metalmare
Well-Known Member
Such sad misconceptions about a very valid sport!
If you are someone who can't think about horses and equestrianism without imagining 'toffs in red coats with too much money' or perhaps 'not a proper sport - the horse does all the work and there is no skill' then please take a moment to read this article.
Firstly, 1 in every 30 people (approx) horse-rides in this country. They dress, talk and behave perfectly normally. They blend into the crowd and you wouldn't know they rode unless they told you. Most of these people will enjoy the huge rewards of this hobby without actually owning a horse.
The next point is that the vast majority of horse people do not, and I repeat do not, have money to burn. They make compromises. Perhaps they buy a less expensive car or they have fewer children, go on holiday to cheaper destinations or rarely go clothes shopping - most horseowners make a sacrifice for their hobby. In fact, it doesn't have to be hugely expensive to keep a horse. I actually managed to keep a horse for £27 a week on the wages from my Saturday job while I was in 6th form. Of course there is always a chance of expensive vets bills but life is full of chances, isn't it?
At this point I would like to add, on behalf of those horse-owners who are rich - good on them. Money doesn't grow on trees - if they've got it, either they have earned it or else someone further back in the family has earned it. So what if they inherited the land 500 years ago beacuse their great great many greats grandfather was a ruthless warrior? Again, that's life.
The next point I would like to make is about class. Listed here are some of the jobs of horsey people I know: hairdresser (I have known several), pet shop assistant, pet shop owner, sales rep, waitress (again I have known several), teacher, farmer, librarian... all quite down to earth people, I think you would agree?
Which leads me on to hunting. I have never hunted myself as I am not a skilled enough rider and have never had a suitable horse, however, many of the people I have known who hunt have not been rich old men but working class young girls - again mostly waitresses and hairdressers.
Now to deal briefly with equestrianism as a sport. The reason I am writing this article is because I have just been completely shocked, disgusted and astonished at the ignorance, unprofessionalism and immaturity shown by many top journalists in the light of Zara Phillip's recent win of BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It is obvious that some of these journalists were bitterly disappointed that their own personal favourites didn't win - very sporting of them... Zara won fair and square. People have been picking at the fact that she didn't make a wonderful speech. Big deal. How does education come into sport in this context? It doesn't. Stupid pathetic nitpicking.
Eventing is an extremely skilled and dangerous sport (horse-riding being, I believe, the most dangerous sport in the UK). Eventers are regularly killed. A once friend of mine was killed this year - it made national papers; she was a 20 year old waitress walking down a lane on her horse. It died and rolled on her. It happens. If you don't believe how much bravery and skill goes into riding I suggest you look at some photos (I will provide links below). It takes many many years of training, hard work and pain to become a professional rider. I could never do it. Chances are that you, reading this, could never do it. Understanding a horse on that level is a talent.
As for the old quip of 'the horse does all the work' - it's anything but true, trust me. Or, if you don't believe me, try it. Riding is physically exhausting. There are times when every muscle in your body screams and this can last for a week. Currently I only ride once a week and being at university do little other exercise apart from walking. My muscles are solid. That is what riding does to you - it is strenuous. It also requires wonderful balance and suppleness as well as strength. It requires a strong minded person.
And the benfits of riding? Horses are therapeutic - it's as simple as. They are widely used with people who have developmental difficulties and other disabilities and the physiotherapy offered from horseriding is great. The physical contact with these animals is very calming. Stroking pets is believed to lower your blood pressure.
I don't deny that there are some horse people who are absolutely shocking people, but that's the same for society generally. So next time you think about horseriders please remember that we're mostly normal people, no richer than you, no more snobby or judgemental than you and generally we're just trying to have a good time doing what we love.
Please email me at metalmare@hotmail.com if you have any sensible comments to make - I would be more than happy to hear your views.
About me:
I am an 18 year old university student, studying primary school teaching at Sheffield Hallam University. I started riding at fourteen years old. I paid for my horse myself, my parents helped a little with my insurance (£20 per month) instead of pocket money. I don't currently have a horse. My dad teaches and my mum is a social worker. We live in Derbyshire. I listen to heavy metal, play the guitar, love cooking, love my pets, love travelling abroad and eating out at good restaurants as well as reading a lot and watching films. Apart from riding my main interest is nature and ecology and I love Richard Dawkins. You see - quite normal really.
Links:
http://www.u5uk.com/you/bosj/images/artimg/DKA7H-3/Harry-Smolders-Puissance.jpg (puissance: a very difficult form of showjumping)
http://www.eventers.co.nz/media/water.jpg (the risks)
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl...%3Doff%26sa%3DN (this is simply impressive)
http://www.schenefeld-eventing.com/slices/start.gif (eventing - what Zara Phillips does. Fancy a go?)
http://www.equinet.it/img/dressage.jpg (Dressage: beauty, grace and trust. If you appreciate art you must apprecaite this.)
If you are someone who can't think about horses and equestrianism without imagining 'toffs in red coats with too much money' or perhaps 'not a proper sport - the horse does all the work and there is no skill' then please take a moment to read this article.
Firstly, 1 in every 30 people (approx) horse-rides in this country. They dress, talk and behave perfectly normally. They blend into the crowd and you wouldn't know they rode unless they told you. Most of these people will enjoy the huge rewards of this hobby without actually owning a horse.
The next point is that the vast majority of horse people do not, and I repeat do not, have money to burn. They make compromises. Perhaps they buy a less expensive car or they have fewer children, go on holiday to cheaper destinations or rarely go clothes shopping - most horseowners make a sacrifice for their hobby. In fact, it doesn't have to be hugely expensive to keep a horse. I actually managed to keep a horse for £27 a week on the wages from my Saturday job while I was in 6th form. Of course there is always a chance of expensive vets bills but life is full of chances, isn't it?
At this point I would like to add, on behalf of those horse-owners who are rich - good on them. Money doesn't grow on trees - if they've got it, either they have earned it or else someone further back in the family has earned it. So what if they inherited the land 500 years ago beacuse their great great many greats grandfather was a ruthless warrior? Again, that's life.
The next point I would like to make is about class. Listed here are some of the jobs of horsey people I know: hairdresser (I have known several), pet shop assistant, pet shop owner, sales rep, waitress (again I have known several), teacher, farmer, librarian... all quite down to earth people, I think you would agree?
Which leads me on to hunting. I have never hunted myself as I am not a skilled enough rider and have never had a suitable horse, however, many of the people I have known who hunt have not been rich old men but working class young girls - again mostly waitresses and hairdressers.
Now to deal briefly with equestrianism as a sport. The reason I am writing this article is because I have just been completely shocked, disgusted and astonished at the ignorance, unprofessionalism and immaturity shown by many top journalists in the light of Zara Phillip's recent win of BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It is obvious that some of these journalists were bitterly disappointed that their own personal favourites didn't win - very sporting of them... Zara won fair and square. People have been picking at the fact that she didn't make a wonderful speech. Big deal. How does education come into sport in this context? It doesn't. Stupid pathetic nitpicking.
Eventing is an extremely skilled and dangerous sport (horse-riding being, I believe, the most dangerous sport in the UK). Eventers are regularly killed. A once friend of mine was killed this year - it made national papers; she was a 20 year old waitress walking down a lane on her horse. It died and rolled on her. It happens. If you don't believe how much bravery and skill goes into riding I suggest you look at some photos (I will provide links below). It takes many many years of training, hard work and pain to become a professional rider. I could never do it. Chances are that you, reading this, could never do it. Understanding a horse on that level is a talent.
As for the old quip of 'the horse does all the work' - it's anything but true, trust me. Or, if you don't believe me, try it. Riding is physically exhausting. There are times when every muscle in your body screams and this can last for a week. Currently I only ride once a week and being at university do little other exercise apart from walking. My muscles are solid. That is what riding does to you - it is strenuous. It also requires wonderful balance and suppleness as well as strength. It requires a strong minded person.
And the benfits of riding? Horses are therapeutic - it's as simple as. They are widely used with people who have developmental difficulties and other disabilities and the physiotherapy offered from horseriding is great. The physical contact with these animals is very calming. Stroking pets is believed to lower your blood pressure.
I don't deny that there are some horse people who are absolutely shocking people, but that's the same for society generally. So next time you think about horseriders please remember that we're mostly normal people, no richer than you, no more snobby or judgemental than you and generally we're just trying to have a good time doing what we love.
Please email me at metalmare@hotmail.com if you have any sensible comments to make - I would be more than happy to hear your views.
About me:
I am an 18 year old university student, studying primary school teaching at Sheffield Hallam University. I started riding at fourteen years old. I paid for my horse myself, my parents helped a little with my insurance (£20 per month) instead of pocket money. I don't currently have a horse. My dad teaches and my mum is a social worker. We live in Derbyshire. I listen to heavy metal, play the guitar, love cooking, love my pets, love travelling abroad and eating out at good restaurants as well as reading a lot and watching films. Apart from riding my main interest is nature and ecology and I love Richard Dawkins. You see - quite normal really.
Links:
http://www.u5uk.com/you/bosj/images/artimg/DKA7H-3/Harry-Smolders-Puissance.jpg (puissance: a very difficult form of showjumping)
http://www.eventers.co.nz/media/water.jpg (the risks)
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl...%3Doff%26sa%3DN (this is simply impressive)
http://www.schenefeld-eventing.com/slices/start.gif (eventing - what Zara Phillips does. Fancy a go?)
http://www.equinet.it/img/dressage.jpg (Dressage: beauty, grace and trust. If you appreciate art you must apprecaite this.)
