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Is it just me?

4K views 34 replies 28 participants last post by  KayKay347 
#1 ·
Is it just me, or are equestrians the most hated on athletes ever.
I get picked on at school all the time for riding because "It`s not a sport"
Ya sure. Riding a 1200Ib animal that can kill you in a split second is "easy"
 
#10 ·
Oh yeah. Heard that crap for years from my dad. Most people are genuinely interested when I start talking about it & think it's cool. I couldn't give two craps whether people consider it a sport or a hobby *shrug* Sure some of the crazy work we've gotta do is comparable to any other athlete getting into shape, but for the most part - it's recreational fun for me. So I can't say I'm really getting much of a workout or doing a sport lol.
 
#11 ·
Don't let it get to you. I got it a few times from "actual athletes". I put them up on a horse and they couldn't hold their own for more than ten minuets and shut up after 1 ride. As stated before, they just want you to get riled up. I personally don't care what they say because I'm in better shape physically then most of them ;-)

I have gotten the rich stereotype but when people saw the car I drove.... well..... they started to acknowledge the fact that I was poor as snot because of my horses. :oops:
 
#17 ·
No one YET has said anything about its not a sport - but they have said, all you do is sit there - you dont do anything - its so easy a child could win.

Which obviously they know nothing about horses.
 
#18 ·
If it's not a "sport," let's see how many muscles of theirs hurt the next few days after "just trail riding"! Not to mention if they can even stay on.
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#22 ·
If it's not a "sport," let's see how many muscles of theirs hurt the next few days after "just trail riding"! Not to mention if they can even stay on.
Got to disagree here. Of course any muscles are going to ache a bit if you start using them in unfamiliar ways, but that passes after a week or two. Beyond that, trail riding just isn't all that much exercise, except for a few specific muscle groups. As for being aerobic, the only way I manage to get my heart rate up in the target zone* is to get off and trot alongside the horse.

For myself (and I think for many people) riding is not serious exercise. Instead, exercise is something I do to get in shape for riding (and other activities, of course).

*I'm excluding the occasional moments of sheer terror, of course :)
 
#19 ·
Never had it happen.. Even in high school everyone was either afraid of horses or thought it was impressive that I rode. Most of my friends admitted they were afraid of horses, and they were quite amazed that I actually rode that big of an animal. They all usually came to watch me ride, and I even gave my best friend a ride on my horse. She loved it and actually took a year of riding lessons.
 
#20 ·
I got that a lot in elementary school. Which is why I liked it when the gym teacher who always sort of felt it was "not a sport" went on a nose to tail trail ride (just walking) and than said she was "really sore the next day".

My advice is don't let it get to you. Remind them and yourself that equestrian is an olympic sport. If you really want to respect equine athletes read "Seabuiscuit" by Laura Hillenbrand. The work the jockeys did to maintain weight was/is crazy.

When in doubt don't forget that some people are just jerks. I had classes with the school jerk in 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade. A lot of things changed during those years but he was always a mean spirited, blowhard jerk. I would bet that today he is still a jerk. I am afraid he may be a life long sufferer of jerkitis. The sad thing is he does not even know he suffers from this debilitating disease.

Deep breaths and remember that this too will pass.
 
#21 ·
I went to a large high school, graduating class of 500+. I was never bullied for my love of horses or riding. In fact I made plenty of friends that also rode or loved horses.

It's mainly my brother that makes unfriendly comments about it.
 
#24 ·
I've never been disliked for being a horse rider. Actually, most people think it's neat and ask me questions about it.

My close friends and co-workers might make jokes about eating horses, but I usually make equally horrible jokes about turning their dogs into fur coats. It's all in fun, and we are a disturbing group of people. :shock:

But yeah... no one has expressed dislike for me riding horses...

And when anyone tries to challenge me that horse riding isn't a sport, I usually invite them on a trail ride (my pace) which they always turn down and tell them to look at the Olympic Equestrian events.
 
#25 ·
Something my sister said a long time ago really tickled me. "When one of these horses looks at me and says they don't like my boots, then I will think about changing them. Until then, why should I care a bit what you think of them?"

Unless your horses are bullying you, to heck with the rest of them. You need to be comfortable with YOU. Nothing these negative jerks say matters.
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#26 ·
Something my sister said a long time ago really tickled me. "When one of these horses looks at me and says they don't like my boots, then I will think about changing them. Until then, why should I care a bit what you think of them?"

Unless your horses are bullying you, to heck with the rest of them. You need to be comfortable with YOU. Nothing these negative jerks say matters.
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Haha my horse didn't "say" he disliked my glasses.. instead he'd try and knock them off of my face, and would leave me be without them on.

I honestly didn't care for them much, either lol
 
#28 ·
OP...just don't talk about your horse activities around "those" people. I agree with someone else here who said as you get older you will care less about what others (who don't matter) think.
 
#30 ·
A lot of people don't understand what a sport is.

A sport used to be any competitive physical activity. So technically, someone who doesn't show is not participating in a sport and the ones who are showing are participating in a sport. However, now it's really any activity that's scored in which you compete. Chess is a sport.

Most people flat out dont understand riding because they once upon a time sat on a handwalked pony at the fair or went on a walk only head to tail trail ride and literally did just sit there.

Who cares if they think it's a sport or not? The bigger issue to address is why someone thinks it's okay to talk down about your activity, especially when they have no real knowledge of it.
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#33 ·
A lot of people don't understand what a sport is.

A sport used to be any competitive physical activity. So technically, someone who doesn't show is not participating in a sport and the ones who are showing are participating in a sport. However, now it's really any activity that's scored in which you compete. Chess is a sport.
I don't know where you get that definition from, but it would exclude things like hiking, rock & mountain climbing, most biking, skiing, swimming & other water sports, and much else, because few if any of the people who do them have any interest in competing. Which is also the case with a lot of riders.
 
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