Are men better riders?

[TomH]

There are tonnes of women who ride and own horses, but it seems the people who are all competing and training at the highest level are mostly men, do you think this is because men are just better riders, or maybe it's because they are generally more athletic or have more determination?

Where do all these talented male riders come from, as riding schools are just full of girls!?

 

[jellybeanz]

I'm a girl and I'm properly going to get shot for this. But ...

Yes. Men are usually better.

I've ridden for years, and my OH got on for the first time and he had the hands and balance that had taken me years to get. I believe they have a lot of men natural ability.

 

[Copperpot]

I agree. Mine was out hunting and jumping 6 weeks after first getting on a horse. It seemed to just come naturally to him. Grrrrr

 

[nixharveandpri]

Men are less emotional about their horses, as I think you already displayed in your first post. They're usually highly competitive too, both of which I think contribute to the fact that there are probably a large number of top male riders, compared to women. I don't think it's anything to do with natural ability.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Obviously we are better for one simple reason. We learn to develop a good position very early on or suffer severe pain.

 

[Elsiecat]

I think that a lot of the time men that ride are often from privelidged backgrounds. Backgrounds that mean they've been riding for years and have money for top horses and trainers!

 

[niagaraduval]

Yes I think so !! I know a few male riders (must admit more in France than in England) and the few that have had a weekley lesson for a year are now out eventing etc. whilst the girls are still doing small jumps in the school.

I agree with the person who said they are less attached, I think this is true, I also think they have more balls (luckily ) and are generally less tolerant and make themselves get the most out of the horse.

 

[TomH]

Yes my horses are there to do a job.

Don't get me wrong I love my horses, but I don't treat them like children! I don't think you are ever going to get results from molly cuddling them like lots of women do.

 

[JillA]

And most saddles are designed for men, so far as I know only Schleese do one for the female pelvis. Well, that's my excuse

 

[nixharveandpri]

Don't get me wrong I love my horses, but I don't treat them like children! I don't think you are ever going to get results from molly cuddling them like lots of women do.

That's a rather sweeping statement. I dont' know of anyone personally who treats their horses like children or mollycoddle them. We just don't tend to put them down if they have big vets bills ...

 

[perfect11s]

Yes we are apart from me im rubbish HEHE !!

 

[Ouch05]

I think it is a mixture of things, OH balances is excellent but more importantly he does not have the fear factor that I have. I know if I come off someone else has to look after the boys, If he comes off it means watching more football!!!

 

[TomH]

That's a rather sweeping statement. I dont' know of anyone personally who treats their horses like children or mollycoddle them. We just don't tend to put them down if they have big vets bills ...

I know lots of women who treat their horses like children.

And no, I wouldn't spend tens of thousands of pounds on operations and confine a horse to it's box for months hoping it would get better.

I do agree men are very competitive though!

 

[Emsarr]

My OH is a better rider than me but that's more down to he's a lot more interested in the technicalities of riding and dressage etc, where as I'd much rather ride in a way that I'm comfortable than make the horse look nice. Therefore he is a better rider in that respect, and he's a lot more competitive than I am.

But most of the top riders do come from money backgrounds, so I think that does help them get where the want to be!

 

[PandorasJar]

I've known two male riders. OH who can hop on any horse and ride it past anything. Rode a notoriously psychotic horse after several years out of the saddle and horse not ridden in weeks and was rolling a fag when riding past pigs that the horse normally freaks at. I really enjoy riding out with him as know I'm not with a panicker , he's confident and relaxed.

The other bloke was a nightmare. Anyone out with him would end up off their horse as would take off bombing around, no control, sawing at the horse while crashing into any object including you and horse. No-one would ride out with him.

 

[maxapple]

Generalising (of course!) I think men tend to be better riders as they are braver / willing to just gave a go, less sentimental and perhaps much better balanced / better seat (as a necessity to keep their men's bits from getting bashed about!!)

 

[TomH]

Also a lot of the women on my yard seem to hang around gossiping all day rather than riding!

 

[nixharveandpri]

Also a lot of the women on my yard seem to hang around gossiping all day rather than riding!

As opposed to someone posting on a forum all day lol?

 

[ZoeCharlotte]

So many sweeping generalisations happening here! Agh! I think Elsiecat has a point with the background, generally if you're from non-horsey stock horse riding is considered more of a girls thing, or at least that's my pervading experience with people at riding schools and so on. Background makes a huge difference, as do so many things, in whether people rise to the top of their disciplines. Saying men are better riders doesn't account for this at all, plenty of people are talented but don't have the money, time, inclination.

 

[TomH]

As opposed to someone posting on a forum all day lol?

I have been riding since 6am and being a new member I thought I would spend some time reading the posts. Problem?!

 

[nixharveandpri]

I have been riding since 6am and being a new member I thought I would spend some time reading the posts. Problem!?

lol no, I was just tweaking you ... it seems you can hand it out, but have problems taking it

 

[ROG]

I have never ridden a horse unless you count the donkeys at the seaside when I was 5 !!

Looking at both sexes riding during the olympics I can say that the ladies are certainly more elegant and seem happier than males

My guess is that the horses are happier too with ladies on them but perhaps that is my odd male perception

 

[TomH]

You're just jealous because I am a better (male) rider nixharveandpri!

 

[nixharveandpri]

You're just jealous because I am a better (male) rider nixharveandpri!

LOL good one

 

[ROG]

I have been riding since 6am and being a new member I thought I would spend some time reading the posts. Problem?!

Do not take comments in forums too seriously as often the actual meaning can be lost because the emotion to what is being said is not there

If I told a member to EFF OFF then that could be taken seriously when I was actually smiling with my tongue in cheek and meaning it in a playful non serious way

The same thing often happens with text messages and emails with deep family rifts developing because the content has not been taken in the way that the sender meant it = see Jeremy Kyle for examples

 

[Auslander]

You're just jealous because I am a better (male) rider nixharveandpri!

Prove it - you big stirrer!

Be very careful though - there are a few people hanging around here who have represented their country/competed internationally. All female. Just saying

 

[Littlelegs]

Just a musing but I wonder if build/body type also plays a part? In any sport the majority of those at the top share certain physical characteristics. And if you look at all the top riders, male & female, most, although not all, are a similar type of shape, more straight up & down athletic builds, than really stocky men or women with marilyn munroe figures. That's not to say there aren't any that are different builds, but, I wonder if that does give you a natural advantage/ head start? And if so, then it follows men are more likely to be that build. But, even if I am vaguely right, I'm sure its not the only factor.

 

[HelenPassfield]

I don't really know the answer but my husband took to riding very naturally. Before we met he was frightened of horses and would not even walk his dog across a footpath through a field of horses. He resigned himself once he knew me and took everything very seriously, reading about it all before starting etc.... He was very fit and good asport generally before starting and now 3 years on he has great seat and balance and has done very well confidently galloping and starting jumping, and really loves the horse I gave him (too big for me!)

 

[Wagtail]

Just a musing but I wonder if build/body type also plays a part? In any sport the majority of those at the top share certain physical characteristics. And if you look at all the top riders, male & female, most, although not all, are a similar type of shape, more straight up & down athletic builds, than really stocky men or women with marilyn munroe figures. That's not to say there aren't any that are different builds, but, I wonder if that does give you a natural advantage/ head start? And if so, then it follows men are more likely to be that build. But, even if I am vaguely right, I'm sure its not the only factor.

I think you have a point there LL. I was there thinking, well yes, the percentage of male riders that really are exceptionally good is probably much higher than the percentage of female riders. Then I started to think of all the female riders I admire (not famous, just the ones I know IRL) and realised they are all very slender and muscular, and not so much the curvier types. There will be exceptions to every rule of course.

 

[hula]

My OH is 6'2" and weighs just 11stone. He is a fantastic rider, very light in his seat, balanced and has a super glue bum when things get hairy, and is brave. He just seems to have the gift, next to him I look like a short legged, sack of spuds, whom (with age) is becoming more of a wimp!