Other riders' health & safety choices: whose business?

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FionaM12

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Following on from the posts "Newbie Alert" and "Disappointed in this forum's reaction to newbie" I was wondering about the following.

I was startled to see how many people had seen the original post and not greeted the newcomer because she wasn't dressed in way they approved of, health and safety wise. That surprised me. It hadn't occured to me that would affect the welcome she received.

My question is, in "life" (rather than an internet forum) do you behave any differently? If a rider passes you, not dressed in a manner you approve of and greets you as a fellow horsey person how do you respond:

1. No greeting back because you don't approve?

2. A cold brisk nod which you hope expresses your disaproval?

3. Smile and wave back, as how they choose to dress is none of your business?

I'm not judging here, I'm interested. I also realise there are other reasons why at that point no-one had returned the new person's greeting (not seen the thread etc). It's just the ones who didn't respond because of her choice of clothes which intrigue me.
 
3.

I treat others as I would want to be treated.

She's a grown up. I'm sure she normally wears a hat for riding. But was just posing in the photo.

I sat on my horse in the yard today with no hat, he was tied to the wall by his headvpllar..... Shock horror!!!
Lol.

I'll pretty much talk to anyone. I have no dress sense, so what others wear I don't usually notice, unless it's a real bad shirt then it's ***** shirt night. Lol
 
I got a photo here of me riding with no hat and flipflops, galloping in an open field, alot of us do it... usually circumstances... for example this day my toddler was riding horsey, got bored so i hopped on and took him for a blast........

I looked at the photo and thought what if that horse spooked and she feel off ( your balance is all to cock when you are pregnant) and she fell off and lost that baby.... BUT I didn't say anything because 1) Its her baby
2) it's none of my business and 3) can't be doing with the massive debates.

I personally risked nothing when I was pregnant to the point I didn't eat peanuts, pate, shellfish, and had frequent blood tests as worked in a vets.....

Maybe ppl were irked by the pregnant photo????????????????????

Who cares really, I didn't see her post and when i did commented! Don't like it when heavily pregnant women smoke either, but again, whats the point of me commenting.... like Dragon said, her life, her horse, her choice... but don't expect people to be hypocrits.... think that probably sums up the lack of initial helloes???
 
Not really sure of the point of this other than to start an argument but hey ho. If we are talking about the lady with the skewbald, no hat, flip flops and large baby bump then yes.... if she was a friend and I saw her riding like that I would tell her she was an idiot.

If she was a stranger then I would still think she was an idiot but probably wouldn't go out of my way to tell her so.

If she was a stranger and said hi to me then I would probably say hi back and yes I would mention it to someone, perhaps a friend, YO or maybe even her.

Hope that helps you with your thesis.
 
Not sure on the specifics of the thread in question, but just a general observation from me about people's choices with regard to their health and safety:
We are fortunate enough to live in country where our healthcare is free at the point of delivery. With this right, however, comes a corresponding responsibility. That is for each and every one of us to take sensible and reasonable precautions and actions in order to avoid, as far as possible, having to access this service unless it is absolutely necessary and unavoidable. If we don't do this, and carry on draining the health service as we are, one day it will simply not be there for us anymore. I lived for many years in a country where healthcare was privatised and I witnessed a hospital refuse to admit a man who was having a heart attack because he couldn't guarantee payment. They were waiting for his wife to arrive with his credit card before they admitted him - a man in his 50's, in a wheelchair, hooked up to oxygen and going grey before my eyes. Scary stuff.
So, whatever we do in life, it is important that we try to keep ourselves health and safe. This includes eating healthily, drinking only in moderation, driving carefully, avoiding smoking and ensuring that we utilise available safety equipment if we participate in risk activities (of which horse-riding is one).
Sorry if this comes across as a sermon, but it really just seems common sense to me.
 
I have worked in child protection and it can be a case for childrens services to intervene if a pregnant woman knowingly and deliberateley puts her unborn child at risk of harm or injury
 
There are plenty of things we should and shouldn't do but how many posts on HHO (Soapbox) refer to drinking alcohol (and not always in moderation), eating chocolate/cake/other unhealthy food, and I believe that some people even have sex :eek: I am not sure that they all use condoms or get their partners health-tested. I even saw a post from one lady who has hitherto made a point of her strict healthy eating regime saying that she'd eaten some pizza in extremis :eek: :eek:

I don't sit in judgement of others regarding what they wear/how they look/how much they earn/how many exam passes they have or how they choose to enjoy themselves. If I did, no doubt I'd have to be on HHO 24/7 in case any buttons needed pushing. Well they don't push themselves do they :rolleyes:
 
But op - aside from that little fact, this is a public forum - people dont have to post!
You have now posted 3 different times on the same subject!
I suggest you and your friend will enjoy this forum much more if you chill and just join in, you wont gain many friends by moaning your not getting enough attention or replies.
How old are you?
 
Same as BonneMaman.

Since you seem to want to press the issue, OP, I looked at the post, winced, thought 'You twit' and went to look at something else...
 
If the woman chooses to ride with/without hat/boots/bump, sureley that is her choice and none of anybody else's business. If you don't approve of riding hatless, then make sure to ride with one. If I don't like to ride with a hat, then I won't. Free country, and all that......
 
Flicker said:
I witnessed a hospital refuse to admit a man who was having a heart attack because he couldn't guarantee payment. They were waiting for his wife to arrive with his credit card before they admitted him - a man in his 50's, in a wheelchair, hooked up to oxygen and going grey before my eyes. Scary stuff.
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Surely that is illegal if it is a life or death situation? Which country was this?

Snowy Celandine said:
drinking alcohol (and not always in moderation), eating chocolate/cake/other unhealthy food, and I believe that some people even have sex :eek:
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Wow, some of us even do those things in succession! :eek: Perhaps I better start thinking about a lifestyle change :p
 
Whilst in Majorca 15 year ago we were waiting for an ambulance for my sister, she had an ectopic pregnancy and it had burst and was a life or death situ, they insisted on seeing insurance first, whilst this commotion was going on, a man was having a heart attack on the kerbside( elderly) and his wife was desperately trying to get the drs to see him, they refused until they saw the paperwork and he died there and then!
 
darkhorse123 said:
But op - aside from that little fact, this is a public forum - people dont have to post!
You have now posted 3 different times on the same subject!
I suggest you and your friend will enjoy this forum much more if you chill and just join in, you wont gain many friends by moaning your not getting enough attention or replies.
How old are you?
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Why is my age relevent? And "my friend"? I don't know anyone here.

Sorry that I seem to have pressed some buttons for some of you, that really wasn't my intention. Sometimes it's hard to see the intent behind a post and I wasn't meant to be preachy/moaning. I meant well.

Seems I got it wrong. Sorry folks. :rolleyes:
 
FionaM12 said:
Why is my age relevent? And "my friend"? I don't know anyone here.

Sorry that I seem to have pressed some buttons for some of you, that really wasn't my intention. Sometimes it's hard to see the intent behind a post and I wasn't meant to be preachy/moaning. I meant well.

Seems I got it wrong. Sorry folks. :rolleyes:
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I think it's a perfectly valid thread, and has opened up a HOPEFULLY mature discussion.

If someone choses to not wear a hat, then it is their choice if they are an adult. In a riding establishment, it is likely to be in the rules that you ALWAYS wear one whe mounted, for obvious reasons.

If people chose NOT to reply because they don't agree, then that is also THEIR choice, and should be accepted as such.
 
FionaM12 said:
Why is my age relevent? And "my friend"? I don't know anyone here.

Sorry that I seem to have pressed some buttons for some of you, that really wasn't my intention. Sometimes it's hard to see the intent behind a post and I wasn't meant to be preachy/moaning. I meant well.

Seems I got it wrong. Sorry folks. :rolleyes:
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You just need to chill out whatever your age - this is a public forum.
I post often here and sometimes get replies, sometimes dont - thats life.
Dont take it to heart :D:D:D
 
darkhorse123 said:
You just need to chill out whatever your age - this is a public forum.
I post often here and sometimes get replies, sometimes dont - thats life.
Dont take it to heart :D:D:D
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Thanks for your concern, but it's not that I didn't get replies (lots of rather cross ones instead! Oops). It's more that I can see I upset a few people, quite unintentionally!
 
FionaM12 said:
Thanks for your concern, but it's not that I didn't get replies (lots of rather cross ones instead! Oops). It's more that I can see I upset a few people, quite unintentionally!
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Don't worry, I don't think anyone is actually upset and it has initiated some interesting discussion. You learn pretty quickly here not to take anything too personally! :)

Why don't you post a nice, non-threatening thread about how great you think Parelli is - everyone would love you then ;)
 
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rhino said:
Don't worry, I don't think anyone is actually upset and it has initiated some interesting discussion. You learn pretty quickly here not to take anything too personally! :)

Why don't you post a nice, non-threatening thread about how great you think Parelli is - everyone would love you then ;)
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pmsl!!!!!!!!!!!:D
 
This isn't face to face, it's a forum therefore if people chose not to post on a thread for whatever reason, the OP generally doesn't know that...... apart from that thread.

It is the choice of the rider whether to wear safety gear, but it is my view that when you are heavily pregnant, you are responsible for another human being, it's not just your health and well being.

No, I wouldn't point blank ignore someone face to face, but this is a forum and it's entirely my choice whether to post as it is a riders choice to wear what they like. The OP is likely to have been unaware of manys views had it not been for the 2 threads you've posted. Your choice to start the threads, our choice not to post - a bit of a theme running here ;)
 
broke_but_happy said:
Surely that is illegal if it is a life or death situation? Which country was this?
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B_b_h - it was South Africa. I was waiting to be admitted for surgery to my arm following a fall onto a spiked railing, and my dad was in the process of paying 50% of the total cost of my care in cash upfront, when they wheeled this poor dude in. I'm not sure what the situation is now because I haven't lived there for a few years, but it used to be the case that if you could prove you had appropriate medical insurance, they would treat you on the spot (having rifled through your pockets and wallet) but if not, you'd have to cough up in advance or give them a credit card.
Welcome to the world of private health care.
 
in response to the question in the OP, I would say hello, then ride off thinking "what a total idiot". I do wonder if those people who choose to ride hatless realise that most of us are thinking how stupid they are.

A couple of years ago I was out hacking and came up behind a rider not wearing a hat, I turned around and went the other way because the thought of being first on the scene of that accident and having to scrape her brains up off the floor, made me feel sick.
 
darkhorse123 said:
I have worked in child protection and it can be a case for childrens services to intervene if a pregnant woman knowingly and deliberateley puts her unborn child at risk of harm or injury
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..... i did wonder about this. its one thing for someone to choose not to wear a hat, but to do so while pregnant is what makes the difference to me, its no longer just yourself you are risking.

in response to the OP, id probably say something as politely as posisble, wait to be told to mind my own buisness and that would be fine, but maybe the person in question would be prompted to consider things.
 
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