to think i wont be getting a pony for my pfb because he is a boy?

[catgirl1976]

I love horses and have some of my own and if DC was a girl would be straight out to get her a pony. AIBU to not want to get a pony for a boy and thinking its a "girls" thing? Of course I know loads of boys (and men) ride - I am not saying it is a "girls" sport, but having a pony, going to pony club etc all feels more like something I would do automatically and from day 1 with a girl, but not with a boy. If he expresses an interest then fine but its not a given like it would be with a girl (even though I know she might have turned out to detest riding and a boy might turn out to be the finest rider the world has ever seen)

Ds1 is 13 and is planning to ride as a career, he was teased at primary about it because riding is 'for girls'. He gave up for 3 years and returned to riding 18 months ago and has never been happier or more confident. Interestingly he has just started to see the other benefits of being one of a handful of boys in a girl dominated pony club and competition yard!! So yes, you ABU - children should be given the same opportunities regardless of their gender. You wouldn't suggest your daughter doesn't do a-levels because she won't need to work outside the home, or would you?

Just call it a horse rather than a "pony". Sorted.

hurryup - interested in your experience with your son. In the last year, our DS2 has become friendly with a boy that rides a lot and as it happens he now has chance to try again at a new club with more boys in it and he is keen give it another go.

He is only 9 but like most 9 yr old boys he is suddenly very concious of 'being a boy' and not wanting do things that are 'for girls'.

My dd rides and there are 6 girls and 1 boy in the class. We have come across far less boys riding than girls at the riding school for the last five years. However, when we go to the HOYS there are loads of men riding and loads of boys in the pony club competition. But some pony clubs can be very clicky depending on the composition of the group, rather the gender. I could only see having boys in the group as a positive really.

I have three ds two of whom are not interested in riding. My 3 year old ds rides, there are some schools which are insured for the under 5s.

With regard to buying/loaning a pony thats about whether he likes it enough or not rather than his gender. But then from your op you already know that anyway.

Pony club can be very cliquey and it as something of a social occassion for some women in particular. That was one aspect I didn't like. I gave up when I went to boarding school at age 11. I couldn't do it at school and oddly there were no boys in that whole school who rode either.

Youre being bonkers of course. My son was first on at 8 weeks and he's now nearly a year.

As for 'hoisting my preferences upon him' - tough titty, that's my job as his mum. When he's old enough to whine that he'd rather be playing football with his friends then fine, but for the foreseeable future, what I say goes for all aspects of his life from sleeptime, hobby time and what to eat.

I've even got him down for pony club camp august 2013! ;)

hurryup makes a good point, and the piss-taking boys at school will one day realise that the horseriding boy is now surrounded by girls in tight trousers. ;)

You must have all seen the way women act around men at the yard, its like the movement never happened. ;)

Its funny, this thread has made me think about my Dad when he was a boy age about 8 or 9 growing up on a small farm right at the end of the era of shire horses. His Dad used to send him out in the fields all day to walk up and down behind a horse harrowing crops. Then he used to ride the shire horse home bare back up the road, wash the horse down when he got home, feed and water it and then go in for his tea.

Riding was a job way back then for a boy. How times change.

Well I'm a girl you could adopt me and buy me a pony

Thanks all. I know I am totally being U. I will no doubt not be able to resist getting him into somehting I love so much anyway and he will be spending most of his early life on a yard surrounded by horses and will be on them before he can walk so no doubt it will rub off. If get teased later on at school he may pack it in, but if he's a sensible boy he will realise the longer term advantages to likely being the only boy surrounded by girls bouncing up and down in jodphurs.

Weird OP. How about you wait and see what your child is interested and give him plenty of opportunities to find out? I know it's out there, you know waiting to see what a child likes......

We are going to buy ds a horse. I didnt realise they had to have lessons and join a club

mrskravitz oh they don't need to join pony club, but at mine camp is 85 quid and I will be a real person for 2 nights! ;)

Well he will need lessons but you may be able to give those yourself or someone on your yard can? Pony club is just social really - not necessary

We were just going to stick the horse in our back garden (we have 4 stables)

Erm.......how much grazing do you have and who will exercise it?

7 acres, and I suppose he and his dad will

mrskravitz I really do hope you're taking the piss, horse ownership at home is not for the uninitiated!

I know stuff all about horses

Oh thats plenty then. Does his dad ride?

My dh used to have a horse so Im leaving it to him

Well your DS will need lessons from someone. Hopefully your DH is pretty good but I have been riding for over 30 years and would rather someone else taught my DC. Also Horses are herd animals - do you have any others as keeping one on its own isnt ideal. Even a companion animal like a sheep is better nothing. Do you have other horses or livesotck?

We occasionally do as we let out but there are loads next door. I think my dh used to have a cob?

You should try getting in to it too....the horse will need around 2 to 3 hours care per day including exercise (less if he is living out but not that much less tbh - poo picking takes longer than mucking out in my experience) so your DH will have his hands full. You might love it and get hooked!

Talk to a spinal surgeon before encouraging anyone to ride.