i love horse back riding but i have a huge

[cass]

problem (PLEASE read on)...? i love horseback riding and horses soooo much but my parents think it's too expensive/dangerous. i used to ride a lot when i was younger but once i started jumping my parents decided it was much too dangerous. i don't want to get injured either (obviously) but i love horses and horse back riding. what should i do? how can i convince my parents to let me ride? the fact is that they are right, it IS dangerous. i'm a little scared too. i wouldn't want to get hurt, but it's still so much fun. when i'm not doing it, i always wish that i am. also, they don't want to spend tons of money on getting me all the gear and lessons and everything.so basically what i'm asking here is:A) How can I convince my parents to let me take up horse back riding again? they are convinced that it is too expensive and too dangerous.B) Should i even be horse back riding since it IS very dangerous? even fatal in rare cases?PLEASE help me out here - i'm so confused!!! any advice/tips would be great! thanks!by the way i am 14 going into my freshman year of high school...and my parents already know that i really like horseback riding but the problem is that they are very concerned for my safety and also they know nothing about it - they think it's just a very dangerous thing to do that i could very easily live without... so therefore they don't really understand when i try to talk to them about it.the expensiveness is not a huge problem. we could afford it pretty easily... they'd just prefer to spend it on other things.uh "D" i'm not asking for the moon i'm just asking for some advice on how to make my parents see that this is something i care about a lot. it's not like i'm asking for something crazy because, like i said, we DO have the money, they just don't want to spend it on horseback riding. so shut up.i don't want to BUY a horse people. that's totally out of the question. i just wanna ride one and take lessons. then maybe lease one.

[HorseLover#1]

if you are old enough you could try and work something out with your riding barn about you working for free lessons. and you could tell your parents that you love it and you do not know what you would do without it. and it means the world to you.

[koolhorse10]

I've been riding for years. And the truth is, football is as dangerous as horseback riding. Never once have I been nervous about getting hurt. If you or your parents don't want you jumping, don't. Do dressage or western. I'm sorry that I can't help with the expensive part, as horseback riding IS expensive. Also this is your parents decision as much, if not more, than your.HOPE I HELPED!

[Nicole M]

Horseback riding is no more dangerous than any other sport. I've fallen off of horses several times and I've never gotten more than a sore tail bone as far as injuries go. It's all about being safe and not trying to do things that are above your ability level. Always wear a helmet and the proper attire.As far as the money part, many tack stores have consignment sections where you can buy used items. I'd also suggest getting a part-time job to help pay for some of it. That will help to show them that you are responsible enough to participate in a risky sport.

[taylor]

Sorry to tell you this, but horses are very expensive. Mine are costing us alot lately.Owning and riding a horse teaches responsibility. Even people who are disabled ride horses. I don't think it's dangerous. Though, I have had pretty serious injuries falling off horses, but not all horses are like the one I ride.Try babysitting or mowing lawns for extra money. Make a deal with your parents or something.If you live near the Hutto or Bastrop, TX area, I know three great riding stables.Keep your chin up!

[AQH Lov3R8]

I know from my own experience that it is a very expensive and dangerous hobby. If you really love the sport, and you can prove it to your parents, they should realize that it is worth it in the long run. I have gotten hurt may number on times but im still alive and healthy. Yes there is that 1% chance of a fatal injury but you have to take that chance. I know tons of people that have gotten hurt from horses andd still have/love them today. You cant be scared of getting hurt. If your always thinking about what may happen and always worring about getting hurt, its not worth all the money and effort that your going to put into it. You need to get over your fear of getting hurt. Explain to your parents how it makes you feel, how special riding a horse is to you. If you own horses or even lease a horse, you need to make sacrifices. You may need to give up other things to ride them. For example: I gave up soccer and 5 years of dance for horses. Yes I admit it took me a while to get over it, but not I am soo happy I did. I now have 5 horses of my own and 2 of those being fillies I delivered on my property. You will one day find a horse that will show you how important horseback riding really is to you. You will feel a connection between you and your horse and you will do anything to keep that special bond. this probably sounds a little corny but its true. Take it from someone who went through the same situation, and ended up having horses of my own and only being 14 years old.

[animalfrndzy]

Start riding western. It's really more fun, and most western breeds are not as hard to ride. Not as much foo foo tack either. I'm not trying to be rude but the people are a lot nicer & more down to earth.

[sam n alan]

i used to ride allot and my mum bought me a horse, i loved it! and yes i had to convince her too, its not easy trying to convince a parent, but this is how i did it:i mitered to death, they let me first work around them like mucking out and grooming, at my local stables! you have to make them see that you are responsible enough and know that you know your way around them, (get a book on horses and read up anything that you can find out about them look for it learn it and know it off by heart!) riding is dangerous of course it is you put your life in the horse, but if you are taught properly buy an instructor you will learn how to channel the horse to do what you want it to do!even when you know how to ride and how horses work, it can still be very hard, i bought a horse from a riding school, i knew the horse coz i grew up with her, but she was Young, and so was i, for the first couple of months i was on the floor more than on her back, but i learned how to fall and if you learn how to fall correctly you will not be hurt, i never broke a bone ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! believe me it will take along time for your parents to come round, but lust keep on at them, it is amazing exercise, and well worth the rewards, once i got to know sandy (my baby) i had many great times with her! keep going babe one day you will win them round!!!!!!

[Natasha D]

Ya'll are right about it being dangerous but so is driving a car and going swimming. I've ridden horses for 15 years and the worst thing that has ever happened to me was getting 7 stiches in my leg when my first pony ( i was 8 or 9) took me under a tree and I got caught on barb-wire. don't be scared, just be careful. everything you do has a risk involoved. A) use your horsey friends stuff to start getting back into riding. trade chorse for riding time at the stable, you know clean stalls and feed and stuff in exchange for riding lessons or just riding. true it is expensive, but if you prove that by going to the stable everyday and working your butt off and keeping good grades in school, your parents may see that this is something you really want. mostly they are worried about spending all the money to get you into it and then you suddenly deciding you don't like it and quitting wasteing all that money. sure they are worried about it being dangerous but mostly expensive. I'm 17 and ever since I got a job I've had to pay for everything for my horse, from farrier to feed, to shots and gas money to trailer her to rodeos. I personally know that it can drink up money very quickly. I mean to get started in itself will cost $1000 in stuff for the horse alone, then actually buying the horse. are you ready for the commitment? see if you can't get a job baby sitting or cleaning houses or small local jobs and save your money to help buy stuff for the horse. do some dog walking or something, or wash cars. your possibilities are endless, just because you can't drive and your not 16 ( from the sound of it you aren't and if you are, why haven't you gotten a job yet to do this stuff?) doesn't mean you can't work for money. mow lawns, girls can do just as much as guys can. B) Yes you should ride. It will keep you busy, and out of trouble and away from the wrong crowds at school. It's very rewarding to work all day and at the end to hear the satisfied munching of horse teeth gives you a feeling of accomplishment from the day. it's great exercise and opens your mind to listening to others even if it is a horse. the relationship between a girl and her horse is stonger than that of a boy and his dog. fatal is like you said, very very rare and in most cases those people had been riding 30 or more years before they even got hurt.

[Shisuren]

Everything you do could be potentially dangerous too you. I own a horse, and at first my mom would FREAK. I fall off sometimes, but again, I also run into walls. Ive injured myself more running into walls and tripping then i EVER have on a horse. Your parents need to realize because of some peoples mistakes (not riding right) does not mean every horse is evil and it will kill you. Maybe put off jumping for awhile, or do verry small jumps.

[clydey626]

it is dangerous but if your careful any injuries you get will heal. the worst i have done was break my jaw. wear a helmet!!!!also you can work at your barn to pay off lessons!

[caitlinwestern64]

taking lessons is not hard to do, and there isn't much danger if your on a well broke horse that isn't too young! i am 15 and i ride constantly. i broke my arm but i still ride and im still fne with horses. it didn't kill me =). you should understand that you are gonna get hurt a little and get a few bruises at least and at some point your gonna fall off but it's just as likely as getting hit by a car or getting into a car crash. a lot of barns will let you work off your lessons if the money is an issue and just ask for a calm gentle horse to start off with. explain that your a beginner and your parents are wryed that you might get hurt so you need a really safe horse. also ask for a smaller horse they are much safer and its less disance to fall. try out a pony or a paint or a quater horse they are calmer than say an arabian or a thoroughbred. (and thoroughbreds are BIG)and as a tip i its easier to stay in a western saddle. i fell out of an english saddle and thats because i am learning english because they are easier to come out of.

[Kristy N]

I think parents who know little about horses tend to be more nervous when their children are riding than parents who are an "educated layperson."Try and get them involved in what you do. Talk to them about it. Express your feelings openly and honestly. Bring them out to the stable to watch your lessons, and encourage them to talk to your trainer.If they still are opposed to it, I agree with some of the other commenters. Get a job to help pay for it. I know that you clarified that it's not really that your parents can't afford it, but that they are not willing to spend the money on an activity that they are not too keen on having you involved with anyway. By getting a job and working to help pay for your lessons though, you are showing them that you are a mature individual who is willing to give up her free time just so that she can work with horses. Believe me, even if they don't change their minds, they will absolutely respect you for your desire to work for what you want. Too many kids walk around with "entitlement-itis." Prove that you are not one of them. It'll make your parents sit up and take notice.Horseback riding is dangerous, but you can greatly reduce the risk by knowing your level. If you are a relatively green rider, stick to older, calmer horses until you get a little better. Always wear protective gear like gloves and your helmet. But, don't go through life weighing out the risks to everything you love. It takes all the fun out of it!! :)I hope my advice has helped and I sincerely hope that you are able to change your parents' minds. I think nothing is better for a girl your age than to get involved with horses. It builds character, especially if you had to work to get it.

[Lewis L]

Hmm, I think you should say to your parents ' there's a 50 50 chance of me falling off, and me getting ran over. I think you should buy a body protecter and let them know there's saftey measures to cover the worries they have

[christilicious]

Maybe if you get a job at the barn where they keep the jumping horses. You could muck stalls, feed horses, work out horses, everything. This way you may be able to find a mentor who will help you by lending you the equipment that you need. Maybe even lease you a horse.(that is the best way to go!!)When I was about 17 I met this man who raced horses. We live in TX and he raced in LA - I took care of his horses that he had at the farm in TX. When his horses were injured in a race, he showed me how to treat them and exercise them to bring them back to health so they could race again.He paid me plus I learned more in the year I was there then I have in my entire life!! He had a horse that wasn't fast enough for the track, and he GAVE it to me as payment for caring for his horses for a few months!! There was a jumping horse training facility around the corner - well I knew nothing about jumping horses- but I knew how to care for leg injuries and muscle injuries - I had done it for a year - so I was a valuable asset to the other riders at the facility. I was willing to lend them my advice and work their injured horses and they lent me everything I needed to jump.As for the dangerous part - a lot of people have already made very valid comments on that -sports are dangerous, heck flying on an airplane is dangerous...Best of Luck to you...

[spottedmyappy]

Hi there..Maybe you can help your parents understand (in a non whiny, mature, and calm manner) discuss with them how basically everything in life is dangerous in some way or another..and the best way to eliminate or reduce that danger is to learn learn learn...learn about safety, learn how to ride defensively, learn how to balance and sit properly...yes, accidents can (and do) happen, but if you are skilled, knowledgable and careful..you can prevent or minimize the effects of accidents.I would use the point that most young people who own horses are better balanced emotionally, have a higher sense of responsability, less likely to fall into drugs and sex..(hard to be all hung over and muck stalls, and you can't ride while pregnant!!)Maybe if you suggested to your parents that you will also take the responable route of getting a job to help pay for it..show them how responsable you can be in your every day life...suggest to them that if you fail to behave responsably, or if your grades fall... that they can take away your lessons, or your horse..ballet dancing can be dangerous, (I ruined my back doing that) walking down the street can be dangerous...express this to them in a mature manner, non-confrontational....you'd be surprised what a level head can accomplish..also..be very willing to listen to your parents side of it...really actively listen...don't dismiss what they say (that is childish) but engage them...tell them you would like to help them feel more at ease with the idea of you riding...suggest that maybe they could speak to a good authorized jumping/riding instructor to help them allay their fears.(Also, if you learn young you will be less likely to get injured as an adult when they wont be able to prevent you from getting a horse...because you'll already have all that training under your belt.)good luck...and be prepared for them to say no....and accept it...don't cry, yell, get upset..just give it more time..and approach them again at a later date...if you do the whole upset thing...the likelyhood of them being willing to listen to you at a later time is greatly diminished.

[Mustang Tuck]

I know what you mean about the dangerous part but I have been on horses since I was three and started riding lessons when I was seven and so far I've fallen off at least 15 times and I wouldn't stop if the president told me to. As for convincing your parents remind them that you will be wearing a helmet and EVERY SINGAL SPORT IN THE WORLD IS DANGEROUS thats the fun part. Trust me I sometimes get more scared then my parents do.Also, if you want, you could try writting a persuasive letter to your parents about why you want to start riding. They'll think about it more if they know you took the time to write to them about it. Good Luck!

[Athena A]

I think falling is part of riding. if you're scared what's the point in riding if you're gonna get off after the horse tries to buck [for example] or something. horses know when a rider is scared. & high strung ones can be dangerous. they'll try to do something stupid & the rider will never want to get on a horse again [well they'll be scared to get back on.] it's an expensive sport.you have to have guts. jumping is dangerous. barrel racing is dangerous. racing is dangerous. everything you do on a horse is dangerous. they're thousand pound animals who could kill us with a kick in the head!!! soo if you're scaredjust don't ride. [im not saying you're a bad rider since i dont kno u. but u shouldnt ride if you're so scared.] i say if you want to work with horses, do something like halter or just work in a barn or something.

[Gina P]

you know what I say? If you like to ride and if riding is in your dreams, follow your dreams and keep riding, girlfriend! horseback riding can be dangerous but if you have a loving, caring horse, it is only a tad dangerous! RIDE! don't let anything stop you if that is wat you want to do!!! go for it! hope this helps you out! you need to make decisions for yourself and not for you parents! think about it also and dod not rush yourself in anything! good luck!