"Is it often mothers and wives, though?"
Usually it is other members on the same ride where someone cracks up. I remember on mom posting about the death of her daughter but it was because the whole site was pulling for her because she was ill, nothing to do with riding though.
I've always wanted to learn to ride, but I've always been afraid. Maybe since I've been doing a lot of things that scare me lately, I'll give it a go. Keeping in mind that it isn't "if" I wipe out, but "when."