Does anyone else get sick of non riders telling you how easy it all is?

[Aeroaddict]

I was going showjumping on Sunday morning, so, while out on Saturday night I happened to comment that I'd better not drink too much as I needed to keep a clear head for the morning, cue, loads of comments about how "You just have to sit there, the horse does all the work." and similar.

I get this all the time, always from people who have maybe sat on a horse once, and didn't like it. I am sorely tempted to take the next person who says it to the stables, stick them on a horse, tell them to point it at a jump, and see what happens!

Does anyone else find this annoying? Anyone got any good comebacks?

Well, it's just one kick for "go" and two kicks for "stop" isn't it?

Anyway, you could tell them all about how you've had to teach the horse what order to do the jumps in. It's tricky getting them to learn to read and count.

I get sniggered at by my children when we go on bike rides and I'm more than a bit chicken about going downhill fast - "oh come on Mum, it's easy, don't be wet". I counter that with "I'll put you on dhorse (ex racehorse) when we get home and get you to canter him across the field - that's easy!" Soon shuts them up.....

I get this too! I actually did put a friend on DHorse so he could walk him around a bit and he crapped himself! Friend is a 6'6" firefighter fgs!

Seriously, put them on him and see how they get on...

Ps, how did you do? I wish I wasn't such a jumping wimp

Um yep, my standard comeback for my loaner was:

"Sure, come and be my crash test dummy. When you first get on, horsie bucks with too much leg, and rears with too much rein, so I'm always happy to have a crash test dummy to warm him up for me."

They would never mention it again . Just put your own horse's spin in there.

Ach, just show 'em your thigh muscles - you don't get thighs like that from 'just sitting there'

I might have shot myself in the foot a bit, because my loan horse is really easy to ride, which is something I may have mentioned to some people. Despite that I still come out after jumping a round of jumps puffing like a train, and ready to collapse on his neck in a heap, so I am clearly doing something. There is also all the effort that goes into schooling, and keeping him fit. Maybe I will have to start calling peoples bluff, and see how easy they find it! It just worries me they will upset the horse, wobbling around up there.

Good idea Poledra, but I'm not sure the world is ready for me to be exposing my thigh muscles,

Stinkyminkymoo, we got on well thanks. No rosettes this time, but a couple of lovely clear rounds.

I am glad it is not just me.