Anonymous wrote:I rode through college. For anyone still reading this, understand that it’s a different sport than something like swimming. Once you get to a certain level, it takes massive amount of money to stay competitive. It’s not sustainable, even if you work at the stables to support your habit, unless your family is wealthy. There’s also a risk of serious injury, more so than other sports. It’s the same as gymnastics or figure skating or any other sport with a high risk of injuries, except now you’re also dependent upon a 1,000 lb animal. With that said, the horses that are competitive are treated like royalty, they get the best of the best and they really enjoy what they do. It’s what happens to a lot of them post competitions that can get iffy. Winners get bred and can live a nice life afterwards, but some of them don’t end up as lucky. Ultimately it’s a lovely sport and I’m glad I had the chance to do it, but it’s important for parents to be realistic about what kind of sport this is and convey it appropriately to their children.

If you want to continue to compete I agree that eventually it will get incredibly expensive at the upper levels. At the point I couldn’t afford it, I switched from sport to hobby. I started hunting and working with young horses, spent lots of time hacking and improving my riding without the validation of regular competition. It’s a lifelong activity and I’m so glad I have it.

I rode through college. For anyone still reading this, understand that it’s a different sport than something like swimming. Once you get to a certain level, it takes massive amount of money to stay competitive. It’s not sustainable, even if you work at the stables to support your habit, unless your family is wealthy. There’s also a risk of serious injury, more so than other sports. It’s the same as gymnastics or figure skating or any other sport with a high risk of injuries, except now you’re also dependent upon a 1,000 lb animal. With that said, the horses that are competitive are treated like royalty, they get the best of the best and they really enjoy what they do. It’s what happens to a lot of them post competitions that can get iffy. Winners get bred and can live a nice life afterwards, but some of them don’t end up as lucky. Ultimately it’s a lovely sport and I’m glad I had the chance to do it, but it’s important for parents to be realistic about what kind of sport this is and convey it appropriately to their children.

+1 to making sure the horses a kid rides are appropriate.

Horses truly are individuals just like people, and many are not child/learner friendly. But many are...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?"

OP here. I have read the entire thread -- thank you so much to everyone who took the time to reply, this has been most enlightening!

To the poster above, I truly apologize and will edit the subject to "Yay or Neigh, that is the Equestrian."

To those who expressed their unbridled enthusiasm for riding, thanks for helping me understand a bit more about why people love it so much. Hearing you describe your passion makes me want to a-filly-ate with this great sport, too.

To those who mentioned the cost, we are financially stable but not rolling in it, so I guess we will try to rein it in a bit and go for a down-to-earth program.

To those who discussed character growth, I've decided to use this as a learning opportunity, and have told DC if they want to be saddled with the responsibilities associated with riding we will need to see that demonstrated with other commitments first. DC definitely understood the point and has made a plan to quit stalling on nightly practice, pitch in at chores, and hoof it to bed.

And finally, to the PP who said that it's ethically wrong -- time to get off your high horse!

Well said, op!

ok so albeit 30 years ago but I fell into horseback riding thru a friends birthday party. I took one lesson and was HOOKED. like a horse crazy 10 year old. With that said within a year the casual weekly group lesson was a full fledged three lessons a week, horse lease, show team - custom chaps and tailored sportsman breeches habit. I was at the barn from 4pm - 7pm three days a week plus at least all day Sat if there wasn't a show. We didn't have that much money so I mucked stalls and eventually taught camp and pony rides to save up for boots, custom reins, saddles etc.
This is in the mid 90's but monthly boarding alone was 1k per horse, not including vet fees or lessons. it adds up QUICK.
My mom made me drop it when i went to college but I still rode on my college show team when i had the time.
It is a lifestyle, not a hobby when you really get into it.
And yes the biggest problem was the people that could buy a 30k "made" pony or bombproof Equitation horse for $40k. You can't really compete when you get to those levels.

Now all these years later i miss it dearly but can't ride unless I can do it all the way. I have a 5 year old dd that wants to take lessons but I can see it in her eyes, she's bold and full of adventure and she'll take to it like .. well a horse to water... and we just don't have the money. so we avoid the barn, even though two of my best riding buddies growing up now own the one we rode in and operate the show team.

And I fell off, bucked off, thrown off hundreds of times - it comes with the territory, especially if you are doing hunter/jumpers. If that makes you skittish stay away.

One more piece of advice, OP - find a barn that has a nice indoor ring. I grew up riding in California and never once worried about the weather, but around here the rain and snow can really mess with lessons, which is so hard for the kids!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?"

OP here. I have read the entire thread -- thank you so much to everyone who took the time to reply, this has been most enlightening!

To the poster above, I truly apologize and will edit the subject to "Yay or Neigh, that is the Equestrian."

To those who expressed their unbridled enthusiasm for riding, thanks for helping me understand a bit more about why people love it so much. Hearing you describe your passion makes me want to a-filly-ate with this great sport, too.

To those who mentioned the cost, we are financially stable but not rolling in it, so I guess we will try to rein it in a bit and go for a down-to-earth program.

To those who discussed character growth, I've decided to use this as a learning opportunity, and have told DC if they want to be saddled with the responsibilities associated with riding we will need to see that demonstrated with other commitments first. DC definitely understood the point and has made a plan to quit stalling on nightly practice, pitch in at chores, and hoof it to bed.

And finally, to the PP who said that it's ethically wrong -- time to get off your high horse!

OP, I LOVE YOU

I hope you find a great barn for your daughter.

Thank you! 🐴 I looked up the ones mentioned and they seem great. We are in the Baltimore area, though, so if anyone has recommendations further north my ears are pricked.

PP here.

I'm not in Baltimore but I looked up what I assume is their version of their local horse show association and found this website: https://bchsa.org/index.htm

I would look there at the barns listed and start contacting them. Based on my experience, when we moved to a new area, barns were very willing to give me information on places they thought would be a good fit, and I found them through our local HSA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?"

OP here. I have read the entire thread -- thank you so much to everyone who took the time to reply, this has been most enlightening!

To the poster above, I truly apologize and will edit the subject to "Yay or Neigh, that is the Equestrian."

To those who expressed their unbridled enthusiasm for riding, thanks for helping me understand a bit more about why people love it so much. Hearing you describe your passion makes me want to a-filly-ate with this great sport, too.

To those who mentioned the cost, we are financially stable but not rolling in it, so I guess we will try to rein it in a bit and go for a down-to-earth program.

To those who discussed character growth, I've decided to use this as a learning opportunity, and have told DC if they want to be saddled with the responsibilities associated with riding we will need to see that demonstrated with other commitments first. DC definitely understood the point and has made a plan to quit stalling on nightly practice, pitch in at chores, and hoof it to bed.

And finally, to the PP who said that it's ethically wrong -- time to get off your high horse!

OP, I LOVE YOU

I hope you find a great barn for your daughter.

Thank you! 🐴 I looked up the ones mentioned and they seem great. We are in the Baltimore area, though, so if anyone has recommendations further north my ears are pricked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?"

OP here. I have read the entire thread -- thank you so much to everyone who took the time to reply, this has been most enlightening!

To the poster above, I truly apologize and will edit the subject to "Yay or Neigh, that is the Equestrian."

To those who expressed their unbridled enthusiasm for riding, thanks for helping me understand a bit more about why people love it so much. Hearing you describe your passion makes me want to a-filly-ate with this great sport, too.

To those who mentioned the cost, we are financially stable but not rolling in it, so I guess we will try to rein it in a bit and go for a down-to-earth program.

To those who discussed character growth, I've decided to use this as a learning opportunity, and have told DC if they want to be saddled with the responsibilities associated with riding we will need to see that demonstrated with other commitments first. DC definitely understood the point and has made a plan to quit stalling on nightly practice, pitch in at chores, and hoof it to bed.

And finally, to the PP who said that it's ethically wrong -- time to get off your high horse!

OP, I LOVE YOU

I hope you find a great barn for your daughter.

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/

If you have ever been on a horse, you'd know that they can pretty easily get you off if they want to. Stop promoting this ridiculousness.

They're trained not to do that. That's the problem. That they're not aggressive about it doesn't mean they want it.

OP, loved your follow up. Tally ho!

Neigh 🐴

Anonymous wrote: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?"

OP here. I have read the entire thread -- thank you so much to everyone who took the time to reply, this has been most enlightening!

To the poster above, I truly apologize and will edit the subject to "Yay or Neigh, that is the Equestrian."

To those who expressed their unbridled enthusiasm for riding, thanks for helping me understand a bit more about why people love it so much. Hearing you describe your passion makes me want to a-filly-ate with this great sport, too.

To those who mentioned the cost, we are financially stable but not rolling in it, so I guess we will try to rein it in a bit and go for a down-to-earth program.

To those who discussed character growth, I've decided to use this as a learning opportunity, and have told DC if they want to be saddled with the responsibilities associated with riding we will need to see that demonstrated with other commitments first. DC definitely understood the point and has made a plan to quit stalling on nightly practice, pitch in at chores, and hoof it to bed.

And finally, to the PP who said that it's ethically wrong -- time to get off your high horse!