To ask the next person who says horse riders just sit there

[TheQueenOfDiamonds]

To come and 'just sit there' on my horse?
Seriously, It's annoying me now, Not only on here, My other half says it, And countless people on FB have said it.

So, I am making an offer, I am entirely serious, to anyone who believes this shit, feel free to come and 'just sit there' on my horse. Since Olympic riders apparently do naff all to get where they are, I expect to be hacking out at the very least by next week, On a well mannered, calm horse.

I will provide all equipment and facilities.

AIBU to expect these people to put their money where their mouth is and prove how easy it apparently is to ride a horse?

Yeah, well divers just have to fall into the water while doing a few summersalts. How hard can that be?

I suppose the fact that men and women seem to compete in the same events and that some of them look distinctly, um, late middle aged, does make me think that it probably doesn't require the athleticism of, say, the distance cycle race or the 100m sprint. Is that not a fair point? I don't know much about it, though I did do a fair bit of horseriding in my youth so I know full well it isn't 'just sitting there' either.

OH i forgot to mention, I haven't broken him in yet, But he does show natural ability with movement etc. And as it's just sitting there this won't matter anyway because evidently, grand prix level horses haven't been trained and worked on daily for years.

It's more about skill than athleticism, but you do need to be fit. And since when is it inferior to be so skilled. I think men and women will be competing on equal footing in a lot more sports soon. WOmen's sport is catching up.

My only doubt with eventing is who is working physically harder, who is in better shape in terms of cardiovascular and strength, the horse or the rider? I feel too much praise is heaped on the rider (skilled though they are, I'm not saying they deserve nothing) and not enough on those perfect specimens of....horsekind and I know it takes an owner/rider/trainer to get those horses there but it takes a coach/trainer/nutritionalist to get a sprinter to a gold and they don't get any praise at all.

I love it when people who think you can just get on a horse and ride actually try it.
It's always hilarious

DS gained a lot of muscle control from his RDA riding school. He doesn't just sit there at all.

But I'd quite like a go on your horse so can I pretend I think that too?

Yeah lazy sods I'll ride your horse queen bring it on ;)

Last time I went riding, after a gap of many years, I could hardly walk for about three days afterwards. I was fit, from running, different muscles!

[GRIN] I've made the same offer to a number of people over the last week. I woudn't be putting them on my well mannered oldie, they'd be going on my hot, sharp sports pony and I will be pointing them at a course of fences, or expecting at least an Olympic eventing level dressage test.

Anyone in the northwest willing to offer the same challenge. I can pretend to think that so I can have a go and end up on my arse on the ground no doubt

I hate horses, lazy smelly uncontrollable things.
Where do ya live op, I'm on my way

Heh, I had a riding lesson with DD a few weeks ago. Half an hour of sitting trot. Oh. My. God. My hour-long circuits class hurts less.

Mind you, I have NEVER heard anyone IRL say equestrian sports are 'just sitting there'. Possibly an advantage of living in the same town as a National Hunt course ...

I love watching the dressage, it is very skilled riders who can do it. Extremly hard work and does have a place in the Olympics. I admire people who are confident around horses. I lead my DS horse at the riding centre and the horse pushes me into the fence. The horse riding Lady says it is because the horse knows I am scared of it.

MrsDevire I Wish i could say the same, But, alas, i have yet to see it happen. They all seem to scarper when someone offers them the chance to prove themselves right!

Chaotics - I live in the northwest :D

YANBU

I've tried riding. It's really hard - you have to be brave, calm. You have to cope with very achy nether regions

Sole - It probably is lol, My horse likes to test new people. He is very well behaved for me, But if a new person turns up he acts like a complete thug. He actually threatened to kick me the other day when my mum came, And it's only because he knows it scares my mum.

He tried to scare the farrier off too and got me with his front leg. Was not impressed. He didn't do it twice though! I don't think he's ever had such a telling off.

Is this a stealth boast ?

I would love to ride a horse again, we always had horses when I was growing up. Although it's been a long time since I've ridden, so I do wonder how terrified I'd be.

RecursiveMoon
Near York
Top quality mucker outer and late night hay provider

What's a stealth boast? Do you mean am i trying to boast about myself? Definitely not. I haven't even got on my horse yet. And i'm a shockingly bad at english riding.

YANBU it's bloody hard work!

Yeah, have to be confident around them, let them know who is boss. I can handle a small foal, they'reveasy to lead around. I am scared because like most living things they're unpredictable

I always wanted to own a horse when I was a child but we couldn't even afford lessons (single parent family). It was only when I was a teenager that I learned where the nearest riding school was, which wasn't near enough for me to have got to, to offer mucking out for the occasional free lesson, assuming that they would have taken me up on it. I used to love watching the show jumping though.

When is the non Olympic showjumping on? Has been terminated on telly, I used to love it.

YANBU. Riding a horse is hard exercise and exhausting.