NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/rec/equestri/5732

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-20 | 1.6 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!vtserf!morse.cns.vt.edu!dabay
From: [e-mail] (Marian Dabay)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: Black Stallion (was Horsey Dinner Theatres...)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 20 Nov 92 17:30:37 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Lines: 26

>I see very very few boys riding in lessons.  There's a question, why
>do the lower levels of competition and pleasure ownership seem to
>be female dominated, yet the Grand Prix levels are even or even male-
>dominated?  What's the theory behind this?
>

According to Ian Millar in his book about Big Ben (I think that's
where I read it), his theory is that most young girls are horse
crazy and are willing to spend all their free time riding and such,
until they become teen-agers, then they find more exciting things
(like boys!!) and aren't as motivated to spend the time needed to
become top riders.  Whereas there are fewer young boys who are
interested in horses, but those boys seem to have the dedication to
continue riding when they become teen-agers.  He goes on to say that
for a lot of young girls, riding is a social, peer-oriented thing,
and that once a few girls drop out, the others follow, since most of
them are only doing it because "every one else does".  Since it's not the
"in" thing for young boys to do, most of the ones riding are
seriously committed to riding.

Makes sense to me!!  Anyone one else ever heard this "theory"??

Marian Dabay