How much did your parents shape your riding

Nothing - they think one end bites, the other end kicks and the bit in the middle is uncomfortable. Although they paid for lessons, for which I am eternally grateful, from secondary school age I had to cycle 8 miles to the riding school and 8 miles home, if the weather was horrendous they said 'well you don't want to ride that much then' (anyone seen the size of the indoor at Half Moon stud, coz that's where I learnt!). I got a pony on loan and the deal was I did everything, which I did - they never once saw me compete, and I would get up at 4am in the summer to bath and plait pony, hack up to 10 miles to a show, do every class under the sun and hack home. I always wished I had horsey parents who at least showed an interest, but on the flip side I was lucky enough to ride and ot have a pony on loan so what did I have to whinge about? Plus when I got my own again as an adult I was under no illusions about the time, effort and commitment needed. Could count on one hand the number of times they have seen me ride though.
 
Mine weren't the slightest bit horsey and thought I was mad. Flatly refused to buy me a pony and eventually at 15 I bought a wild welsh colt foal. Dad built me three stables, fenced the garden off, took me for hay straw feed, and in general helped however he could. Mum was terrified of them and at one stage I got into big trouble after a horse kept her in the washouse for two hours, it had got out of it's stable and saw she was in there, she kept throwing it a carrot from my sack hoping it would go away, but of course it stayed outside the door waiting for more carrots...
When I found my first stable yard my Dad built a block of four stables and a tackroom, then converted two ex building site sheds into more boxes. he fenced fields, carried sacks of shavings in his van for me and although he sometimes moaned I couldn't have survived without his help as handyman..
He only ever came to one show, I had been winning the local dressage at every show and wanted him to see me ride. He arrived, patted the horseand disappeared. When I went home afterwards laden with rosettes and pretty disappointed he hadn't bothered to stay he explained he couldn't bear the suspense in case I hadn't won and had to leave!!!
I provided my kids with ponies almost before they were born, and did the usual PC bit.
If I have a fault it's I expect too much from them as riders, a sort of "because you're My child and I was a riding instructor you should be good!" Very unfair and I know it.
I don't teach my daughter anymore but pay other people to do it, and I support her ambitions in any way I can. I draw the line however at any mucking out, getting ready for shows other than stocking the box and expect her to treat me politely, otherwise any tantrums and I would drive the box off the showground..
(she nearly got abandoned like that by her Dad after being angry after a poor round one day, so she isn't spoiled to that extent! Long hack home of twenty odd miles tends to calm the rage somewhat...)
I have no problem if my daughter ever says she wants to stop riding, we will simply sell up and retire with just a few horses and less land, and possibly lend a few out to promising young riders.
I don't think it's very easy having your parents support you competing, especially when they ride themselves, we always know better you see....
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not one bit...nearest anyone in my family got to horses, was my Granda's daily visit to the bookies.........
 
I think mine help me keep interested and encourage me by saying things like "there's a show at such and such next weekend" and I don't think they'd be impressed if I went in a bony pony class and came out trowing a tantrum because my pony didn't win, but I generally do what I want and they are pretty supportive whatever I do, and however I do!
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My parents werent horsey. I started riding due to my grandad. However when i got my first horse, my mum got rather involved in everything and i had a lot of pressure on me in regards to jumping.

I was running 7 horses, out 3-4 times a week from being about 15 - 19

While I initially enjoyed the jumping, i very quickly started to love dressage more. My mum agree'd to let me have classical lessons but thats where it stopped... the horses were jumpers and that was that
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I gave up riding for a couple of years while I lived abroad... when i went back I moved my remaining horse to a dressage yard since i no longer depended on my parents to pay the bills
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Had quite a few lessons but the horse wasnt really into it. After a bit of bullying from my trainer, my OH bought me a dressage school master for my birthday and thats been that
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Rarely jump now... not terribly competitive either (and i firmly believe thats because i was over pushed) but finally doing the discipline i want. Its quite hilarious... i have a lot of piccies and trophies from my jumping days and now i'll barely go over a 2 foot pole :P
 
None they are completely un-horsey. They paid for lessons for me when i was a kid but thats as far as it goes!
 
Not really, one of my friends had a pony that she kept at home so we used to mess about with him. Started having proper lessons aged 8 and then began leasing aged 10. Parents never had a lot to do with anything apart from the financial side! Mum used to come with me to shows and competitions for morol support. When we got Ross about years ago, she used to come with me every evening as chauffer and helped muck out. But now since I can drive I do all that and I earn my lessons so they only have to worry about the livery!
 
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none whatsoever, they dont like horses

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ditto!

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me too! They will come up and watch or see him ecery now and then but my mum is petrified of him!
 
My family are very un-horsey, in fact my mum was very against me riding. I think I went and did it anyway out of rebellion. I'd never had a riding lesson until I was 32 as mum refused to pay for anything to do with horses. I started by riding other peoples ponies and progressed to having one on loan supported by my babysitting and saturday jobs!

Even now my mum doesn't like the thought of me having my own horse, although she has met Brads. I think its the size of them that frightens her!
 
My father likes horses but does not come from a horsey background. He rode at a riding school in his youth, and sent me for lessons at the same school when I was seven. I was hooked almost straight away, but it wasn't until I was fifteen that I finally managed to persuade them to buy me a horse! At the time he was very tied up with work so I was left very much to my own devices with the horse and they just paid the bills. When I was older and got into competing he would drive me to shows which was great. However, he knew very little about riding or horses so never tried to 'advise' me!

Now my own daughter is ten and has a pony I try to be supportive but not pushy! She mucks her own pony out and cleans her tack - but I do help with bathing and plaiting because I want her to look respectable when she goes out to shows!

It can be frustrating when you can see what she is doing wrong but I have learnt to wait until she comes to me for advice
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well mum drives the lorry purely because i dont have my liscence (yet - on my list of things to do once ive paid off my debts!). She often shouts stuff at me when im schooling at home, but only because i ask her how hes looking, what i need to do etc as we dont have mirrors in our arena. She never pushes me to do anything tho -i enter what competitions i want and she comes along and enjoys it!
 
I am at the other end of things, my mum & dad are not horsey AT ALL and have only been down the yard probably once this year and thats only coz i promised i would hurry up!! They have never even seen me ride my horse.

I would love them to pay a bit more interest and ask how i get on at shows or even come to watch me once in a blue moon but they couldn't care less.

My mum is actually trying to make me give up horses at the moment so i can consentrate on college
 
My parents have been VERY good to me. Neither of them are horsey but when i got my first pony my mother was forced to quickly become horsey. My first pony taught me how to stay on, it was very naughty and taught me alot.
My parents have never once pushed me to do anything or suggested anything, really because they dont know enough about horses to do so. I'm in charge of what competitions i do, if any, of what lessons i have what schooling i do.
My parents are very good they pay the big bills (livery, farrier and vets) and then competitions, lessons, equipment i pay for and it works well. My parents are so so supportive even though my horse is a walking vets bill and they just want to see me happy and fulfilling my dream.
Its been all my choice to fulfill a career in horse and competing and they just help me as much as i can when i ask for help.
They have also said when i get my first yard they will make an investment, give me an amount of money for me to go and buy 2 or 3 youngsters with.
So yeh my parents are really the best, really supportive and encouraging and in return i show them how dedicated i am and they inspire me to do my best because i dont want to let them down.
 
My parents tolerated my horsiness as a kid, and paid for me to have lessons, but that was it. I wasn't allowed to work for rides or at the stables at all, and someone once offered me a share in a pony because they didn't have a rider for him, but they wouldn't let me have it. My mum used to ride a lot when she was younger , but gave up before I was born - I think she once came on a hack with me about 20 years ago.

That was the last time she saw me ride, until about two weeks ago when she came to watch my lesson, nearly passed out when she saw the size of the horse i ride (17hh WB ex-showjumper), and said afterwards that she quite fancied having another lesson and maybe hacking out !
 
I woulsn't have achieved what i did without my parents. Got my first pony before i could walk, parents weren't horsey but mum's family were they had always had horses etc. They bought me all my ponies, took me to all the shows, paid all the bills. Then when it became quite serious, got me a good trainer, helped as much as they could. Dad drove the lorry and mum always comes along to shows with me. Holds, horse, helps tack up, video's does everything that she thinks will help. If for whatever reason she can't come along then always makes sure she asks how everything has gone and watches the video. All photos' have pride of place in the house. I couldn't ask for more, they have been fantastic, never pushed me but always helped and advised. I can't believe those people you see who are so rude to there parents at shows, had i been like that i would have been left there and never helped again!
 
My mum helps me prepare for shows when I ask and dad will advise me, I would like to go to more shows but they dont have the time, but Oh well. I am not allowed to do XC, never have been or probably will be while I am living at home. When I was a child I had no choise but to show, but my family were already copeteing in that, so took less time.

Haz
 
hmm what influence, um I think they increased my sheer bloody minded determination to continue
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Main comments I were recieved were
a) Don't fall off
b) Youfell off, are you going to give up. (this was said in a tone to mean I should give up ASAP).

Hence I stuck at it! I am still rubbish but I still ride
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Mum got a lot more supportive when I was about 24/25 and competing my own mare and Mum came to shows and looked after my son for me.

She actually grew quite fond of Chloe.

She also now reads horsey articles if they come up in the press and points them out to my Dad saying see that's what Ali would love to do. Bless her really.
 
Not at all. My parents took me for weekly lessons when I was really young just for something to do I think. They're not horsey at all and I think they regret ever introducing me to them, since Ive had them for the past 12ish years now!

Mine are very supportive though, they don't interfere at all. They take me to shows etc. and help when needed. My mums quite horsey now, I mean she's had to be over the years! She even rides very occassionally, but she'd never have a horse by choice. I ride to compete and again, they just go along with whatever I want to do. Never had any pressure from them at all. They even still pay my vets bills and the diesal bills..... of which I'm very appreciative.
 
I have my parents to bklame, They moved out fo the city before I was bron and moved out to the countryside. Bought me a pony, as thats what "country kids" do - so I joined the local pony club and we all learned together.
My Dad was so so so so so supportivem and took on the role of "yard manager" to coem extent, did all the feed ordering, arranged haylage deilveries, sorted out paddock rotatations, mucked out and basically did everything for me. He even sold a yacht so that I could have a new horse. He is a wonderful person!!!

He really misses the horses now I have moved away and obnly have one left (thats on its last legs) but I know he is really keen for me to get back into it, and is coming to look at a nice 2 y/o with me fairly soon. I owe him everything!
JB xx
 
My mum shaped my riding in that she took me to lessons and paid for them from the age of about 4. She also allowed me to help out at my local riding school for about age 9 (god, those were the days, these days none of our helpers are under 13). But in the Summer I was expected to cycle to the yard (about 3miles on country lanes).

She bought me a pony and paid for livery and I looked after him and did everything with him. Although she would get on him and 'sort him out' if he was being really really naughty. However, she had nothing to do with my actual riding, what I did with the horse, tack cleaning, mucking out etc etc. That was all my responsibility.

Basically, she was extremely generous and really struggled to afford for me to have a pony. She made sure that I had one because she could see how important it was to me and wanted me to be happy. However, she was never horsey herself and had no desire to get involved with shows and plaiting and general horse care etc.

These days she is actively UNhorsey and would love me to give up horses, get a 'proper' job and save for a house. She is always going on at me about pensions and careers and 'the future'. When I was in hospital after a riding accident, her first words to me were 'I hope this has finally made you see sense!!!!' LOL. I tell her she needs to focus on the other girls if she wants a succesfull (i.e. rich) daughter !!!!
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Parents havent influenced what I do at all. they used to pay for lessons, but would pay for one every fortnight, I used to have lessons with my friends who had one a week so was always behind. Eventually, a couple of the liveries saw how keen I was and let me use their horse for the lesson inbetween, and myy instructor used to let me work towards the rides.

Then unwittingly Mum got a job with a very horsey man as a bookeeper, I went and rode his horses, he liked the way i rode so let me ride all his horses and take them out competing in Sjing, dressage etc, and went hunting with him in the winter. My Dad used to drive the lorry on occasions, and they would come and watch, but I was the one to do everything. I didnt have a lesson for about 4yrs from riding his horses to being about 17, but learnt ALOT from hunting and schooling his horses myself.

Then an old livery from the yard I used to have lessons on got in touch for me to ride her horse for her, and I was lucky enough to have a few lessons with an ex Olympian, who put me back on track!
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The lady who I was riding for brought a young cob for her husband, it didnt work out so I got him on loan, then brought him, and that was my first horse Bob! The guy I had been riding for took me hunting with Bob, and from there I decided I wanted to event. so that was when I brought Goddy with inheritance money.

So overall, my parents will come and watch, and are proud of Goddy especially, but I have paid for and managed everything myself, and if it wasnt for my grandmother (who I got inheritance from) or the gentleman I rode for who gave me all the oppurtunities to hunt/sj etc, I would still be horseless and prob given up by now! So eternally greatful to them really!

Sorry for essay!
 
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