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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you'd let your 15 week old Baby Ride a Pony?

53 replies

IHaveNoIdeaReally · 17/04/2019 13:22

So would you let your 15 week old baby ride a pony with another child holding them?

I just saw a Mum post a pic and message about this, she was so pleased about her baby riding a pony. Said it was the first of many rides to come.

No way in a million years would I take my baby on a horse, they are too big, dangerous, and unpredictable imo. Also, I've never found horse riding fun. I doubt it's fun for the horse either.

I feel my judgement is clouded though by the fact that every time I see 2 relatives who own ponies, they have some new injury from riding or caring for them.

People seem really horse obsessed here though, so maybe this is actually quite normal in England? No clue. 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:

TooOldForThisUrgh · 17/04/2019 14:05

I don’t think I’d let a 15 week old ride around Badminton or a 4 event. But I would plonk it on a pony for a photo.

NancyJoan · 17/04/2019 14:06

People seem really horse obsessed here though, so maybe this is actually quite normal in England?

I don't know anyone like this.

NoSauce · 17/04/2019 14:09

How old was the older child holding the baby? If the mum knew the horse and it was just a few seconds while she took the photo I don’t think it’s that bad really.

CalmDownPacino · 17/04/2019 14:09

babies sometimes have to be in cars or buses or even pushed in a pushchairs

Sure but what about non-essential journeys in cars. Are those dangerous and should we start threads inviting judgement of the parents in these cases? This is a total nonsense thread which was started so everyone could jump on and crow about what a terrible parent this woman is and how they are so much better. Not dissimilar to most AIBU threads, just dressed up a little differently.

Whodafeck · 17/04/2019 14:12

Oh ffs. Get a grip.

I’m sure the baby was just sat on the pony.

How old was the child doing the holding? Was it red rum they were sitting on or Sheltie?

Being sat on A bomb proof old sheltie while being held by an older sibling wouldn’t bother me at all.

HBStowe · 17/04/2019 14:17

I don’t think I’d let a 15 week old ride around Badminton

Spoilsport

Original poster

IHaveNoIdeaReally · 17/04/2019 14:23

Compared to my home country, England is quite horse obsessed but maybe it's so normal here that no one realises it. 🤔

OP posts:

Whodafeck · 17/04/2019 14:25

England? I’m not in England.

I’d still do it - horse and sibling dependant.

BlueKarou · 17/04/2019 14:26

So many questions. How old was the other child on the pony? Was it likely that they were stationary, or being led round with an adult on either side (as was the case when my then 2 1/2 year old went on a pony ride at a play farm) Are they a particularly horsey family?

I know people whose babies will have been regular visitors to the stables at that age and wouldn't be surprised if they had been posed on a pony with adults present. Don't think they'd be attempting rising trot at that age though.

elastamum · 17/04/2019 14:29

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this from my horsey friends.

Mind you, whilst I was away on holiday, a photo of a friends 7yr old riding my lovely elderly 16.2 warmblood popped up my FB feed. That was a bit of a surprise

BlueMerchant · 17/04/2019 14:30

No, not even for a picture.
I don't like horses. My Dad used to have horses and I was forced onto them to 'ride' as a child and was around them a lot.
I was never comfortable.

NicoAndTheNiners · 17/04/2019 14:31

I have held a tiny baby plonked on a saddle while someone took a photo. I can promise you I was fully supporting the weight of the baby, someone was holding the pony, pony was bombproof and in the unlikely even the pony had moved, etc I would have snatched it up like lightening.

The pony can't bite or kick a baby on it's back. It seemed safe to me. Wasn't my baby though.

pinkyredrose · 17/04/2019 14:34

Where are you from OP?

Moneys2Tight2Mention · 17/04/2019 14:38

'Elf n Safety gone mad...

I'm pretty sure that the 15 week old was sat on for a picture , it's hardly going to have been taking part in a gymkhana.

wishywashy6 · 17/04/2019 14:43

Personally I wouldn't even sit my baby on a pony for a picture because there's no guarantee it won't be spooked and over something unnecessary. It also treats the animal like it's just a prop instead of a living creature.

That's just it though isn't it... it's a personal thing. I've had horses all my life. They're my passion, hobby and also my career. I've sat my kids on my horses countless times. Yes as babies too..
As with everything a parent does it's a case of weighing up the risk and making a decision. I think any horsey family pretty much does this kind of thing, I've worked with showjumping/ dressage riders who have generations of successful riders in their family. It's not uncommon to hear things like 'he/she could ride before she could walk' - many children are introduced to the saddle from very young.

For me something like this is no bigger risk than letting my 6 year old climb trees or my 9 year old cross the road on her own. On a trusted pony with people who understand horses, the risk is no greater.

Personally, I trust a horse more than most humans. There's a chance that every time you leave the house you might cross paths with a knife wielding unhinged mad man yet we don't all keep ourselves locked away.

And in terms of using the animal as a prop instead of a living creature... they're really not that arsed, as long as the carrots keep coming.

Whodafeck · 17/04/2019 14:53

I wouldn’t have put a baby on a highly strung racehorse for eg.

But an old, bomb proof pony? No issue.

Iamclearlyamug · 17/04/2019 15:08

mine was on a pony for a photo at DAYS old let alone months, it was for about 10 seconds - as I'm sure this one was too. why is it your business?

Redglitter · 17/04/2019 15:12

Mum's wording is what made it sound like an actual ride happened. Hopefully it didn't

Oh dont be so bloody ridiculous. You really think a 15 week old baby could ride a horse? I bet the baby was held on the horse for no longer than the few seconds it took to take the photo.

QueenArseClangers · 17/04/2019 15:13

Was this it OP?

To ask if you'd let your 15 week old Baby Ride a Pony?

sideorderofchips · 17/04/2019 15:14

My son was ‘sat’ on the back of a pony from when he was about 4 months old him and pony were fine

My middle one was riding a. Ex race horse round the yard bare back at 2.5 (he was on a lead rope and I was walking next to her)

You have already said you are not horsey. Most likely is that baby was sat on horse, held in place whilst mum took a photo and then taken down. How old was this other child?

Booboostwo · 17/04/2019 15:14

I’ve been riding all my life, I compete and keep my horses at home and I would never take this risk with a baby. All horses are unpredictable, i’ve seen the most docile, lovely horse lose the plot for the slightest reason because this is the kind of animals they are. Even if a bombproof pony didn’t spook, it could trip, toss its head or shake, all of which could startle the older child into dropping the baby.

My NDN came by years ago with the ‘hilarious’ story of how she was hacking with her two boys on their ponies and her baby in a basket seat on a third pony on the lead rein. A basket seat s kind of like a car seat, you strap the baby in it and it keeps the baby upright when it’s too young to balance by itself (madness). The idiot NDN hadn’t done up the girth tight and was alerted by her son who shouted “Look mummy, the baby is upside down!”. The basket saddle had slipped all the way round and the baby was hanging off the pony’s belly, it’s head inches from the pony’s hooves. They were so lucky the pony didn’t react but this is the stupidiest horse story I have come across and this includes the woman who parked the buggy in the arena while she jumped.

DrunkenUnicorn · 17/04/2019 15:15

I think you need to step away OP.

You’re clearly not horsey and judgey to boot.

The risk of plonking a small child on a safe, known, family pony for a five second photo is minimal.

At 15 weeks the baby probably wasn’t too fussed either way.

But it’s their risk and nothing to do with you.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 17/04/2019 15:16

I’m sure she just plonked her on the horse and took a photo whilst another child held it.. I doubt she rode it.

I’ve seen babies being sat on motorbikes, but I’m pretty sure they don’t ride them

Springersrock · 17/04/2019 15:26

Personally I wouldn’t.

DD rides and has her own pony but and while she is very sweet and gentle, every now and then she reminds me she’s a unpredictable, nearly half a ton animal who has moments of being a complete twit

Aridane · 17/04/2019 15:27

Isn't being a in a car more dangerous than posing for a picture on a pony whilst being held by an older child?

Ha - how dare you be balanced and objective!

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