Ridiculous stereotypes about horse riders

[RosesAndProsecco]

I’ve seen so many posts from fellow horse riders and how unsafe it is to ride on the road.

On every post, there seems to be people commenting saying how horse riding is just for rich people trotting about on ponies and they shouldn’t be on the road. This isn’t true at all, and some horses are on the road as part of work. For what it’s worth, I have ridden my horses on the road (both as a break from schooling and also riding for leisure on the way to bridle paths) and believe we have every right to be there. If other drivers can’t be respectful and follow the law to pass slowly and with a wide berth then that’s a reflection on them. It doesn’t change the fact the law says I can ride and hack out on the road and I have every right to be there.

I absolutely hate how there’s always comments slagging off horse riders saying it’s purely for rich people, and that it’s pointless and just a hobby and basically with the boring old stereotypes that horse riders are snobby rich girls who don’t work and trot about on ponies all day. This just isn’t true, and even if it was, it’s still not an excuse for other people’s bad driving around horses? It’s like people are saying horse riders deserve to face unsafe driving on the road purely because of the boring, untrue stereotypes about horse riders. It’s awful and ridiculous that people justify bad, selfish driving in this way.

Sorry I just needed to get this off my chest!

I don’t think this is a normal view.

You will always get some drivers being rude about other road users. It’s much more of an issue with cyclists and pedestrians. Don’t rise to it.

I don't recognise that stereotype at all

You get the same attitude about cyclists. They're obviously all MAMILs with a wish to cycle on pavements and jump reds. No, I'm just a middle-aged woman trying to commute or exercise without getting killed.

I should add my very normal not-rich MIL rides a lovely pony!

I get annoyed with the comments about horse riding being for rich people.

My parents were both teachers. We weren't poor but definitely weren't rich. The horses were just our luxury over holidays and new clothes.

You seem to imagining the perceived hate OP. Not really seen it here or anywhere. Not sure horse riders are so much at the forefront of people’s mind for them to injure up such strong opinions as a collective.

I ride but I've never really experienced this.

However, I also don't think it's wrong for people to say that horse riding (and owning horses) is expensive and something that's out of reach for many people.

Agree with above comments that it’s the same with cyclists. I don’t own any Lycra. If I need to go on the pavement for my own safety I always dismount and walk my bike. I cycle because it’s the only way I can get to work on time after school drop off, and I can’t afford a car.

@Zampa

I get annoyed with the comments about horse riding being for rich people.

My parents were both teachers. We weren't poor but definitely weren't rich. The horses were just our luxury over holidays and new clothes.

Not for rich people but it is a luxury and people shouldn't deny that. My DS does horse riding and it costs me 3 figures a month, many people dream of having that kind of spare money. Anyone who can afford it is lucky.

@sst1234

You seem to imagining the perceived hate OP. Not really seen it here or anywhere. Not sure horse riders are so much at the forefront of people’s mind for them to injure up such strong opinions as a collective.

I've seen it from a minority on here. Probably the same minority who rant about bicycles.

Horse riding and owning horses is an expensive hobby, that’s just a fact.

No hate directed at anyone but it’s not something that’s financially possible for everyone, so your lack of understanding of that concept OP is a bit odd.

I have no hate towards horse riders but I used to live in a small town, surrounded by countryside, country lanes and bridle paths and yet unfathomably people would ride their horses through the middle of town which to me seemed like a strange choice since the stables weren’t in town.

I’ll always drive safety near a horse, I’ve honestly got no issue with horse riders in general but it always confused me why anyone would purposefully do that.

Of course owning a horse is a luxury, not sure why you don't understand that.

It is for the rich though. I earn the national average and there is absolutely no way I could afford to keep a horse. I am also a little bit resentful that when I lived on a little cul de sac on the edge of town which joined up with a bridle path, the horsey people would leave their horse shit all over the road. I know it's technically allowed but it was a residential street not a thoroughfare and this was a low income area with lots of very houseproud older people who took great care to keep the street looking nice.

Having said all that I always give plenty of overtaking room and turn off any loud music when passing, because I'm not a psychopath.