# Have you ever ridden a horse? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335 "2009-10-27T19:29:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/41 "2009-10-28T04:01:39Z")
I have ridden a (zoo) elephant, and pony rides as a kid. In my early twenties, I was dating a “farm girl”. She grew up around horses all her life. She invited me to go riding with her. I managed to get on without falling off, and enjoyed walking around the corral for a while. She lead, and we rode at a slow walk to start on the path. I was slowly getting the hang of it while she gave instructions. About 5 minutes into the ride, she says “let’s have some fun” and takes off at full speed. For some stupid horse reason, my horse started sprinting after her horse. I was scared as all get out, but I still didn’t fall off. It was fun, but I prefer to speed with a seat belt. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/42 "2009-10-28T04:16:18Z")
Yes, but oddly never in Texas. I qualify because the wife and I took a trot on a couple of horses they have on the beach at Hua Hin over here. I have ridden elephants, however. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/43 "2009-10-28T04:22:42Z")
When I was about 9, I stole my grandmother’s clothesline rope, snuck through the fence and rode the ponies that had been moved into the field next door. I did it every day for about a month before I was caught. The horse owner was horrified and amused, so he asked my family if it would be ok to teach me so I wdidn’t kill myself. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/44 "2009-10-28T04:25:30Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Yes, ( A lot in 1959 & 1960 ) & used to rope calves in small town rodeos also. You traded it for an iron horse, I see. 😉 I used to ride horses as often as I could, as a kid. There was a riding stables close enough that my mom would take us out there on the weekends. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/45 "2009-10-28T05:13:54Z")
Not really, just pony rides as a small child. Oh, and an elephant once. I’m kind of wary of horses, so I don’t mind not have more experience with them. ---
**Author:** ![Blisters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Blisters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisters)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/46 "2009-10-28T06:20:03Z")
We raised cattle when I was young, so I voted yes. His name was Ringo, and he was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/47 "2009-10-28T14:02:48Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Given your username, I have to ask… have you ever ridden a pig? Is that even possible? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/48 "2009-10-28T14:13:06Z")
When I was a horse-maddened 12 year old (do girls still go through a horse phase? Collect the models, go see the horse shows at the fair, read horse books - King of the Wind, anyone?) - my uncle took us for a trail ride on nice slow old nags. I say with all seriousness, this was one of the high points of my life - a dream come true!!! (My first words after mounting up? "Hey, this thing’s moving!) ---
**Author:** ![Floppy\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@Floppy\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floppy_Joe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/49 "2009-10-28T15:02:41Z")
Yup. Currently own 4½ horses. ½=miniature pony ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/50 "2009-10-28T16:02:32Z")
Many times, but not since I was in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/51 "2009-10-28T16:18:50Z")
Well, I voted yes, but it is pretty equivocal. My two experiences riding horses were…_dicey_ and brief. I like horses just fine, but am not experienced with them at all. Last time was in my mid or late teens on one of my cousin’s and I ended up on my ass in the grass. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/52 "2009-10-28T16:19:59Z")
Yes. I really enjoy it, don’t get to do it all that often. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/53 "2009-10-28T16:49:44Z")
Yes. It’s not really all it’s cracked up to be 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/54 "2009-10-28T16:51:12Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > You traded it for an iron horse, I see. 😉 > . LOL, yeah you could say that. 😃 I always wanted to ride a good “Tennessee Walker” but never got the chance. My wife always says: “Nope, don’t want to ride something that does not have an ‘OFF’ switch.” he he he ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/55 "2009-10-28T16:54:54Z")
Oh shit, wait a minute, do ponies count? If they do then yes. And a goat once (of course I was a lot smaller than I am now). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/56 "2009-10-28T18:20:12Z")
I’m going to answer no, but I have been on a horse once. I was visiting somewhere with my dad when I was young and I had the opportunity to get on a horse. I remember sitting way up there and tenatively messing with the reins a little, but the horse just wandered around whereever it wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/57 "2009-10-28T18:27:32Z")
I was on a horse on a tourist trail ride in Muskoka once when I was a teenager. That’s the only time. I don’t know any horse people or anything, so it’s something I’d have to make an effort to do now. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/58 "2009-10-28T18:32:49Z")
Yes, I have sat a gee. I haven’t in a long time, though. My family spent a week at a horse ranch outside of Yellowstone. Later I went to two summer camps in Washington riding horses every day for a week each. Since then, not so much. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/59 "2009-10-28T18:43:25Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Most of the people who respond to this poll are going to be horse-riders. As I’m writing this, it’s currently 17-zip. We did it a few times when I was a kid. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have even read this thread. So yeah, you’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335/60 "2009-10-28T19:53:05Z")
It’s possible that I went on a pony ride or something as a kid, but I don’t remember it. And never as an adult. So no. I have a mild form of MD, and climbing onto the horse would be hard and embarrassing. Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-ridden-a-horse/515335.md?page=4)