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)

WTF- YABU!

Riding for 30 odd years has never given me any back problems. (apart from a bad fall when i cracked a vertabrae). It's very good for posture etc

tinkertitonk what a silly comment!

YABU. Boys are as likely as girls to enjoy riding - but only if given the chance.

He will get the chance - I just think he is more likely to give up when he becomes aware of being the "only boy" - which sadly is probably how it will be. There are no boys currently on the yard I keep mine on and I doubt it is much different at others. There are hardly any boy in pony club. As I say tough he will be brought up around horses and riding so I am hopeful it will rub off

I am glad you realise and accept that you are being utterly unreasonable - I suspect it's because you may not have had any boys in your Pony Club when you were little etc. etc. but really!

My DS is 3.7. He loves riding whenever he gets a chance (currently only at country shows and the like) so I will be trying to get him into lessons whenever he's old enough, except I'm having some troubles getting a decent response from any places near where I live. I f'ing hate Australia sometimes - they're so disorganised! And the websites are shit. ANYway - I suspect that he would need to be 4 or 5 before he can have lessons, so I'll wait until he's at least 4. And then let him have lessons.

He's currently the only boy in his dance class as well - but I don't see that as a problem. So long as he enjoys it, why would I stop him going?

i used to let my nephew push a buggy about him and DD used to come to the shops with their prams and their babys (his was a blue teddy i bought when he was born) i used to get funny looks but so what? my DD likes cars and motorbikes plays with dinosaurs thinks fire trucks are the bees knees but also enjoys dance class dressing up as a fairy, faffing about pretending we have baby dragons in th ehouse etc.

kids things are exactly that - kids i dont see them as gender specific.

I dont have any other issues with any other "gender biased" activites - wouldnt see any issue with him doing ballet for example. Just think he less likely to want to do the whole gymkhana / pony club thing than a girl.

Competition, speed and 'danger'? Right up a little boy's street I'd have thought. Don't know about you, but I don't remember any 'twee' girls from my misspent youth!

Very True Alpine! I think I have overcome my bout of unreasonableness.....:)

We all ride (me, DH, GS and GD (grandchildren live with us)) GS doesn't ride very seriously, just comes out on family hacks on one of his sister's ponies. He doesn't have his own pony as he isn't committed enough for one, he doesn't want the hassle. He still gets a lot of enjoyment from riding though and loves stable work. GD is a very committed rider, who does a lot of pony club, competitions and also hunts, so she has her own ponies.

There's only one boy signed up for camp this year though, there just are more girls than boys who are into horses. Horsey boys will never be short of girlfriends!