I figured it was a significant detail that only Jane could ride horses, and second-eldest Elizabeth's walking a symptom of another form of Mr. Bennet's increasing apathy towards the education of each child
@@nitka711 Agreed, she makes it very clear in the books that he dotes on Elizabeth in particular. If she had wanted to ride, I'm sure she would have had no end of chances
@@nitka711I suppose he showed his love more by spoiling her than concerning himself with her education/preparing her for adult life. After all, he loved her so much but never engaged a governess or anything. He was never that future minded about his daughters’ social standing.
I love all the theories as to why Lizzy does not ride horses. I'm more interested in why she likes to walk so much. When she's in Kent with Maria and Charlotte, she is the only one of the ladies who goes out each morning for a solitary walk. Hence the opportunity for Darcy and the Colonel to bump into her and join/interrupt her. We know she's capable of long walks with little effort (the 3 mile walk to care for Jane), but Kent shows us that she really enjoys taking walks.
If I have some "deep thinking" to do, i walk. Up and down the hallway, if no alternative. 😉 My brains don't work properly unless my feet move. 😄 Maybe it's the samr for other people, too. 🤷
I guess that it connects to Elizabeth’s independent and thoughtful personality. In the book, Mrs Bingley considered Elizabeth walking 3 miles to Netherfield to show a form of “conceited independence”. I suppose ladies going for long walks was considered improper perhaps with no male escort.
l have always thought that the theme Lizzy loving to walk was a perfect trait for a character created with the drives of the literary romanticism.. all that relationship with the nature, the struggle, a preferred distance to the carriage technology that was not only an indicator of wealth but also an element enabling their contemporary speed, makes a clear contrast with the preferences with the age..but what does this horse detail tell ? l could not figure..
I read an article a while back that stated that Elizabeth’s walking was actually a part of claiming her independence as a woman and demonstrating that her womanhood had more to it than her appearance. It reported that there were groups of young women at the time who took to walking long distances over other modes as a form of protest. I’ll link it if I can find it.
@@sunkintreeI would assume it had to do with the fact it was uncommon for women to walk “so much” in those times. Since their feet were too delicate to be touching the ground, and getting calluses. Also can’t have them sweating. It’s a no-no. There was also the issue of the sun. Had to remain as pale as possible. Women in those time were considered such “delicate little creatures” that over exertion of 1 activity, even a small one as walking, was too big of a “workout” for frail frames. A woman of class would never allow herself to be over exerted. So I guess women like Elizabeth choosing to walk over other modes of transportation was them defying the myth of women being frail, delicate “creatures”.
I cannot get a driver's license, so I walk and ride a bike during summer time. But even if I could get it, I would not want it. The town where I live is very walkable.
Having a drivers license BUT the cost of a car, the upkeep of a car, fuel, incurrence, mandatory trier changes,…. *much to expensive* in this economy …Even as I still worked in IT
@@EughhBrothereughhI'm more terrified of losing the freedom that comes with not driving. I've driven 8+ hours by myself as a woman across Statelines. Driving is generally safe. It also buys you a freedom. You can do anything you want and take yourself anywhere you want. Relying on others or a significant other to drive me places sounds terrifying. My 90 year neighbor still driver herself everywhere. Also, friends, husband's or anyone who regularly has to drive you around, or who has to do the errands because they can't rely on you will start feeling resentment for you. They'll lose respect, become contemptuous and think less of you. If I was the one having to stop by the store on my way home because you couldn't go pick up a few needed items I'd eventually break up with you or stop being friends
@@dalishrogue3621 It's not the worst in Canada. Way better than what I hear about a lot of US cities. I do walk to the grocery store. Bus to work is mildly slow but not obscene. It's somewhat reliable if I overcompensate by being early for things.
If they had a limited amount of horses in their stable and Lizzie didn't like waiting for a turn or causing her younger sisters to wait, walking was a good option. It also gave her more freedom of movement in where she was meandering and letting her own thoughts roam with out having to control and care for an animal.
Yes, plus keeping a riding horse was expensive and they had carriage horses instead and eve they were probably used for other things too. Best way to get rid of esnoying siblings is to walk because they are too lazy to want to go that far or that fast.
Agreed! In the chaos and absurdity of comment sections, this is one of the few calm, safe havens for expressing thoughts and theories! I absolutely love the energy the comment sections of these videos always have! 😁
I think she walks because she has time to enjoy being outside and, with not having to concentrate on controlling the horse, she has time with her own thoughts. Also it's easier to talk with a companion (ie Charlotte)on foot, rather than at a slight distance from horseback. Jane, who doesn't seem to have a 'particular friend ', rides because she doesn't have anyone to ramble about with
That's why I don't drive, because I want to enjoy the ride and not concentrate on driving (well, it's one of the main reasons, not the only one, but I do love for a car to just take me away while I daydream). It's also easier to talk to someone who's not driving, yes, otherwise they might lose focus.
Elizabeth was very practical & frugal. Saving $$ on the expense was beneficial to her over indulgent younger sisters. She was very much her father's daughter...
@@aking3624 Mr Bennett wasn't frugal. He let Mrs Bennett spend whatever she wanted up to the limit of their income; hence not having saved anything to go towards dowries for his daughters
@@kikidevine694 He didn't spend money on himself nor was he inclined to reign in his wife's & extravagant daughters spending. I don't recall him splurging on himself, thus my comment of him being frugal...
@@aking3624 the definition of frugal is to be exceptionally careful with money and resources in order to save as much as possible. Which he isn't. He allows Mrs Bennett to give the girls money to waste on bonnets and trimmings and clothes. He lives within his means, but he doesn't scrimp and save
1. Honestly, horse/horse riding is scary. 2. I wonder if that detail was added to further distinguish her from other ladies in her class? Especially when she arrived at Bingley's and his sisters remarked on her clothes.
Those are great points! And it's such a distinctive character building point across time periods. It's one of the first things people often think of with Elizabeth.
@@EllieDashwood I wonder if, also, it might have something to do with the concept of control: a pedestrian has complete control of where and how to go; and is also basically responsible for only one creature. A horse can be difficult, and requires looking after when you've gotten where you need or want to be. Kind of like needing to park your car...
It's possible she was thrown when she was younger. As someone whose ridden most of my life it's not uncommon for even experienced riders to deal with confidence issues if they're bucked or thrown off in a bad way. Especially if an injury occurs. It's still not uncommon for riders to be killed even with modern day inventions like the riding helmet.
Also her parents “allowing her to be willful” a lady of her class would have been forced to learn even after falling off a horse or taken a carriage. That long of a walk was rebellious the mud on top of that 😅
In the 95 miniseries, Elizabeth is shown climbing a wooden stile to cross a fence on her way to see Jane. I wonder if her preference for traveling by foot was because horses would be more limited in where they could travel? Sure, a horse is faster, but I can see Elizabeth opting for freedom of movement over speed.
In England there is a law which still exists today saying that gates should be made so that they can be opened from horseback, I.e. without dismounting. On another note, jumping in side saddle is not that hard for a skilled rider.
@@mycroftholmes8261 The Bennetts kept a few horses that worked on their land and they were occasionally used to pull the carriage when called upon. I highly doubt they would excel at steeplechase...
When I've had to share my car with my older sister, I never felt like driving because it felt like an extra step for driving to ask my older sister's permission, Jane and Lizzie were probably close enough and their family's financial situation meant they probably needed to share a horse and their mum who is running the household probably favours Jane for both beauty and being the elder
This is something I found in a Google search "Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is portrayed as an active and outdoorsy character, but her lack of interest in riding horses is not explicitly explained in Jane Austen's novel. It could be a narrative choice by Austen to emphasize Elizabeth's distinctive qualities and preferences, as well as to highlight the social and gender norms of the time. Riding horses was a common activity for the upper class during the Regency era, and Elizabeth's choice not to participate might reflect her independent spirit and refusal to conform to societal expectations."
My point exactly! Elizabeth's sister Jane was the perfect eldest sister who was probably graceful in all the 'arts' that a woman was expected to know; languages (at least French and Italian), painting, needlework, flower arranging, and horseback riding (it was considered a 'sport' and exercise at the time).
Usually when someone says someone is 'no horseman/woman' it's not about them liking or not liking horses, it means they're not any *good* at it. There's no beef with the horses, she's just not skilled.
@@goeticfolklore it’s less Lizzie being unconventional and more the narrative giving her a fault. It’s something she’s not good at. It’s something she would be embarrassed to not be good at and she walks everywhere to make up for or even hide that she’s not good at riding.
Horseback riding ( I'm speculating from other novels ) was seen as a sport/hobby that women of *fashion* were expected to take up and be proficient at. Elizabeth was a true nonconformist. 😉
I read a book once that suggested Lizzie doesn't do horses because Jane Austen didn't like them herself. From a plot POV, arriving on horseback probably would've meant she didn't bump into Darcy. Her being 'no horsewoman' she couldn't just ride anyway, because she'd be limited by her own ability to jump fences, etc. And the Bennets clearly don't have the money for spare hacks. (Sidenote, can you imagine how disastrous it would be if Lydia was allowed to join in with super-expensive, dangerous, and fashionable male-centric sports??)
Walking is much simpler than riding. You can just get dressed, leave and go wherever you want. If you are riding, you also have to get the horse ready, there aren't as many places where it fits and if you want to take a break you have to also find a place for the horse to rest
i also take extremely long walks when i want to escape an unpleasant situation at home. and Lizzie’s home had plenty of opportunities to have unpleasant situations.
yes, I walk for a while most days. I am not extremely athletic because I have a chronic illness, so if she was fit like it says, she could walk that with ease. :).
I think it could be a matter of taste, but also that with 5 daughters and it being said that the horses are often needed for other things- they dont have their own horses or much opportunity to go horseriding. Jane likes it when she has the option, but Eliza likes exercising and being outdoors more often and so takes her long walks
Elizabeth *can* play the piano but lacks the desire to practice. She plays at Rosings where Lady Catherine, rather rudely, offers Elizabeth the chance to pratise, saying she "will be in no one's way".
Until fairly recent times, walking with friends and family was a common activity. Walking to no particular destination, walking to have conversations, walking to see things in detail, walking to work out problems. In a few countries, it is still a social and solitary activity.
That's one of my favorite parts in the movie adaptation ( the one with Keira Knightly) when she says " Im rather fond of walking" and the way Mr Darcy says " yes I know". There's something in the way he says it, like you can tell its something he loves about her! They did such a good job on that version!
Ladies of that time had to ride side saddle and at a sedate pace. Elizabeth is a lively young woman and probably preferred the freedom of movement that walking gave her. Plus, the family had only one horse, so it could only be used for riding on certain occasions if it wasn't working in the fields. Otherwise, they would travel in the carriage en famille
@@kikidevine694I'm not sure it's entirely an issue of what you CAN do riding side-saddle, though I'm sure there are limitations, but rather, how women were expected to conduct themselves on horseback. Also, and I may be wrong, I recall reading something on the development of trousers and split skirt dresses in the 19th century allowing women to ride astride without clothing getting in the way.
@@user-iy2nq6iw1x there are extant Georgian habits with trousers. They were developed to protect the legs against chafing and exposure. A lot of ladies were renowned as fearless riders, sidesaddle, on the hunt. The 'ideal& of women being delicate blooms was actually more of a Victorian middle class thing, upper class women were often expected to be much more adventurous. Obviously not all women would hunt, but a fair number did. Empress Elizabeth of Germany was renowned as a fearless, sidesaddle equestrienne, and she wasn't alone
I think it’s also reference to their economic standing. They didn’t have a lot of money for their class. The scene before her long walk already references the horses not being available for the carriage, because they’re working the farm. I don’t think bennets had a lot of time money or horses for pure pleasure riding.
Jane, being the eldest, seemed to know the basics of riding. Lizzie, a nonconformist, was disinterested and perhaps they couldn't spare a mount for her to learn on.
I always thought her distaste for horse riding was a mild form of feminism. Since tiding astride was unlady-like but the more safe and comfortable manner to ride. You also feel safer (whether it was safer or not) to gallop faster astride then riding side saddle. Feminism wasnt referred to as such but her books always had a lady or means and of none that would buck -in her own way- against the system.
It’s interesting that in the other adaptation, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, she does seem to ride horses. Probably because it’s a parallel dimension where knowing how to ride to battle zombies was a necessity. So even if she had beef with the horses, she would have had little choice about it 🤔 I wonder..
I had such a hard time finishing the movie and I'm a huge P&P fan and zombie genre fan. It felt like a bad fanfiction. I'm curious to hear from anyone who finished it if it got better by the end.
@@propogandalfIt definitely felt like two interspliced movies, but I still really enjoyed it! But I am neither a big P&P nor a particular zombie fan, so I wasn't expecting a good portrayal of either.
This point is very interesting. Knowing her personality, my guess is that Lizzy prefers to be n control of any aspect of her life that she can be, and horses, while trained, can still be unwieldily.
I read a book that talked about the health of women in that time, and walking was put forward as healthy. But, in reading P& P, My favourite, I thought it was cos they couldn't afford a horse just for riding. But after watching my favourite Austen movies lately, it has to be because riding side-saddle is just too uncomfortable. 😅 You know
I always imagined that she could have an accident while riding a horse in the past. Perhaps when she was a child and we know she is brave and daring she galopped too fast and had a serious accident like Bonnie Blue though she would survive.
According to Wikipedia, the first usable "balance bicycle" was invented in 1817 - if you search using its nickname "dandy horse" there is a picture on Wikipedia, and in the same article an illustration of "Johnson's Ladies' Walking Machine" - definitely worth a look. Maybe this channel could do a short on it, or something slightly longer on why the progress as far as modern bicycles took so long?
Bicycles can be somewhat limited in the countryside when you're dealing with dirt roads. Heavy rain could easily wash out a road so that wheeled transport could become a big hassle (last year I was teaching in a rural area where a couple of farm kids missed a day of school because their driveway was flooded), whereas walking or riding would be more flexible in where you can go.
@@ugthump2753 I wonder whether an added complication was that rubber wasn't "invented" until about 1830, and (apparently) John Dunlop didn't come up with the rubber tyre until 1882. Without the cushioning that an inflated rubber tyre provides, riding a metal/wooden wheeled bicycle directly on the road must have been a pretty uncomfortable trip! (I hate to imagine what would happen if you rode over a stone or a pothole in the road . . .) I believe the first bicycle with pedals didn't appear until the 1860s, but I'm not sure whether they had brakes or not.
Elizabeth not liking to ride horses is a detail I didn't remember. That does provide some things to ponder as to why that may have been the case, especially since she was okay riding in carriages and such pulled by horses.
"as she was no horsewoman" doesn't mean she doesn't like it, it just means she's not into it/good at it. I'm also no horsewoman, but I have nothing against it. It's just not something I excel at or am super into. She had two options, horse or walk, and she isn't a horsewoman so....walk it is. And luckily, she's learned to love it.
Idk how I managed to make my recommended about this Jane Austen stuff but now I am very interested in this, and would probably read every book you talk about now
I feel her in my soul. I dont have a drivers license, so I walk. Its a good way to get places especially backroads. Its not even about beefing with cars/horses, I literally cant drive and am nervous to start after all this time...maybe Lizzie is the same? 😅❤
I always thought that Elizabeth Bennet wasn’t the best at anything but that was what made her so likable. She wasn’t good at piano and always spoke her mind. She didn’t care what other people thought of her and everyone sought out her advice. It’s why Darcy liked her and hated himself for it. She was just cool.
in my last neighborhood everyone always said I loved to walk in general, but I don't actually care at all about walking?? they just said this because I walked everywhere in our neighborhood, where things were like a 10-30 min walk, and I despised most of the people there so I never took their offered rides. and I didn't have a license
I think it’s a way to enforce the idea that Elizabeth is strong of will and body compared to her sisters, especially Jane. In Mansfield Park, Fanny being a rider is pointed out by other characters as being because of her weak constitution and timidity. She’s compared to Mary who is strong willed, robust, and a walker.
I always took it as just a trait. Jane Austen is always good at differentiating her characters by their interests, with no real significant reasons and no direct results on the plot, although you could speculate on what is says about their personalities. Like, Elinor and Marianne have diverse talents and interests, drawing and music. You could say that one is quiet and contemplative and involves observation, and the other is passionate and loud and demands notice, but the text doesn't say that explicitly. The Bennetts explicitly COULD learn anything they had an interest in and took initiative to ask for (probably to their detriment). Lizzy was never interested in horse riding (although it doesn't say whether she doesn't KNOW how), so she isn't accomplished in it.
I think we are overthinking. There isn't a lot of age gap between Jane and Lizzy. They would have learned most things together, given how close they are. She was probably just scared of horses or heights.😅
Some people are afraid of horses, maybe she had a bad fall as a child, or perhaps she was allergic to them. Also at the time, ladies would have had to ride side saddle. As an equestrian myself I once got an opportunity to ride sidesaddle under the instruction of an experienced side saddle rider. It’s absolutely wild. The amount of strength and balance required to do anything more than a very slow walk is massive, and my cranky old spine did not appreciate having to sit twisted for even the 45 minutes of the lesson. So yeah, I can imagine lots of people would opt to either walk or ride only in a wagon/carriage/sleigh if they had the choice. By the way, I’ve been lucky to drive as well and I love it. Especially as I’ve gotten older and I don’t bounce as well as I used to when I was younger. That isn’t to say driving is 100% safe. You can have some absolutely epic wrecks while driving, but the garden variety fall is a lot less common.
Me being a girl with multiple sisters. I never liked having similar hobbies or activities to them. So I imagine it’s that. Her just wanting to be different from siblings everyone keeps saying “they all look or behave alike”. With or, parents always comparing n contrasting them to.
‘Not a horsewoman’ = not very good at riding. Better to walk than look clumsy and awkward on horseback (or fall off!). Not only is riding an acceptable form of exercise it’s also one of the ways the more dashing ladies attract attention during the ‘promenade’ part of the day. Promenading (walking about during the fashionable part of the day) was a socially acceptable way for unmarried men and women to spend time together with slightly less supervision than sitting in drawing rooms. Women wore special ‘walking dresses’ and carried pretty parasols all designed to garner attention with a view to finding a husband.
I just assumed she wasn't very good at it or didn't like horses. In the same way people aren't good at driving or prefer other means like walking, cycling or public transport.
As a rider: Fear. Horseriding can be absolutely terrifying. They are pretty darn huge. They are fast. And being that darn frightening you would think they'd be laid back, gentle beasts, but they get spooked by anything. Balls, kites, rustling etc. Any rider knows someone who has had a bad fall. If, on top of this inherent danger, I was forced to ride in one of those weird side saddles, I would rather walk as well.
I fell off a horse my papa, pick me up and put me back on and while I was crying. I rode that horse around the corral. and then I was giggling and laughing, and telling Blackie that he was a good horse. He was a good boy. Yes, he was rubbing his neck. i’m glad my paw paw pick me up and put me back on that’s been my whole life if I fall make a mistake I get back on it and that’s because of my paw paw what he did for me when I was four that’s what I do for myself, my whole life that was his doing. I am so glad.
@@biancamoore413 Well yes, riding is awesome and so is getting back in the saddle but I'm referring to that bad fall almost all of us have witnessed, if you just rode for enough years. That time when bones crunched. That time where the instructor told the kid to get back on and they couldn't.
@@JuMiKu I know right I had a friend that did that she fell off when she was nine and her mom put her back on but she got right off and she never rode again. It was just too hard for her. Her fear ran so deep in her, even being around horses, she, she couldn’t, so yeah, I understand that some people just can’t. The fear runs too deep and they just can’t.
@@biancamoore413 I actually meant the more physical "can't". If you witness someone being thrown off and trampled as a kid, it can be enough to put you off for life. My comment was meant to convey that with bad accidents being pretty common even today, with those death-contraptions that they called side-saddles, I'm guessing that plenty of people rather walked, as they had witnessed or heard of horrible accidents.
@@JuMiKu oh yeah, I did not think about that but I should have. Yeah I can imagine what it was like back then and I bet a lot of people were scared of horses because they saw accidents of their families and friends where they died. that makes total sense.
Personally, I think horses are terrifying. I don't hate them, I realize they're extremely intelligent and beautiful, I just have a healthy respect for things that can take me out with one kick.
Mhhh.... It's possible she just didn't enjoy it? Doesn't even mean she's afraid. I like horses and I did learn to ride as a kid but I honestly didn't like using another living creature as a vehicle. Maybe it's different when you own your own horse and you take care of it and build a relationship but otherwise I always felt weird and couldn't enjoy it. I liked to spend time with the horses though
I had a notion that Elizabeth might have had the wrong 'figure' for a good seat, which the more classical Jane would have had. Darcy 'detected, with a critical eye, more than one failure if perfect symmetry in her form' so Elizabeth was likely less of the movie star we're accustomed to seeing in the film versions, which might have made it harder to balance side-saddle though it would have made no difference if she could have ridden astride! Or it could have been simply a plot device to ensure she walked and shocked everyone with no motive behind it 😂 - especially since Jane rides and you don't want all your character to have the same interests!
Since Lizzy is a reader, I think walking provided her time to read while walking as well as being outdoors. Like killing two birds with one stone. Just a thought
I don't care how perfect and strong of a character people seem to be. Everyone is afraid of something. Maybe she witnessed someone's head getting bashed in or fallen off and died? This could have traumatized her enough not to want her to get on a horse...
I have two theories: as she told Lady Catherine when they met that her sisters and she had all opportunities to learn disciplines while growing up and their parents gave them the option to choose, perhaps she got more interest on books while Jane did learn to ride and Mary to play the pianoforte. Or, she tried at some point of her upbringing, but fell and never was encouraged to keep on trying (?) Idk
The horses were usually used for the farm. Maybe they werent always available for pleasure and the only other option to escape the crazy house was to walk.
I definitely would have been a horse woman back then however I would not have been a side saddle user. I would have been very scandalous back in the day
I thought that Elisabeth never got super awesome on horseback because Jane was riding the horse when it was free. I am assuming there is no horse for each sister
I think Jane and Elizabeth must has taken lessons together. They have horses and property it wouldn’t have been an additional cost. Jane is very empathetic and did well. Elizabeth probably got into and argument with her horse and fell off and said that she wasn’t going to ride again. Then her parents said “what are you going to do” and she said “walk”. And her parents said “fine” and the parents never forced the other girls to learn.
I just watched your video on what Jane would have looked like and you mentioned exercise/walking to be an effective way to maintain blushing and complexion. I imagine that maybe since she wasn’t considered as pretty as Jane, that she walked a lot to have flush skin.
As a former horse girl... equestrian athletes beat even tackle football for head and neck injuries and brain damage. It is SO easy to get grievously injured around horses, especially if they're not trained and regularly exercised for what you're doing with them. The Longbourn horses are also used for carriage and farm work. Lizzie might have just decided to be sensible and practical and trust in the power of her own two feet, kind of like how she says she'll resign herself to being a spinster who lives with Jane when Jane marries.
Horses are terrifying, that's what. Oh, you think they're cute? Ask that baby bird! Oh no, you can't, the horse ATE it! And the squirrel too! Though the squirrel also probably ate a baby bird... Look, they also kick, I say. Kick hard. And can bite. And you can fall a long distance. ...And sidesaddle looks positively uncomfortable. And you never know when one is actually a Kelpie, and that's a real problem!
That’s funny because I assumed it was due to her family’s financial restrictions. Maybe they didn’t have horses ? Or not enough horses ? Maybe the horses were reserved for other activities and taking them out was “indulgent ”?
I think it was acceptable to ride for a lady when she was too weak to walk. It was supposed to be a very sedate form of riding, suitable for properly educated young ladies. Fanny Price is actually described as physically weak, while Jane Bennet, though not weak, gives us the idea of being a very calm, perhaps a little plump young lady. Elisabeth, slender and energetic loves walking better.
This really seems like overthinking. She’s just not a big horsewoman. Like, today you might not be much of a cyclist, so you walk around. She might find horses smelly, or dangerous, or noisy. She might get a bit sore riding them, like Napoleon with his haemorrhoids. She might just not be very skilled, so horses often don’t obey her, making them a hassle.
Maybe not being a "horsewoman" was the equivalent to today's "not like other girls" syndrome? Since Elizabeth Bennet was outspoken, loved to read and not very "girly".
Just do add an idea. Maybe she just didn't like riding? As a "modern version" i hated bicycles. Idk why i just never liked them. Most kids and young people would use them here because we dont get cars/licenses until much later on. So i just walked everywhere. Theres no special reason to it i dont think. I also kinda enjoy walking, i often find it easier to just do a 20min walk than go and wait for a buss. Technically the same distance with public transport would be like 10 minutes wait time included, but i usually just walk anyway unless im really pressed for time.
My guess was that horses wouldn't bend to her stubbornness. Horses are exceedingly intuitive and like to have the upper hand, much like Lizzie herself. They wouldn't take kindly to what they may perceive as her challenges & demands rather than good natured guidance. They would sense her strong will and it would likely put them off of her, thus, putting her off of them. Just a guess &/or opinion. Horses tend to not behave well around me for much the same reason, but I have learned to rein in my stubborn haughtiness & conceed to THEIR guidance. I doubt Lizzie would have conceeded to anyone's, let alone a horse. Not to say that she is, or I amu unpleasant- horses just aren't going to respond well to what they may see as demands rather than friendly persuasion. And may even offer a nip or two in protest.
Maybe she was kicked, bitten or thrown off one. Or, as some people do, she just didn't like them. I too just don't like them. They are big and kick kittens if they are in the mood. They are crazy. I'd prefer to ride a cow if I had to ... Also of course you are on your own pace and can be at peace
Maybe it's showing her good nature and sense. She knew that Jane was nice and people pleaser, so she would give up her mount for Lizzie if she'd asked. Unlikely Bennetts had two lady-saddle horses. So she sacrificed her opportunity for Jane to continue to enjoy riding. As Lizzie said they had all opportunities to learn if they expressed inclination. So she just chose another options of spending time. Or there is a simpler theory. I love to walk and I am terrified of horses, as one bit me once. Maybe that's it for her too.😂
I mean. Have you SEEN horses? I would Nope the heck out of that option, too. They're massive and terrifying and the fact that we RIDE them is frankly the height of hubris.
My head cannon is: Elizabeth Bennet fell from a horse when she was younger and learning to ride, so from there on she never got up, dusted herself off and got back on. She stayed on the ground. And nothing wrong with that. I know many folks that are scared of horses, because they're big, muscle and (quote here from MANY A non-horse riding folk,) "have a mind of their own." Thus, they have never even attempted to ride a horse. Eh. Elizabeth just doesn't like horses. May appreciate them from afar. Just like there are cat folks and dog folks yet not both.
