Usual weekly session with my eldest, Alanna. She's training Angel, a 3YO who hasn't been backed yet. I was on Beau, my other daughter's pony. Surprised I didn't flatten him with my weight...
Just the once. Last year I was down in the New Forest in Hampshire, and my youngest and I booked a 90 minute Western hack. Picked the hottest day of the summer, I think.
You need some atmosphere to go with that 2nd photo, Gordon. How about this: [YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-k_BW8iLkk[/YOUTUBE]
Am I allowed to say that I loathe horses? Been ridden down hard by them twice (reenactments) and it somewhat colours the view, the mad-eyed fleshy tanks. Having said that, there is something I like about horsemanship. There's a couple in the village that potter about doing errands on what look like very expensive hunters. No saddles, just utter comfortable born-to-it confidence. And the hussars doing their spotlight pranc-ey thing back in Royal Tournament days was the highpoint of the show for me. And tent-pegging or jousting is miles better than most popular sports to watch. Hmm. OK. Maybe I only really loathe horses that are sending me flying at full chat... Even then I was quite impressed at the rider's ability to direct them into a clattering crowd.
Wha ... sputter ...... WHAT?! Your past body of work allows you a mulligan on that one but that's strike 1!!!! Does Beau 'like people laughing' ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ_7br_3y54
