Convincing

[Rabit]

ever since Ive started riding Ive loved it and cherised it and

But I still dont understand how mu parents [my mom in particular] doesn't understand the joy that horses can give and how horse back riding isn't just a hobby.

Also I have realized that people have a stereo type [well in my area anyway] that horse back riding doesn't require any skill and isnt really a sport.

I dont really undestand how this stereotype came about and how to convince my mom.
does anyone else have this problem?

[jUmPingIsLifE]

non of my friends are horsey, my dad isn't, my family isn't.... NOONE thinks its a sport! o well... i once challanged a boyfriend to ONE lesson, totall respect after that haha!

[Rabit]

maybe i should do that.:)

[Glenda]

I have had very similar problems. When I first started wanting to take lessons my mom was like.. Why, your just on a horse, it does all the work. It makes me so mad. Some people at school ask me if I do a sport and I tell them horseback riding , and they will swear with everything in them that it is not. I think I might try what jumpingislife did. ;)

[Showjumper]

LOL I've had people tell me, Horses aren't a sport, they just do whatever you tell them...this lasted until I came into school the day after a showjumping competition in which I'd been bucked off and trodden on, and had the bruises to show it. After that, they all thought I was vaguely insane, but never questioned horseriding being a sport again.

Quite bizarre but people tend to classify a sport as something you can get injured doing...

[Serenitey]

well I have a very non horsey boyfriend who just doesn't understand why I find horse riding so enjoyable.

He just seems to think you sit on its back and it just goes, and that there is no skill involved whatsoever. Got him to come and watch me once when I had a lesson, and he said " is that all you do just go round and round for an hour" hmmmmm not exactley !!!!

I tried to explain the thrill of cantering through the woods with the wind rushing past you, but he says if I wanna go fast I get in my car........some people just don't understand at all.

Oh well I am still working on him, maybe one day he will see what I mean :rolleyes:

[Wally]

As for those who know there is no skill in riding I have great fun when we get clients with that attitude. They want to go out for 2 hours having never ridden, after all the horse is doing the work isn't he?
After half an hour they take up the common pose of both hands on the front of the saddle taking the weight off their backsides. They then slither off at the finish and walk bow legged into the sunset, I just know they will be walking like that for the rest of their holiday.

My man is a biker, so am I, it's the only thing we can see eye to eye on. He cannot get excited about riding, he sees no thrill or adrenaline rush or satisfaction.

I have to explain it to him in motorbike terms, he might then understand ....a bit.