anybody else has this problem ?

Well i'm one of the luckies. My mom know how much my horse means to me. She encourages me to lose weight and do good in school so I can go ride. One day I was checking my horse and found a big bump under his chest. I started crying and my moms like it's nothing don't worry about it your dad will take care of him. He did. My mom supports me 110% I've had the horse almost fall on me and she still lets me ride. She gets scared sometime but she is my number one fan! My step dad was raise around horses all his life. He rode 362 acres everyday. He helped me learn to ride. (Well not exactly he threw me on the horse and told me I can do it) But he helped me learn to barrel race and take care of my horse train them and he'll help me brake one of our horses. I work for what I get. I help my step dad at work sometimes and they'll leave me a list to do and i'll do it. I do buy some stuff. But if its anything like food or any medication they get it.

My parents are non animal people entirely. My mom even refused to pet a tiny beagle puppy with big brown eyes. I was twenty five and living on my own when I got my first horses. My folks make many comments about how it would be easier if I didn't have my farm. I love it and it is my dream. I'm now thirty five and training to be a NARAH instructor. My mom proudly puts it on her Christmas letter. She still won't touch a horse. I did get her to take a walk with me and my goats last summer. I had to give her a good meal and a glass of wine first. She akwardly tried to avoid them and didn't pet them, but at least she walked with me. I know they won't ever really get it but I love them and they are my parents.

I would like to thank you for doing such a wonderful thing! People like you change people's lives :)

And to the post above ^^ Good for you! That's what I want to do...own a ranch some day, but everyone keeps knocking me down, telling me how expensive they are...even now, my parents, and even my boyfriend get after me because they say that's all I spend my money on is my horses...they don't understand that they are worth the investment to me. If my money didn't go to them what would I do with it? Buy an atv...maybe save it up to buy a house someday? I don't know! Sure it would be nice to have extra cash, but I'm happy where I'm at, and isn't that what matters? I swear, sometimes people don't think you have a brain and always have to throw their 2 cents at you...

No kidding right for some reason or an other poeple think were completly mad to spend money on a horses and things for horses like a ranch !!! But we will show them lol :)

I TOTALLY get what you guys are saying!

My parents are sort of on the middle road. My Dad pays for most of my lessons and he drives me every other week (I've been trying to get it to every week, but he still acts like I'm crazy/crazy selfish whenever I bring it up lol). He helps me tack up and untack my lesson horse and is starting to get a bit of horse saviness.

BUT he still INSISTS that riding is easy! Even though he's seen horses give me hell just TACKING THEM UP! I don't know what I have to do to convince him! I've also been hinting that he should ride but he just laughs and gets a bit nervous lol. Not so easy when it's YOU who has the chance of getting bossed around by a horse now huh .

My father also videotapes me and promises to COMPLETELY videotape my lessons during the summer. We shall see lol.

My mother is enthusiastic about it and went to my lesson last week and fed the horses. She really enjoyed it.

Overall I feel that they are really starting to get how much I love horses and are getting more enthusiastic about it themselves. BUT I do feel that they still think it takes no effort and it's so DIRTY and blah blah blah and I could be doing so much better things I guess.

For those who've managed to convince their non-horsey parents that riding isn't easy please tell me how!

I have the SAME problem!! Im the onle one who rides in my famliy. I have a cousin but she has her own family she has to take care of!!! Its very frustrating and hard to go out beyond my own place to ride because parents just say "you don't need to go anywhere just ride here!!!" I can't wait tell I get my lineses(i don't know how to spell) . And then you hear people say "oh I had so much fun camping this weekend!! " I get pretty jealous!!! I guess I will just have to go with friends as I get older!!!

Ya same here after I get my liscense im so gone lol and ill always be at the farm with my Chase lol :)

I think it's safe to say that once I get my license I will be living at my barn

My parents have never been into the horse thing either. I have had my one horse for 8 years and they still do not remember his name.

Ya same can't wait to be able to drive going for my cource soon :)