Men vs Women

[Saucisson]

This may have been done before but it's just something that interests me really. As we participate in the only sport where men and women compete on an equal footing, I'd be interested to know other peoples' observations/experience of the differences between the two sexes' approach to horses and the advantages/disadvantages of both. Generalisations obviously welcome!

For example, I tend to find that my OH is very good at defining the line between right and wrong and I think the horses respect him all the more for it. I fully understand that there's PLENTY of experienced lady riders out there who are much the same. (Ugh, don't get me started on the whole "it's a horse for a man/woman" nonsense)

However, I am definitely better at reading the expressions on his mare's face – generally ranging from disgust, to lovesick puppy (when in season ), to contentment, to absolute disdain for all around her .

Also, why is it that so many more women ride horses yet the proportion seems to reduce at top level?

Thoughts and ramblings welcome on this beautiful, sunny Monday morning.

 

[NeilM]

I'm a real soft touch and my OH is much more applied. There are days when H and I just act like a couple of lads and others when we both know we have to knuckle down and get on with it, but generally speaking, we are both looking to have some fun. My OH more often has her work head on and both her horse and mine know it.

As for why there are 100 times more women riders at the grass roots level, I genuinely think it is because boys and men don't know what it involved in horsemanship, it's one of those 'boys play football / rugby / cricket and girls do ballet / ride horses' things. I certainly wish my grandfather had stuck with it, when he tried to introduce me to horses at age 5.

I'll be very interested to see what others think.

 

[Biscuit]

My OH is way more athletic than I, and more gifted at sports overall. Although he is a novice rider he has learnt much faster than most girls I know. I reckon being stronger and more athletic helps I think men do have a physical advantage to some extent.

They may also have an advantage on bigger horses, due to strength/size. I am only 5.'1, so I would be more suited to a pony, it is very hard to compete ponies or the smallest horses on a high level against horses. There are more tall men than women, and I reckon long legs and strong core muscles help for example on those huge German dressage warmbloods There are not many elite dressage horses under 15.1...

I think men are some times less worried about getting hurt, after a certain age? Children don't worry, but adults do. I know more men than women who are into contact sports, plenty of guys in their 30s who love sports where they get smacked around a bit, but not that many women. This is of course a generalisation.

Boys are often encouraged to be competitive, while girls are encouraged and praised for being caring. That may be another factor in why boys are over represented at the higher levels of competition?

 

[E_Lister]

I often think that males progress faster than females (of course there are exceptions but I am making generalisations... sorry! )

As a female I always thought this might be because female horse riders are 10 a penny whereas males are far more rare, they might then feel like they are a minority so will work a lot harder to ensure they prove to all those pesky women that they can ride really really well!

I hav also been told, dunno if this is true, that males establish a better seat faster (especially if starting later) than females because it "hurts their bits" more if they don't!!

But of course females are the superior gender overall

 

[Saucisson]

Agh, E-Lister tell me about it! I used to do kick-boxing in my twenties and there's about as much chance of me flying than putting my poor old body through that again!

I have observed that horse-riding is more popular with the chaps of all ages over here (Belgium) than in the UK. Not sure if that makes a difference at the top level or not?

I do find that in general, it's the "no-nonsense" types from both sexes who seem to do well. I do have fond memories of some of those fierce horsey ladies from my youth