Centre Parcs criticised for calling horse riding a 'girl's activity'

'Ponies are for everyone,' says Twitter user

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Centre Parcs has been criticised for appearing to label horse riding as an activity primarily for girls, rather than both girls and boys.

On Wednesday, Twitter user Lou Forrest shared a screenshot from a section on the Centre Parcs France website regarding its pony riding holiday package.

In the description for the activity, the holiday park company wrote: “Girls (and boys) aged 5 to 12 will discover how to look after a pony.

“They will learn how to feed it, brush it etc. Then children can saddle up the ponies and go for a ride in the Children’s Farm and in the domain.”

Forrest took issue with the company’s use of brackets, explaining that it discouraged her nephew from wanting to take part.

“@centerparcsfr can you explain your use of brackets in this sentence please?” Forrest wrote.

“What my nephew thought is that pony care is really only for girls. Why discourage half of children from booking this activity?”

Forrest’s tweet was promptly shared by Let Toys Be Toys – an organisation which campaigns against gender stereotypes – which echoed the same concerns.

“This is really strange wording @centerparcsfr - could you update it please? Ponies are for everyone,” it wrote.

The description has since come under fire from a number of social media users, with many asking Centre Parcs France to explain why it referred to horse rising as a girl’s activity.

“Can’t it just say ‘children aged 5-12’ ... I mean it’s really not *that* hard!?,” one person wrote.

A second user agreed, adding: “Perhaps try the word ‘children’?”

Another person stated that they had shared a similar experience to Forrest, writing: “Ridiculous. My son stopped riding as the teacher constantly referred to the class as ‘girls’.”

The Independent has contacted Centre Parcs France for comment.

Last month, Lego was criticised as sexist for featuring a comic strip that said girls would “stick out like sore thumbs” among a group of scientists.

The cartoon featured a scene which showed two characters having a conversation about going to a meeting.

“I think we should secretly go to the meeting too, just in case Carter tries something sneak,” one says.

The other character responds: “You’re right, but we won’t be able to just walk right in. A group of girls among researchers – we’ll stick out like sore thumbs.”

The group of girls eventually decided to dress up as bakers and give out muffins so that “nobody will suspect a thing”.