you can, in fact, pick it up again casually and be safe enough to canter around a foreign landscape, though you won't be ready to go out and compete at a high level without spending some more time buckling down on your skills.

Tennis is fine if that's what you like, but it's hardly comparable. Do most adults own tennis racquets? I doubt it very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Equestrian sport is about as lifelong as a sport can get. Nick Skelton, the gold medalist in show jumping at the London Olympics, was 58 at the time.

Being around horses also facilitates the development of the brain, particularly EQ skills.

Horses have been a lifelong passion for me, and have taught me innumerable skills. The sport fosters hard work, determination, grit, and humility. It fosters a team relationship -- with your core teammate, your horse. Those "boring" horse shows? A lot of hard work goes into those 5 minutes in the ring, and then you aren't always successful. There is a lot to be learned about how much work goes into 'success' from competing in equestrian sport.

I would not be half the person I am today without horses in my life, and all that comes with them. The ups and the downs.

That said, it is dangerous and expensive.

--For what it's worth, from an equine professional (some of us can and do make a career out of it)

Ok, but minus people that make careers out of it..

Most adults don't casually horse ride frequently in the spare time for exercise and socialization- nor do most adults own horses. As where, swimming is easily accessible, a must-have skill, and good for your body at any age. Tennis has both social and physical benefits for adults and all you need is a racquet and a court.

Many people do ride, just maybe not in your friend group. My facility caters to adult amateurs who ride several times a week. we also hold weekly wine and cheese get togethers (before COVID) and hope to start again soon as most of them are in the medical or education fields and have been vaccinated.

Even more people go riding casually on vacation. It's an incredible thrill to go, say, hunting with the Galway Blazers or trekking across Mongolia, and that is something you cannot do without significant experience in the saddle. Riding is also a lot like riding a bike -- you can, in fact, pick it up again casually and be safe enough to canter around a foreign landscape, though you won't be ready to go out and compete at a high level without spending some more time buckling down on your skills.

Tennis is fine if that's what you like, but it's hardly comparable. Do most adults own tennis racquets? I doubt it very much.

NP. This sounds awesome. Would you care to name it? Or maybe a quick post in the sports section? I used to ride but took a break when I had kids, who are now finally starting to go back to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Equestrian sport is about as lifelong as a sport can get. Nick Skelton, the gold medalist in show jumping at the London Olympics, was 58 at the time.

Being around horses also facilitates the development of the brain, particularly EQ skills.

Horses have been a lifelong passion for me, and have taught me innumerable skills. The sport fosters hard work, determination, grit, and humility. It fosters a team relationship -- with your core teammate, your horse. Those "boring" horse shows? A lot of hard work goes into those 5 minutes in the ring, and then you aren't always successful. There is a lot to be learned about how much work goes into 'success' from competing in equestrian sport.

I would not be half the person I am today without horses in my life, and all that comes with them. The ups and the downs.

That said, it is dangerous and expensive.

--For what it's worth, from an equine professional (some of us can and do make a career out of it)

Ok, but minus people that make careers out of it..

Most adults don't casually horse ride frequently in the spare time for exercise and socialization- nor do most adults own horses. As where, swimming is easily accessible, a must-have skill, and good for your body at any age. Tennis has both social and physical benefits for adults and all you need is a racquet and a court.

Many people do ride, just maybe not in your friend group. My facility caters to adult amateurs who ride several times a week. we also hold weekly wine and cheese get togethers (before COVID) and hope to start again soon as most of them are in the medical or education fields and have been vaccinated.

Even more people go riding casually on vacation. It's an incredible thrill to go, say, hunting with the Galway Blazers or trekking across Mongolia, and that is something you cannot do without significant experience in the saddle. Riding is also a lot like riding a bike -- you can, in fact, pick it up again casually and be safe enough to canter around a foreign landscape, though you won't be ready to go out and compete at a high level without spending some more time buckling down on your skills.

Tennis is fine if that's what you like, but it's hardly comparable. Do most adults own tennis racquets? I doubt it very much.

NP. This sounds awesome. Would you care to name it? Or maybe a quick post in the sports section? I used to ride but took a break when I had kids, who are now finally starting to go back to school.

I would but I'm in the midwest so that isn't helpful. I think there are a few places like mine in the DC area but your local equestrians will be able to recommend specific places. Maybe ask on Chronicle of the Horse Forums? I got the idea for our wine and cheese Wednesdays from a DC friend but I can't remember the name of her hunter/jumper barn. Somewhere in NOVA....Aldie maybe?....did them. It's great to get to have a weekly girl's night to talk about horses and life and everything else! the person saying there are no social benefits clearly never had a good "barn family!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old is very interested. This is not an activity or world I am familiar with at all. If you rode or your kids rode, I’d really appreciate some insight into how this all works. What kind of riding school should I look for? Any safety things to consider? Is it super expensive, and is the culture quite exclusive/fancy? What kinds of strengths would this build? Do you eventually choose one style and train in that, and do you have to compete or can you do it for the joy of connecting with an animal?

I know a lot about music, and could imagine leading a kid down that path if they were interested, but I have no idea about this and how to even do due diligence on a program.

Horse back riding is a great sport. Fancy depends on the barn. There are very low key barns and "fancy" ones. You start with lessons. Most people around here ride Eastern. Most likely your kid may not continue but, to start find one close to your home. I'm sure if you google you can research barns and lessons and try them out. Wheaton stables near Brookside gardens seems like a good low key one.

Horseback riding is fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I'm completely serious. The title of this thread is "horse riding as an activity -- yay or nay?" I vote nay. Horses don't want to be ridden. That's what I'd tell my 7 year old.

pp So tell us the conversation you had with horses? I think you don't want to pay for lessons. Your choice but, don't lie to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So is horse back riding!