Would you let your daughter take up horse riding?
Discussion
My daughter has been riding since she was 7. 9 now. Started off at a local stable who did hacks around the woods. She's now a at a proper ridding school where I suspect the risk is far lower of serious damage. Costs £22 per week + further damage in school holidays.
She's fallen a couple of times, but never really hurt herself. They are quick to assess and chuck her back on if they can.
I dodge any suggestion of her owning a pony.... That can only lead to ruin.
None of this helped by my wife having had a pony as a child....
She's fallen a couple of times, but never really hurt herself. They are quick to assess and chuck her back on if they can.
I dodge any suggestion of her owning a pony.... That can only lead to ruin.
None of this helped by my wife having had a pony as a child....
You're being a big wuss. I imagine that you would have no problems buying your daughter a pushbike in due course and there are plenty of accidents involving those.
That article you posted states that the most serious accidents are generally amongst the most experienced riders (adults). That's because they push the envelope with eventing, hunting, point-to-point etc - no different from rallying or motocross. Your daughter trotting around a paddock on a fat pony on a leading rein will not be in any danger at all. She can decide whether she then wants to do showing, show jumping etc, this will typically be when she is old enough to decide for herself.
Your wife is correct that ski-ing is just as dangerous; the only difference here is that you plainly don't like horses but you do like ski-ing. Seems to me your choices are:
1 get yourself a sense of perspective;
2 get divorced.
Seriously, you need to get over your dislike/fear of horses. Having a daughter and a horsey wife means that you will inevitably be drawn into their orbit. If you didn't want that, you should have had a son - you need to work on making the Y version of this fella
a bit faster
That article you posted states that the most serious accidents are generally amongst the most experienced riders (adults). That's because they push the envelope with eventing, hunting, point-to-point etc - no different from rallying or motocross. Your daughter trotting around a paddock on a fat pony on a leading rein will not be in any danger at all. She can decide whether she then wants to do showing, show jumping etc, this will typically be when she is old enough to decide for herself.
Your wife is correct that ski-ing is just as dangerous; the only difference here is that you plainly don't like horses but you do like ski-ing. Seems to me your choices are:
1 get yourself a sense of perspective;
2 get divorced.
Seriously, you need to get over your dislike/fear of horses. Having a daughter and a horsey wife means that you will inevitably be drawn into their orbit. If you didn't want that, you should have had a son - you need to work on making the Y version of this fella
a bit faster itannum990 said:
I'm trying me darndest to get my neice (5) into motorbikes.. its working too. My brother isnt happy.
You arrogant 
. What do you think gives you the right to do this? If she does end up riding & then has an accident which leaves her a cripple are you going to spend the rest of your life wiping up her dribble, piss & st? I'll bet you won't.Mr Pointy said:
itannum990 said:
I'm trying me darndest to get my neice (5) into motorbikes.. its working too. My brother isnt happy.
You arrogant . What do you think gives you the right to do this? If she does end up riding & then has an accident which leaves her a cripple are you going to spend the rest of your life wiping up her dribble, piss & st? I'll bet you won't.Mr Pointy said:
itannum990 said:
I'm trying me darndest to get my neice (5) into motorbikes.. its working too. My brother isnt happy.
You arrogant . What do you think gives you the right to do this? If she does end up riding & then has an accident which leaves her a cripple are you going to spend the rest of your life wiping up her dribble, piss & st? I'll bet you won't.People tend to get very, very, angry and upset when their children take an interest in motorbikes, and to actively try to encourage it in someone else's child is pretty outrageous in my opinion.
3 daughters, all rode horses, worst was a broken arm.
They all loved it, kept them very fit, excellent posture, etc.
Allowed them to enjoy unique life experiences such as trekking in the alps and in Arizona, among others.
Never owned horses, always used local stables, where they made great friends, learned to help out, be responsible for equipment etc.
OK, there is danger, I was always a little concerned, but then you can only protect so much. They have to live life. Cycling to school and friends etc is probably just as dangerous...
NB: dumbest reasons given here for not letting her try: "don't like that set" FFS!
They all loved it, kept them very fit, excellent posture, etc.
Allowed them to enjoy unique life experiences such as trekking in the alps and in Arizona, among others.
Never owned horses, always used local stables, where they made great friends, learned to help out, be responsible for equipment etc.
OK, there is danger, I was always a little concerned, but then you can only protect so much. They have to live life. Cycling to school and friends etc is probably just as dangerous...
NB: dumbest reasons given here for not letting her try: "don't like that set" FFS!
ewenm said:
Pothole said:
P-Jay said:
I probably would, My wife had a horse as a kid, his sister still does, my Son has ridden.
But I know statistically it's stupidly dangerous, far more than Mountain Biking (which is my pastime which gives the wife kittens because of the crashes I've had).
All life is risk though isn't it.
Could you share some stats which gave you this 'knowledge'?But I know statistically it's stupidly dangerous, far more than Mountain Biking (which is my pastime which gives the wife kittens because of the crashes I've had).
All life is risk though isn't it.
I once saw a report which showed the total number of A&E admissions and the various ways they'd managed to smash themselves up, this was cross referenced against the estimated number of participants in the UK to give a sort of 'top 10 pastimes for hurting yourself'.
Horse Riding placed higher than sports seen as 'extreme' like skateboarding, Mountain Biking, BMXing and stuff like that - from memory it discounted road accidents.
This is backed up my experience buying Travel Insurance last Summer for our family trip to the Alps - I'd always bought specialist sports cover for mountain biking, there have been too many horror stories about people going down there with generic insurance as they usually cover 'cycling' and some will specify 'mountain biking' but if you ask them about exclusion it won't cover you for the type of riding I do - anyway if you use one of the specialists - as long as your not competing they'll cover any sort of Mountain Biking, including Downhill and Freeride in the most basic risk category - when I asked about Horse Riding as my wife fancied doing some Pony Trekking they insisted on the highest risk category, unless she was competing at any level when they couldn't provide cover at all.
Make of that what you will, I only said "I know" not "I can prove it to the doubters".
NinjaPower said:
I must admit I was thinking the same.
People tend to get very, very, angry and upset when their children take an interest in motorbikes, and to actively try to encourage it in someone else's child is pretty outrageous in my opinion.
She comes round, she plays on all the bikes (stationary and 'made safe' do I really need to add..) she loves them. She lives over the road from a field where youngsters mess around on motocrossers etc daily.People tend to get very, very, angry and upset when their children take an interest in motorbikes, and to actively try to encourage it in someone else's child is pretty outrageous in my opinion.
She is also entirely able to make her own mind up as to whether she prefers ballet, bikes, boys or ponies. Of course currently it is Frozen, and I'm pretty sure not of it takes place on two wheels.
Anyway, you're all correct. Not my place to influence a little girl.
Her baby brother on the other hand....
Edited by itannum990 on Wednesday 18th March 15:54
austinsmirk said:
mine are 3 and 5.
simple answer is no. horse riding and that "set" of people is a world I want nothing to do with.
let alone the risk factor.
my 5 yr old does ballet. for a start thats £60 a month just to dance around in a hall twice a week.
but less risk of her hurting herself.
+1simple answer is no. horse riding and that "set" of people is a world I want nothing to do with.
let alone the risk factor.
my 5 yr old does ballet. for a start thats £60 a month just to dance around in a hall twice a week.
but less risk of her hurting herself.
Grew up round horses, can ride but i don't, let her decide. Everything has risk.
If she told you she wanted to trampoline would you freak out.
I know 4 people who have suffered spinal injuries on a trampoline.
Motorbikes - 1 paraplegic and a few bad breaks.
Driving, well that is so far at 3 deaths and a few visits to A&E.
Mountain biking, broken legs, arms, teeth and one ruptured ballbag.
Road Cycling, as above - no ruptured ballbags.
Kick-boxing, dislocated shoulder and a few black eyes.
Gymnastics - see trapolining but with less height to break st with & and one dislocated knee.
Football - knees, lots of fked knees.
Rugby, one collarbone, few noses and plenty of black eyes.
Couple of friends work in the Horsey world, some compete, some compete internationally, a few people i know have them as pets. outside of the "professional" riders i know of one serious injury, my ex broke her back, there have been other little things but nothing more serious than the activities above.
She might hate being on a horse, she might hate the smell, she might love it. The only advice i will give is unless she looks like she is going to succeed as a pro she should not work in the equine world, it's miserable, hard and involves too many early mornings.
That set of people are not the whole horsey world, it's like saying that all cyclists are like that tt with the helmet cam. I know a few of the type you talk about, they are last there and first away, the actual horsey lot tend to be much dirtier and more relaxed.
If she told you she wanted to trampoline would you freak out.
I know 4 people who have suffered spinal injuries on a trampoline.
Motorbikes - 1 paraplegic and a few bad breaks.
Driving, well that is so far at 3 deaths and a few visits to A&E.
Mountain biking, broken legs, arms, teeth and one ruptured ballbag.
Road Cycling, as above - no ruptured ballbags.
Kick-boxing, dislocated shoulder and a few black eyes.
Gymnastics - see trapolining but with less height to break s
t with & and one dislocated knee. Football - knees, lots of f
ked knees. Rugby, one collarbone, few noses and plenty of black eyes.
Couple of friends work in the Horsey world, some compete, some compete internationally, a few people i know have them as pets. outside of the "professional" riders i know of one serious injury, my ex broke her back, there have been other little things but nothing more serious than the activities above.
She might hate being on a horse, she might hate the smell, she might love it. The only advice i will give is unless she looks like she is going to succeed as a pro she should not work in the equine world, it's miserable, hard and involves too many early mornings.
austinsmirk said:
horse riding and that "set" of people is a world I want nothing to do with.
That set of people are not the whole horsey world, it's like saying that all cyclists are like that t
t with the helmet cam. I know a few of the type you talk about, they are last there and first away, the actual horsey lot tend to be much dirtier and more relaxed. P-Jay said:
ewenm said:
Pothole said:
P-Jay said:
I probably would, My wife had a horse as a kid, his sister still does, my Son has ridden.
But I know statistically it's stupidly dangerous, far more than Mountain Biking (which is my pastime which gives the wife kittens because of the crashes I've had).
All life is risk though isn't it.
Could you share some stats which gave you this 'knowledge'?But I know statistically it's stupidly dangerous, far more than Mountain Biking (which is my pastime which gives the wife kittens because of the crashes I've had).
All life is risk though isn't it.
I once saw a report which showed the total number of A&E admissions and the various ways they'd managed to smash themselves up, this was cross referenced against the estimated number of participants in the UK to give a sort of 'top 10 pastimes for hurting yourself'.
Horse Riding placed higher than sports seen as 'extreme' like skateboarding, Mountain Biking, BMXing and stuff like that - from memory it discounted road accidents.
This is backed up my experience buying Travel Insurance last Summer for our family trip to the Alps - I'd always bought specialist sports cover for mountain biking, there have been too many horror stories about people going down there with generic insurance as they usually cover 'cycling' and some will specify 'mountain biking' but if you ask them about exclusion it won't cover you for the type of riding I do - anyway if you use one of the specialists - as long as your not competing they'll cover any sort of Mountain Biking, including Downhill and Freeride in the most basic risk category - when I asked about Horse Riding as my wife fancied doing some Pony Trekking they insisted on the highest risk category, unless she was competing at any level when they couldn't provide cover at all.
Make of that what you will, I only said "I know" not "I can prove it to the doubters".
So your 'knowledge' is based on some vaguely remembered half-arsed "research" you did years ago? A truly excellent contribution and a great help to the OP, I'm sure!
austinsmirk said:
mine are 3 and 5.
simple answer is no. horse riding and that "set" of people is a world I want nothing to do with.
let alone the risk factor.
my 5 yr old does ballet. for a start thats £60 a month just to dance around in a hall twice a week.
but less risk of her hurting herself.
Depends on your definition of hurting, surely?simple answer is no. horse riding and that "set" of people is a world I want nothing to do with.
let alone the risk factor.
my 5 yr old does ballet. for a start thats £60 a month just to dance around in a hall twice a week.
but less risk of her hurting herself.
My daughter's 22 now and has loved riding since she was about 5.
We've never had to buy her a horse, in fact, people pay her to ride their horses sometimes and certainly provide free access in return for a few hours mucking out.
Safety wise, riding a horse isn't SAFE, but since many on here will happily ride a motorcycle, I don't think the risks involved in riding are really a factor. The risk of serious injury, whilst not infinitesimal, is pretty tiny.
Driving, crossing the road or using a domestic home appliance are more dangerous (go search on Google if you don't believe me).
For most people COST and the impact on their time (if she gets into shows, etc) are the biggest impacts, I really wouldn't worry about injuries if your daughter enjoys riding (and if she doesn't, she'll soon make that clear).
Riding has been a healthy interest for my daughter and still brings her great pleasure, stopping her from taking it up would have been cruel.
All sorts of people ride, rich, poor, chavvy, posh, seriously interested, casual turn-up-and-ride riders, lovely people, utter arses. For someone from the 'set' of people who encourage their kids to take up ballet, that does smack of living in a glass house and owning a ballista!
It's like saying you wouldn't want to associate with that 'set' of people who drive cars, ride bikes or shop online!
M
We've never had to buy her a horse, in fact, people pay her to ride their horses sometimes and certainly provide free access in return for a few hours mucking out.
Safety wise, riding a horse isn't SAFE, but since many on here will happily ride a motorcycle, I don't think the risks involved in riding are really a factor. The risk of serious injury, whilst not infinitesimal, is pretty tiny.
Driving, crossing the road or using a domestic home appliance are more dangerous (go search on Google if you don't believe me).
For most people COST and the impact on their time (if she gets into shows, etc) are the biggest impacts, I really wouldn't worry about injuries if your daughter enjoys riding (and if she doesn't, she'll soon make that clear).
Riding has been a healthy interest for my daughter and still brings her great pleasure, stopping her from taking it up would have been cruel.
austinsmirk said:
simple answer is no. horse riding and that "set" of people is a world I want nothing to do with.
"Set" of people? What a load of tosh... All sorts of people ride, rich, poor, chavvy, posh, seriously interested, casual turn-up-and-ride riders, lovely people, utter arses. For someone from the 'set' of people who encourage their kids to take up ballet, that does smack of living in a glass house and owning a ballista!
It's like saying you wouldn't want to associate with that 'set' of people who drive cars, ride bikes or shop online!
M
Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 18th March 16:17
RizzoTheRat said:
How do you feel about her taking drugs?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7876425.stm
However, it get them out in the fresh air, and does teach them a sense of responsibility.
Disclaimer, I had a pony as a kid and now have a motorbike, but don't take drugs
A drug habit is probably a lot cheaper than a horse.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7876425.stm
However, it get them out in the fresh air, and does teach them a sense of responsibility.
Disclaimer, I had a pony as a kid and now have a motorbike, but don't take drugs
My cousin had horses when she was little, she had numerous falls, some quite nasty.
Pothole said:
So your 'knowledge' is based on some vaguely remembered half-arsed "research" you did years ago? A truly excellent contribution and a great help to the OP, I'm sure!
Blimey, bad day?How about 1 serious accident per 7000 hours for motorcyclists and and 350 hours per horse rider?
http://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?acci...
Admittedly that's quite old data, motorcycle kit's got a lot better and I'm assuming horse gear has too, however motorcycles have also got much better handling and brakes these days, I doubt horses have evolved at the same rate.
RizzoTheRat said:
Pothole said:
So your 'knowledge' is based on some vaguely remembered half-arsed "research" you did years ago? A truly excellent contribution and a great help to the OP, I'm sure!
Blimey, bad day?How about 1 serious accident per 7000 hours for motorcyclists and and 350 hours per horse rider?
http://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?acci...
marcosgt said:
"Set" of people? What a load of tosh...
All sorts of people ride, rich, poor, chavvy, posh, seriously interested, casual turn-up-and-ride riders, lovely people, utter arses. For someone from the 'set' of people who encourage their kids to take up ballet, that does smack of living in a glass house and owning a ballista!
It's like saying you wouldn't want to associate with that 'set' of people who drive cars, ride bikes or shop online!
M
There are people that ride horses, and then the 'set' of people I'm pretty sure he's referring to.All sorts of people ride, rich, poor, chavvy, posh, seriously interested, casual turn-up-and-ride riders, lovely people, utter arses. For someone from the 'set' of people who encourage their kids to take up ballet, that does smack of living in a glass house and owning a ballista!
It's like saying you wouldn't want to associate with that 'set' of people who drive cars, ride bikes or shop online!
M
Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 18th March 16:17
The 'set' generally buy pre-trained expensive horses for their not so trained/skilled daughters to ride and win nice coloured rosettes. I've had the misfortune to attend a number of these so called events and everyone of them couldn't end quick enough. All the women there were two-faced cows.
It's all about who has the most expensive horse/trailer/motorhome, shallow does not even begin to describe.
Whilst I agree, a few poor people enjoy riding, keeping and owning horses has always been a rich mans game. They are an utter black hole into which to tip money.
According to Spiegelhalter (who I'd consider to be a true expert on this kind of thing) riding a horse is similar risk to a days skiing. given that he reckons about 6 miles per micromort on a motorbike his figures suggest horse riding is safer than riding a motorbike, but 2-3 times more dangerous than riding a push bike.
https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue55/features...
https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue55/features...
RizzoTheRat said:
According to Spiegelhalter (who I'd consider to be a true expert on this kind of thing) riding a horse is similar risk to a days skiing. given that he reckons about 6 miles per micromort on a motorbike his figures suggest horse riding is safer than riding a motorbike, but 2-3 times more dangerous than riding a push bike.
https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue55/features...
Perfect. Micromorts seem to be a sensible measure for this sort of thing.https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue55/features...
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