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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not want to take my 8mth old DD horse riding??

42 replies

mangohedgehog · 12/02/2013 19:44

Is it just me? I think I would be mad to do this!

DM wants to arrange pony trekking for the whole family. I have not sat on a horse for 20 years. DM thinks that baby DD can come on the horse with me. Apparently the stables has a special baby seat. No special baby riding hats though (they are in Greece).

Has anyone on here ever taken a baby on horseback?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 12/02/2013 19:46

At 8 months the baby would get nothing from it, you would be worried the whole time. YANBU for not wanting to go.

Arithmeticulous · 12/02/2013 19:46

That's a crap idea Shock

mmmuffins · 12/02/2013 19:47

This sounds like an incredibly stupid idea.

YANBU.

FatherHankTree · 12/02/2013 19:50

Yes, you'd be mad to do that. Isn't the fontanelle still open until about 18 months? Taking an 8 month old with no head protection is not a good idea.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/02/2013 19:51

YANBU - it'd probably be fine, but horses are never entirely predictable.

Bakingtins · 12/02/2013 19:51

Ridiculous. YANBU.

thegreylady · 12/02/2013 19:52

It is a dreadful idea to take a baby on a horse! Even with a hard hat the child would be unsafe and very very uncomfortable.The woman is mad!!

Charliefox · 12/02/2013 19:52

YANBU.

Iggly · 12/02/2013 19:53

No fucking way.

Excuse my French.

sue52 · 12/02/2013 19:54

NO.

itsaruddygame · 12/02/2013 19:55

YANBU. I have ridden all my life and have my own horses and I wouldn't do it!

Hermionewastherealhero · 12/02/2013 19:55

I own horses and have a baby and that sounds a terrible idea, you are not currently experienced, you don't know the horse... So
Many reasons

Asamumnonsense · 12/02/2013 19:58

No way! at 8 months old. I would not even dream of it. It does not sound like a very safe thing to do with a baby.

scratchandsniff · 12/02/2013 20:03

YANBU what a completely ridiculous idea and bloody dangerous.

TheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 12/02/2013 20:04

YANBU I have owned and ridde horses my entire life, have two DDs who enjoy being around the horses and helping out but no way would I have taken either of them riding, hard hat or otherwise, at 8 months.

At that age she won't get anything out of it that she couldn't have got from a nice stroll in the buggy/sling and you would spend the entire ride fretting and not enjoying yourself. Horses are unpredictable, your DM is definitely BU.

gatheringlilac · 12/02/2013 20:12

I'm impressed. Your dm sounds pretty awesomely batty. She is totally in the wrong era, though. She should be dressing up in native garb and venturing into the cartographical blank bits with a vast retinue of workers and guides, ideally in the C18 or C19.

Are you having an OK time with her generally?

pigletmania · 12/02/2013 20:15

Noway no no no

goneHaywire · 12/02/2013 20:31

I'm convinced that something weird happens in a person's brain when they become a grandparent, the crazy things they say and do knows no bounds. I find myself thinking "who the hell are you? and what have you done with my parents?"

ENormaSnob · 12/02/2013 20:37

Totally stupid idea.

IneedAsockamnesty · 12/02/2013 20:46

Yanbu your mother is barking

tazzle22 · 12/02/2013 20:49

I think what the special seat is .... maybe its a basket saddle

sparhanger.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/zoes-first-ride/

I dont think you can get saddles you can both sit on together.

I think babies can like the action of being on a horse and if you are leading a reliable pony or horse it can be good fun for everyone. Having said that, and me having plonked my own children and grandchildren on my own horse and RDA horses over the years ( and doing things some blanche at like letting little kids groom biggish horses)....... I would not do a trek with such a young baby with me on another horse. ALWAYS have a hard hat on !!!! .... the fact they dont have one would be the most compelling reason not to do this trek with these people at this time.

TheNoodlesIncident · 12/02/2013 21:03

I remember a woman doing that at a livery stable which did mini treks. The woman customer actually held the baby on the pommel of the saddle, just in front of her. The horse she was riding was known to be a total plodder. The baby seemed to be less than 8 months (although I couldn't be sure obviously) and didn't always hold her head up reliably.

I thought she was INSANE. And I was a lot younger then.

(Also, we went horse-riding in Greece, and some youths in a 4x4 deliberately spooked the horses and videoed the result. Not saying this would happen to you, but...)

EuroShagmore · 12/02/2013 21:04

No fucking way.

Sashapineapple · 12/02/2013 21:07

You DM sounds totally insane. I just can't believe anyone with half a brain would think that was a good idea.

MamaBear17 · 12/02/2013 21:07

That would be completely insane. Tell your MIL that you and baby will watch from the sidelines. What if the horse jolted and you lost your grip? Go with your gut, it isnt safe so do not do it!

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