Opinions!!!!!!!

[OneAccord]

No, I wouldn't let her ride the distance... but not for the reasons you listed. This info is old, but, worth considering....

During 1987 and 1988, an estimated 92,763 emergency room visits were made in the United States for injuries related to horseback riding. Although the greatest number of injuries occurred in the 25-44-year age group, injury rates were highest for 5-24-year-olds, especially for females (Table 1).

Nearly half the injuries occurred at home or on a farm (Table 2). Soft tissue injury (e.g., laceration, contusion, or abrasion) was the most common diagnosis, followed by fracture or dislocation, strain or sprain, and concussion (Table 2). Most injuries to the extremities and trunk involved soft tissue, fractures and dislocations, and strains and sprains. Head and neck injuries were mainly soft tissue (56.9%), concussions (18.5%), and fractures or dislocations (11.0%). The 14,120 fractures to upper extremities represented the single most common site and type of injury.

Compare the risk of horse riding injuries to the risk of what could happen on the road, then decide.

In my opinion, the risk of injuries from horse back rding outweigh the risks involved with her riding a bike 2.5 miles down the road.

[Rhoni]

Abbie, I agree that with age we need to let our children have more rope, but with the fun is responsibility. I think a first aid class, a self defense class, and given a little more mileage at a time to work up to that 2.5 mi. Children don't understand the dangers and don't have the experience in certain situations to know what to do.

My children and I used to have fire drills. If there was a fire we would all go out the nearest window and stand by the mailbox so everyone would know who is and isn't accounted for. Safety first.

I didn't check a box because none quite fit.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

You shouldn't allow her to travel alone. If there were multiple riders with her, I might consider it. A solo thirteen year old, perverts, and a semi-empty country road isn't a good recipe.


Drive her there, leave her under the supervision of the trainer, and have her call you when she's ready for pick-up.

I assume that your decision is already made by this time of the evening. But for the record, 1Cor is making very good sense here. That was my first thought when I read your question to start with.

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Okay, Jeff and I are disagreeing about something, and he gave me permission to get the opinions of AFF!!!!

Hannah is starting riding lessons, and we live 2.5 miles from the stables. Jeff wants to let her ride her bike to the lessons (when its warm enough--it's not right now), and I DON'T think she's old enough to do that yet!!!!!

The pros are:

* We live in the country, so she wouldn't have to get on any main highways to get where's she's going.

* Jeff thinks she needs a little more freedom.

* She would have a cell phone and would have to call as soon as she arrived.

* She's 13.

Uh, I can't think of anymore pros.

The cons are:

* We live in the country, she would have to cross a bridge on the way, and some people do drive very fast on these country roads.

* She's 13.

* I don't like it.


Am I being unreasonable? I think 2.5 miles is too far. Right now she's only allowed to explore the dirt roads around our house which kind of wind around, and even though she has about a mile of road, she's never more than a quarter mile from our front door.

I can envision all kinds of things happening between our house and the stables.

I'm getting panicky thinking about it.

What are your thoughts? Am I being neurotic? Would you let your 13 year old ride that far?

Miss B,

I would give her instructions and training, and then let her go.

Then I would test her instructions and training, perhaps with the help of a neighbor.

If she didn't pass the test, her freedom would be put on hold for another year.

[Fiyahstarter]

I wouldn't let my daughters do it...and I wouldn't let my son do it either. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't even do it myself. There are far too many DRUNKS on the road and kids (and adults) trying to drive with cell phones. I don't even like being in my car. I prefer the pickup when we travel!!! Signed, me... out there!

[pelathais]

The best we can do is teach them and pray for them. They will find trouble. I'm saddened by most of the responses here. If I lived out of town a bit like MissBrat I would have turned my kids loose even more.

I grew up in one of the most remote areas outside of the National Parks and designated Wilderness areas. It was just about 1 mile to the mailbox and I did that all of the time on bike, on foot or otherwise.

It was then a left turn and another mile and a half to the first nuke silo and underground launch control bunker. I did that a lot on a bike. I saw coyotes, prong horn, jack rabbits, porcupine and then there was this fierce badger warren on the property past the nuke site.

And bull snakes so long that they would have their heads in the ditch on one side of the road and their tail still in the weeds on the other.

[Fiyahstarter]

Originally Posted by pelathais

If I lived out of town a bit like MissBrat I would have turned my kids loose even more.

Now I'm thinking just the opposite... I DO live in the country and I can tell you many drunk drivers take to the "back roads" in order to avoid police and heavier traffic. I am a "walker" and I am very cautious walking on these back roads... Cars FLY by at high rates of speed. (Some drunks and some young kids behind the wheel... feeling their oats, I guess.) Over the years, many cars have swerved at me I've nearly been hit several times ... NO WAY I'd ever let my kids ride their bikes on THESE back roads.

However,

I always thought that if I lived "in town", where there were sidewalks and people everywhere... it might have been a different story.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Okay, Jeff and I are disagreeing about something, and he gave me permission to get the opinions of AFF!!!!

Hannah is starting riding lessons, and we live 2.5 miles from the stables. Jeff wants to let her ride her bike to the lessons (when its warm enough--it's not right now), and I DON'T think she's old enough to do that yet!!!!!

The pros are:

* We live in the country, so she wouldn't have to get on any main highways to get where's she's going.

* Jeff thinks she needs a little more freedom.

* She would have a cell phone and would have to call as soon as she arrived.

* She's 13.

Uh, I can't think of anymore pros.

The cons are:

* We live in the country, she would have to cross a bridge on the way, and some people do drive very fast on these country roads.

* She's 13.

* I don't like it.


Am I being unreasonable? I think 2.5 miles is too far. Right now she's only allowed to explore the dirt roads around our house which kind of wind around, and even though she has about a mile of road, she's never more than a quarter mile from our front door.

I can envision all kinds of things happening between our house and the stables.

I'm getting panicky thinking about it.

What are your thoughts? Am I being neurotic? Would you let your 13 year old ride that far?

I think this is one time that your husband should take your feelings into consideration. 30 or 40 years ago you might of been unreasonable, but today I hardly think that she would be safe. Just my thoughts which aren't really worth a hill of beans. LOL!

[TRFrance]

A 13 year old boy... maybe.

A 13 year old girl... NEVER!!

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

A 13 year old boy... maybe.

A 13 year old girl... NEVER!!

You know, as I was reading this thread I thought the same thing. Perhaps if MissBrattified's husband would let his daughter have a gun then....................maybe?