Is horse riding your hobby or sport?

only_me

only_me

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please excuse the fact that i have put "horse-riding" in the title, being at uni makes you very aware when you just say riding lessons
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have you made riding your sport or hobby?

personally it is my sport - but sometimes i think i concentrate too much on the bad bits and forget its meant to be fun!
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Well both!!! It is my hobby as I don't earn anything from it, and enjoy it as a past-time, but it is also my sport?? I do some dressage and the odd showing comp which is a sport!!! So I couldn't answer one or the other sorry!!
 
For me it is a sport as harsh at it sounds I would not enjoy it without a competitive element. I think I treat it too seriously to be just a 'hobby'
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Both, I love competing, but the level I compete at it would be a joke to call it a sport. Also the actual competing bit lasts about 6 mins a week - that leaves a whole lot of hobby time.

I might actually do better with a hobby horse, although knowing my luck it would get woodworm.
 
Sport, because I don't think the slog and expense would be worth it without something to aim for. Also an art. Hobby - well yes, in that it keeps me occupied, but whatever I do I tend to strike to excel at (and usually fail). Not sure I'm cut out for hobbies, frankly
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Hobby entirely; I have no intentions of going to the top or indeed much further, I know my limitations in it as a sport are somewhat extensive and I enjoy it as it is.

I think if I treated it as a sport then I wouldn't enjoy it, fair enough I compete and I am happier to be 6th rather than 26th at the end of the day, but I get more of a buzz from improving my riding and my horses way of going than from winning.

I'd rather a nice round with faults than a clear and imo that says it all.

Although having said that just over 12 months when I was on a whizzy pony winning lots, albeit only PC stuff, I was competitive - not compared to the other kids (or their parents
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) but compared to now anyway. Perhaps being bad at it has put into perspective why I do it.
 
It depends how you define sport and hobby.

Is someone who plays rugby with their mates on a weekend down the local park participating in a sport or a hobby?

For me, it's my obsession and life blood. I'm far too involved emotionally and financially to think of it as a hobby. Hobbies to me are reading, doing cross stitch, non-physical activities I guess for want of a better description
 
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I might actually do better with a hobby horse, although knowing my luck it would get woodworm.

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DieselDog that did make me laugh!
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I would say it was both my hobby and my sport (when I have the money to compete!) but I agree that I often get so caught up in the ups and downs that I forget it's meant to be fun
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I compete, and I'm really in it to in it, but it's never my career and I haven't ever wanted it to be... so hobby. But I couldn't imagine lie without horses and competitions.
 
Obsession, way of life, sanity saver. I think hoby is a bit of a down play. Many people in my profession(s!) talk of their skill or honing their skill. However I think this is crass arrogance. True skill is the comunication riders have with their horses, and getting round a one star was one of the best things I have ever done, certainly more fulfilling than anything I have achieved academically. I doubt if I'll ever be "competetive" but who cares!!!
 
When it was my sole job it was neither, just a way of making a living. I see it more of a challenge than a hobby or sport. Im competetive in competition, although Im never going to be brilliant in any sphere. My horses have to serve a purpose for me, either working stock for me to compete or breeding stock. I dont think that I keep horses just for the pleasure. That probably sounds harsh. Dont get me wrong, I love my horses and Im very attached to them, but I wouldnt keep them just to be a happy hacker. That suits some people but not for me.
 
i would say it is my sport, it is genrally the only thing now in the winter that gives me any exersice, i compeate and i would hate it if i did not, however saying that i have never won anything, mainley because in with the mind of, if i go clear it is great and next time i can improve a bit on that.
i think i take it to seriously for it to be a hobby, it is part of my life and hopefully my career in the future.
 
Hobby. I like competing but haven't done so in about 3 years and I'd be just as happy to ride without competing ever again. It's all about fun and enjoyment for me.
 
i think it is a bit of both with me...i compete regularly and can get quite competitive (:D) but at the level i am at it is hardly considered plainly sport (however much i enjoy competing/getting competitive
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lol) as i only compete 3 times a month or so...there is an awful lot of ''hobby-ness'' in between the sport bits...

so definitley a bit of both
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(but i do think i need the sport element, i think i would get bored if i didnt compete - i need the pressure/goals to work up to..and i wouldnt be able to just be a happy hacker, its for some poeople, but definitley not for me!!) xx
 
The word "hobby" doesn't get anywhere close to how important riding is for me. It is definitely my sport as I am very competitive, but also my raison d'etre.

Sarah
 
I do find it a bit silly to think I spend 5 hrs a day on just a 'hobby' but I dont compete seriously enough to warrant the word 'sport!'
Horse riding is more like my crazy, expensive, exhaustive obsession lol
 
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