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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think lots of people have ridden a horse before?

134 replies

reastie · 01/07/2011 21:59

I know this is random! For some reason DH and I were talking about horse riding ealier and he announced his mum has ridden a horse in a way which implied I should be amazed and impressed. I made some comment about surely lots of people have done this and it wasn't unusual at all, a argument discussion ensued and we both had a stand off as to who is right. So - who is right? Am I being very middle class and showing my country-ish upbringing by assuming it's normal that people would have been on a horse or is he right ? He is convinced he'll win this

OP posts:

EndoplasmicReticulum · 02/07/2011 07:41

I haven't. Only donkeys on beaches.

Lots of people do ride them round here. Either that or there are some really big dogs leaving poo in the middle of the road.

Shodan · 02/07/2011 07:52

I have.

My best friend breeds horses, I've had lessons at several periods through my life and I dated a jockey for a while.

DH has ridden but doesn't like it.

My mum has ridden too. We had one lesson together, she complained that her horse was 'naughty' and that she wanted to go on mine. We swapped, 'my' horse then turned 'naughty'. That was funny.

Oh and another friend rides regularly too.

Probably most people I know have ridden at least once.

('Ridden' is starting to look really weird now.)

quirrelquarrel · 02/07/2011 08:43

Am middle class (god, just realised how stupid it looks written like that!) and have horse riding lessons every summer abroad (we go to the same stables) usually, but not as a regular through the year thing. First sat on a horse when I was two. Still feels like I'm on Oblivion when I do a jump.

I know people who are not middle class and are v. horsey people, horses on loan etc. Instead of school trips they choose that. I know it's not just about the money though.

mummytime · 02/07/2011 08:47

Lots of kids at my firmly working class school, just East of London, had regular riding lessons. I didn't we definitely couldn't afford them, and I was thought of as posh. But you could get to the stables by bus.

brighthair · 02/07/2011 08:50

I rode as a child and still do - in fact just about to now! My mum has ridden once, don't think my dad has though

giraffesCantZumba · 02/07/2011 08:55

Oh I want to ride a horse now! Think I will when I lose some weight - poor horse might collapse

giraffesCantZumba · 02/07/2011 08:56

Oh I already have just not for a good 12 years or so

LadyBeagleEyes · 02/07/2011 09:02

I've never ridden a horse though I have been on a camel.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 02/07/2011 09:03

I've never ridden a horse, although I have ridden a camel in Alice Springs.

DD and DS2 have been on a horse once (city farm) DS1 refused.

DH hasn't been on a horse but has been on a donkey apparently.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 02/07/2011 09:05

AIBU to want to yell JINX really loudly at that cross post

TrilllianAstra · 02/07/2011 09:07

I thought this was going to be the other way around, and you had assumed that someone had ridden a horse when in fact they had never touched a horse and thought they were large smelly kicking things with metal on their feet for extra-hard kicking.

I was going to say that YABU and I thought that a good proportion of people would have never ridden a horse.

But expecting you to be surprised or impressed that someone has ridden a horse? That's odd. YANBU to say "so?"

CaveMum · 02/07/2011 09:09

I don't think I know anyone that hasnt ridden a horse at least once, but then I do live in Newmarket!

I started riding at 10, studied horses at college, spent some time working as a riding instructor then moved into working on racehorse stud farms. I went about 6 years without sitting on one, then started having lessons again. Unfortunately I quickly discovered that I can't take instruction from anyone else anymore! I'd rather do my own thing. So I've now been "grounded" for the last 3 years while I try to convince DH to let me get my own horse! We've just bought a new house so it could be a little while yet before we can afford it

loubielou31 · 02/07/2011 09:09

I have sat on a horse and the horse moved, (half a day pony trecking) I wouldn't however say I can ride. I have now discovered that horses make me very sneezy so I will not be encouraging my DDs to take up horse riding but I expect that they will at least try it out.
In my experience most people have at least sat on a horse but I am also very middle class and from the countryside.

TrilllianAstra · 02/07/2011 09:10

Ah, I see people are saying "surely nearly everyone has ridden a horse" so my initial don't be silly why would you assume everyone has ridden a horse at least has an audience :)

If, say 50% of people have ridden a horse and the other half haven't, then that's a lot of people who have never ridden a horse but it's still nowhere near rare enough to be expected to be impressed or surprised.

I have never sat on a horse (that I remember, I may have done as a small child). I have jumped out of a plane though.

malinois · 02/07/2011 09:16

I live in the country. Everyone I know locally rides or used to ride. It's not a class thing, our cleaner has a horse and the day labourers on PIL's farm all ride too. I suspect the only people not to have some connection with horses are the refugees from the cities but as they are also the first to moan about cocks crowing or tractors on the road they don't really count :)

MardyBra · 02/07/2011 09:16

Never ridden a horse here. Wouldn't start now as I'd probably break the poor bugger's back!

Original poster

reastie · 02/07/2011 09:59

trillian dh thinks at his guess only 20% of people so even with 50% i'm still right!

these camel riders are v impressive

OP posts:

Deliaskis · 02/07/2011 10:39

I was horse-obsessed as a child/teenager as did a lot of my friends, but we're a bit Cheshire round here. Mum & Dad both did horseriding hols in their twenties (but are not remotely 'horsey' people).

I would think it's completely not unusual to have been once or twice on holiday (i.e. pony trekking) or a school trip, but much less usual to have done it regularly or have a level of competency. Maybe it might strike men as more unusual, because on the whole childhood and teenage horse obsession seems to be mostly a girl thing (there is actually a fair bit of genu-yne research about this I believe, I just can't be ar$ed to look for it).

ChippyMinton · 02/07/2011 10:46

I did the odd pony trek in my youth, mainly because my sister was horse-mad.
DD's friends have stables and bring the ponies to the local fetes for children to ride, so all my DC have at least been led around the field on one.
DH has jockeys and various other horsey folk amongst his extended family, so I presume he has ridden a horse.
My grandfather served in a mounted regiment.

SarahStratton · 02/07/2011 14:50

I'd have thought at least 50% of people have sat on a horse. I own 2 horses, live in the country and most people I know ride/have ridden.

It's not that unusual. Or middle/upper class.

mumeeee · 02/07/2011 15:03

YABU. Yes some people have ridden a horse before but lots of people haven't. I have and all 3 of my DDs have. Me because when I was a child my friend owned one and the DDs because when they went to stay with mil she aid for an hours pony trekking for them. My DH and my Dad have never been on one. Neither have a lot of our friends or other members of our families.

SarahStratton · 02/07/2011 15:24

But it's not unusual. It's not like she's rollerskated round Europe or fought off dozens of killer ninjas.

sparkle12mar08 · 02/07/2011 15:29

I don't know anyone who has ridden a horse, very upper middle class thing to me...

LolaRennt · 02/07/2011 15:29

at least once yes, even a pony at the sea side

tethersend · 02/07/2011 15:34

I've never sat on a horse, but I believe they exist.

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