Why do so many people in the horsey community smoke?

[tasel]

OH Pointed out to me a while ago that most of the riding instructors that I have had in the past smoked. I never thought about it as my attention was always on the horses. He thought it a bit weird because riding is supposed to be a sport. He is more into athletics, and his coach used to threaten him to break his legs if he went so far as to even touch a cigarette. Obviously, athletics is quite different from riding... but the question remains: Why do so many people in the horsey community smoke?

 

[teddyt]

It is such a horrible sight to see someone sat on a horse and smoking

 

[Brontie]

Dont mean to be rude but I really dont see a connection to smoking/riding. If a person decides to smoke, then they smoke regardless to there career?

Nick.

 

[RachelB]

Working with horses is stressful and outdoors - therefore people can still smoke at work! I always wondered if it was a "cool" thing to do... I LOATHE any sort of smoking and I hate having to stand around someone else smoking, even if it is outdoors.
I think athletics is a more "athletic" sport, so smoking would seriously affect performance. I don't think smoking would actually seriously affect riding performance that much..?

 

[tasel]

[ QUOTE ]
Dont mean to be rude but I really dont see a connection to smoking/riding. If a person decides to smoke, then they smoke regardless to there career?

Nick.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it's also in connection with riding being a sport... and in a lot of sports, you won't get far if you did smoke. Obviously, in riding it is different, as it's the horse that needs to be mega fit, not necessarily the rider... but it would still help if the rider was fit, too!

Just think about it... how many successful sportsmen are there that actually smoke on a daily basis?

"Stress" is also one of the answers I have given to OH... haven't thought about the outdoors bit!!!

 

[teddyt]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think smoking would actually seriously affect riding performance that much..?

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd be surprised! Jumping and cantering xc is almost maximal exercise in heart rate terms for a rider. Riding actually needs quite a good lung capacity. 'proper' riding that is, not plonking along on a hack for an hour.

 

[annret]

I definately feel my lung capacity is below par for riding, hence I can only ride responsive neds

I didn't know more than 5 fags a day made me a chainsmoker though!

 

[littlemisslauren]

I smoke 20 a day.... and i think im probably the only 'horsey person' i know that does..... and im doing an equine degree so i know plenty of said 'horsey people'..

I smoke because i enjoy it.. end of. It does not affect my riding at all or my ability to work with horses. I dont think there is any more of a link between horsey people and smoking than there is a link with any other proffesion and hobby and smoking.

 

[tasel]

[ QUOTE ]

I didn't know more than 5 fags a day made me a chainsmoker though!

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol, had to make a cut-off point somewhere... maybe it should have been 10!!! But don't smoke, so don't know how long 1 cigarette would last and look at the hours of the day that we are awake. Thought 5 would be enough for morning, mid-morning, lunch, afternoon and evening.

 

[the watcher]

I don't know the answer why - but maybe it equates to every ski instructor I ever met being a smoker too. If you are engaged in a line of work that may well curtail your life early - the long term consequences of smoking might hold less of a threat.

 

[Donkeymad]

Despite the huge number of horse people I know, I only know of the odd one or two who smoke

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Bleurgh. Hate smoking. Stinks, ruins your health, expensive and just generally YUCK!! I've never seen the attraction, maybe I'll get it one day but I doubt it

 

[brighteyes]

That's exactly the attitude all young people should have

. Can't add anything more, really. A very unattractive habit

 

[tasel]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know the answer why - but maybe it equates to every ski instructor I ever met being a smoker too.

[/ QUOTE ]


Aaaah... maybe it's not the "horsey community" but rather the instructors??? Most of the people I know with horses don't smoke either... OH was just referring to the instructors!?!

 

[Ezme]

I think it is slacking off now as more and more trainers concentrate on rider fitness. I mean look how may rider blogs/interviews mention going to the gym or running now! The only discipline I think you regularly see larger competitors in now is SJ (don't know why that is... maybe there's just more big built blokes) and HDT where whips need upper body strength mor than anything.

In the last 8 years of working at arlington I can only think of 2 people who smoked, one of whom gave up about 5years ago

 

[Tinkerbee]

I can see why horses would drive people to swearing, smoking, drink, drugs, murder...

 

[madmav]

As long as the horses don't get affected by passive smoking.....

 

[Cash]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't think smoking would actually seriously affect riding performance that much..?

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd be surprised! Jumping and cantering xc is almost maximal exercise in heart rate terms for a rider. Riding actually needs quite a good lung capacity. 'proper' riding that is, not plonking along on a hack for an hour.

[/ QUOTE ]
Try telling that to Pippa Funnell....

 

[brighthair]

I've smoked since I was 12, not linked with horses at all though - I smoke because I enjoy it

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
You'd be surprised! Jumping and cantering xc is almost maximal exercise in heart rate terms for a rider. Riding actually needs quite a good lung capacity. 'proper' riding that is, not plonking along on a hack for an hour.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oi! What are you suggesting? That I "plonk along" the whole time?

Actually I don't jump so I wouldn't know about that, although I do have some pretty intense dressage lessons... but then I also don't smoke so I couldn't comment on how it affected my performance anyway!
I just wonder if it would make as much of a difference to a horse and rider combination, as it would to a sprinter for example?

 

[BankEndRescue]

I smoke and have done for years now. I make no excuses for it, I do it because I'm addicted

 

[saddlesore]

[ QUOTE ]
I smoke and have done for years now. I make no excuses for it, I do it because I'm addicted

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto, don't see the big deal! My smoking has nothing to with horses or anyone else for that matter. I dont smoke indoors so i cant even be accused of polluting others and my horse is far too stupid (sensible) to let me light up on a hack anyway!!

 

[k1963]

I've no idea why , but I smoke ( although I don't ride anymore ) . I smoke when I'm fence judging - I would pack in the judging if I couldn't smoke . Haven't the no smoking brigade banned smoking from just about everywhere ?

Leave smokers alone or I'll try to ban pushy mothers , arrogant riders & all the other things that drive me mad when I'm judging

 

[CrazyMare]

I did my dissertation & research on rider physiology - those with impaired lung function (asthmatics & smokers) produced higher heart rates and blood lactate levels in response to exercise.

 

[YorksG]

Also a smoker, who has no intention of giving up now. I do think there is something in what mother hen says. If you are an adrenaline junky (or remain somewhat adolescent in attitude

) then you are invincible/ or may pop your clogs tomorrow anyway.

 

[Dubsie]

I was at a biggish show a fewweeks ago and was surprised how many were stood by their horse boxes puffing away. I figured as horses are an expensivish hobby then perhaps horsey people could afford to smoke?
Can't understand why people smoke: I was the annoying non smoker who said how much each puff cost to my smoking school friends, why spend money to have a shorter life?

 

[custard]

Odd but very interesting question, especially since horse ownership is poverty inducing in itself!

I gave up smoking some 20+ years ago having been a chain smoker in my teens, never touched one since and now find the smell etc revolting. I hate to see people smoking around horses let alone mounted, there's just something 'steptoe and son' about it but the fire risk alone makes me cringe around stables.

As for why? I don't know but I think there's definitley been an increase in the number of young women who smoke, perhaps to control hunger/weight gain?

 

[blackislegirl]

Don't habitual smokers say it calms them down? I once saw Mark Todd 'warming up' for the XC at Poplar Park in the early 1990s. He was walking his horse around holding the loose rein with one hand and a lit fag in the other. I seem to remember that when he was called by the steward he dropped the cigarette, picked up his gee and trotted off to the start box!

 

[bhpride]

After spending half an hour catching Tia the first thing I do is sit down and smoke to recover lol

I've never smoked whilst riding her though even if I was on her for hours. It's not something I'd ever want to do for some reason, don't know why but it'd feel wrong.