Horse riding - is it a good thing to do?

My dd loves her riding, agree that a hobby is only a good one if they actually enjoy it. Dp loves to watch dd,I find it quite dull after 10 mins

lol

some horsey folk are complete w*ers though.

My no.2 was tongue in cheek but I suppose it could be a serious advantage for some people.

Horsey people are bonkers.

It's a good form of exercise, they get to work with and care for animals, it's lots of fun, it gets them integrated with a nice set of people (horsey people are generally very nice - I speak as an unhorsey person).

The downsides are the cost and the danger. Make sure you do get some insurance for him btw.

My son LOVES it. I think he feels about riding and the horses as I did about music -it just makes him light up. (I was a 'cellist in a previous life)

I know there are pros, elmo - dd1 rides. But like any hobby, it's only good if the child enjoys it.

pointydog it is a great form of exercise.

if op's dd gets really keen on it, it will give her an excellent hobby to keep her mind off boys in the teenage years.

when i was a teenage my friends were of these ponsey horse types. we were to busy buying horsey magazine and bridles and leads with our pocket money to even consider make up, boys or "more" magazine that my school friends were into.

It's the best thing in the world. Yep, can be pricey but it depends really whether it's private lessons and holiday camps, or helping out at stables etc. When my sister was rolling in from the pubs and clubs, I was waking nice and early to get down the stables.

Round here, you can't help out till you're about 14. You've at least got to be at secondary school.

if dd is really interested get her a "job" can be as little as couple of hours at weekend , to every morning before school

most stables will exchange free lessons for help with livery duties. i.e mucking out and feeding.

gives them some experience of what it would be like to actually own one. just incase they ask.

it's not all about riding. ig you want to own one relatively cheaply dc will not need full livery. they will have to get up every morning before school to feed and let out horse. and every evening after school

What's good about it?

1. Makes your buttocks permanently spread
2. Gets you in with the horsey set
3. You get to stroke long pink soft noses which is pleasant
4. You get across a field really quickly

Seriously, The only 'good' thing about it is if your dd gets a lot of enjoyment from it. Especially at that price.

...dh does have visions of ds telling us that he 'needs his own pony...'

I also love horse riding, just very crap at it as I started at 21 when the adult fears have well and truly set in. I spent most of my time on the floor having gone the other way to the horse. Ds was so excited whenever he saw a horse I just wanted to give him the chance I never did. We thought taking him once would be kill or cure but he loved it. We're now thinking that if he can still be enthusiastic over the winter when it's cold, rainning and generally not very nice we'll actually get him his own hat but we'll get nothing till then. He rides in jeans and wellies!

donnie it's a good thing to do if that is what your dd expresses an interest in doing.

Like all extra curricular activities, they are only worthwhile if the child is actually keen and interested in doing it.

That is exactly how my dd sees herself - and she's 12!

Very expensive and gets more expensive if they enjoy it. Potentially dangerous and deadly boring to watch at least at the beginning stages. But good exercise, good for confidence, gives them something to do on a Saturday afternoon if the stables welcomes helpers (most do - who wouldn't welcome keen, willing unpaid workers!)

My son has been riding for 4 months now after begging us to let him. He absolutely LOVES it and has a picture of him on the horse by his bed and can't wait to go again! He's 4.5 and very confident.