To think, people say horse riding is really expensive/posh, when actually a lot of other hobbies are just as or more expensive

[LardLizard]

Like dancing for example, I know people that spend far more on that

Cory even guides costs about 4.50 every week

It is bloody expensive. We sacrifice A LOT to own and compete - in money and time. It's basically my life, I don't have a social life outside of horses really! Wouldn't change it though. Do you have experience with horses yourself OP? Sharing is often a cheaper way to go, but obviously only an option with an experienced person to oversee.

I can't think of a cheap hobby.... Fencing... Sailing

:o

Please tell me this is a joke post to reinforce the point made earlier that it's very easy to move in circles where expensive things are the norm, and so not understand what life is like outside of those circles.

Sorry not OP -cory

Crumbs - you can think of a cheap hobby?! Have you not been reading what people are posting?

Most kids doing ballet will not be at a level to "reach standard for acceptance into world of ballet." There are many many many ballet or dance schools operating on a fiver or less a week and scraping together for costumes.

Cubs/scouts etc.

Most sports at the leisure centre are a fiver or less a week. Swimming similar price

Afterschool sport at school is often cheap or subsidised.

Id reckon most children do hobbies at a local facility at a reasonable rate. Yes the wealthy or those with the money/time/parents ability to chauffer may well progress to higher levels but the majority are surely at a basic local level.

Horse riding is different to a lot of hobbies as there isn't really an entry level 3-4quid a weekly session price.

It's interesting, though, isn't it - something like skydiving would be as expensive, but isn't considered as posh. Posh is something else.

Drama is not hideously expensive, Crumbs. Several from dd's old youth theatre have got into accredited drama schools, so don't suppose standards were that bad, but classes were cheap and costumes even cheaper. For adults there are plenty of am-dram groups around with very low subs.

And surely you can progress in a hobby like dancing without needing "acceptance into the world of ballet"? You can enjoy sailing and get better and better at it with a small cheap dinghy- most members of my family do. Or paint, or play in a band, or join a local choir.

Even ds' gym subscription doesn't cost anything near as much as riding lessons.

Trills - yes! Probably better response than mine.

I imagine if you move in monied circles/kids at private school certain things just become normal (skiing/sailing/horsey type hobbies.)

Not sure anyone is displaying inverse snobbery just surprise at lack of wider awareness.

Horse riding is not posh!!

It is however incredibly expensive. My 3 cost:

£220 in land rent
£200 in feed
£100 in medication
£30 in bedding

Every MONTH

Few do skydiving every week though. Many ordinary people do it once or twice. That is the difference.

Depends where she wants to get to. Like any skill it takes time and practice and that means riding a lot with a mentor. Most days a week is how they get good.

I can't see any other hobby costing that much, not even the poshest dance school!

It is expensive - depending how you do it. But people saying "oh you live in a different world". No, I don't. I work for the NHS, I'm not minted and my parents were a mechanic and a nurse. But I fell in love on my first sit on a pony and somehow we managed. Now I loan one as a vaguely affordable way to do something that's my life because a life without horses isn't how I want mine to be!
I did have to give up all my other hobbies as a kid so I could ride

But I grew up in the time where you could help all day on a Saturday and Sunday at the stables and grab a free ride or ride a pony to the field. I asked everyone I saw with a horse for a ride or to help out, I shovelled shit for 10hrs a day to be near them, then I went to uni to do a degree in it

Coughs, osirus, not to mention farriery/ trimming, insurance (even just 3rd party), vaccinations, dentistry etc. It's terrifying when you add it all up!

Oh yes. My list is just the bare basics!

Forgot the insurance, that's over another £100 on top.

Also may I add to my last comment, I really think if you have the money and you spend it on horses, your priorities are in check, you are keeping these horses and an industry alive.as I said horses are amazing creatures, so sensitive and intelligent.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is soulless in my opinion. I feel a bit sorry for them. But not that much.

But I just wouldn't care if I could afford it, I wouldn't even begin justifying myself.

And then there's saddles and saddle fittings / flocking etc, other tack for the pony, plus keeping kids in appropriate PPE - hats have to be replaced after every fall / drop, or every couple of years, body protectors, riding boots...

None of it comes cheap!

This has been an interesting thread, as it's made me think more about what dc's friends have actually done with their spare time. Urban area, working-class/lower middle class demographic.

Dd's friends are the drama lot. Cheap youth theatres and the like, then joining adult am-dram groups in their teens. Have also done some acting for local film groups (mainly uni) at no cost to themselves. Some have gone down the musical route and started bands.

Ds (thanks to growing parental affluence) goes to the gym. He walks there and back to save money and often meets up with a friend or two.
Hasn't had any actual lessons but says other gym-users are very friendly and helpful about pointing out when you're doing things wrong. They also go to the park to kick a football around.

Other young people I know paint or draw.

I just ignore the costs and carry on , I have one just about to get another as mine is retired broken not insured but cost me the best part of £4000 on vets bills investigating it all good job I love him

DH claims owning a horse is the same to going into your back garden, digging a hole and just throwing money into it. 😀

They are expensive but can be done cheaper to, DIY or grass livery instead of full livery and a sharer can help offset some of the costs.

Ollivander, that sounds amazing- but I assume you must also have grown up in the country. It is going to be different if you are short of money and live in a city. We didn't have a car when dd was little, buses out to stables were few and far between and would have added to the cost.

Nope. I lived in various places including Oxford, Bristol and Bolton. My parents drove but I also cycled miles to the stable from age 7 or so. I live on the outskirts of a city now

I mean realistically if you live inner city with no car and no money then yes it is an expensive hobby but so would be a lot of other stuff. I just get when people say oh you must be posh/live in a different world etc etc

My DP grew up in the countryside and they had land, but no horses. It is still expensive unless you are not going to provide decent feed and proper vet care.

I think the different world comments on here are relating to some people thinking that it's affordable to most and unaware that there are cheaper hobbies.

I think it's fab that those above who can spend 100s every month on their horses have found something they truly love doing and have the means to do so :)