The Treat For A Good Year's School Work.... A Horseriding Session!!!:)

A Group Riding On The South Downs - A horseriding school group from Chestnuts, riding on the South Downs.
@Darkwing (21583)
July 30, 2007 6:18am CST
As my eldest Son's daughters had produced an excellent year's school work and received glowing reports from their teachers, my Son and Daughter In Law decided to give them one, big treat during their Summer break. They have a holiday arranged for 10th August, but this needed to be something special, to mark the occasion of their excelling at their school work. Although very expensive for just over an hour's recreation, my Daughter In Law, having belonged to a riding club when she was sixteen, and loving to ride horses, decided they would treat the girls to a Horse Riding session. My son declined, but Sarah, who is 15, Lauren, 9 and their Mum, all decided they would love to take the riding session. The girls had been allowed to choose something a little special, and this was it! lol. Well, they arrived at the Riding School, on the South Downs, near the Jack and Jill Windmills, and were awarded a horse each, to ride. Well, it was here that my Daughter-In-Law, Di, started to giggle and she didn't stop, all session. She really enjoyed her morning! The fun started when they were given their horses... most of the riders being children, Di was given this enormous horse to ride... it was like a Shire Horse in size... very tall and quite broad, and after over twenty years without riding, she was awestruck! ha ha ha... I can imagine. First, she had to get onto the darned thing, and get into a riding position! Well, she mounted ok, and then Sarah had to mount hers. She too, took one look at Mum and burst out laughing... she had a horse with a will of its own, and Lauren, unable to ride the smallest pony because there was a child smaller than she, was given quite a cute little chap to ride. Lauren was led around the paddock most of the time, but she seemed to adapt quite well... as she always does. Sarah would have coped better, had her horse not kept stopping to eat, and then catch up with the ones in front, at a trot! ha ha ha. She was pulling at the reins and getting the horse to do as she willed towards the end, but when he broke into a trot, there was nothing she could do... she was bouncing up and down around the paddock on this wayward horse... it was so funny! Lauren, in the meantime, was still doing well. Her horse, well behaved, carried her well and was led almost all of the time. Di was still in fits of laughter, not only at the girls, particularly Sarah, but at her own horse. Sarah was in fits of laughter at her Mum on this enormous horse, like the lady of the manor. Di was not used to this after such a long break from it, and having such a big horse, she just had to let him go, more or less.:) Well, they got through it all, and went for a little trek on the Downs, which they really enjoyed and at which time they were given a free rein. They all thoroughly enjoyed the day, and brought home a video recording which my son had made, of both their lesson and their trek afterwards. It was funny to watch, and I can't quite portray it into words. Di said that went she got down from the horse, she couldn't feel her legs or feet... he he he. I don't think she's quite as fit a rider as she used to be, but how lovely... riding on the Downs with the wind blowing through your hair, and such fun... something they thoroughly deserved to. I know some of you keep horses, and ride... do you have some stories or tips that you would like to share?:)
2 people like this
6 responses
@weemam (13372)
30 Jul 07
My friend , I so much enjoyed reading this story , and as usual you painted such a good picture of it , I could just se them all having so much fun , This is what I call a making memories day , Ross used to go to the riding for the disabled and he loved it and so did I because I just adore horses , he then became allergic to them ( I have now too I think) so he stopped , My dream is to sit on a horse and it just take me somewhere Gently though lol ,have a great day pal and thank you for sharing that fun day xx
@Darkwing (21583)
1 Aug 07
I'm glad you enjoyed it Weemam. How sad that Ross became allergic to horses, when he enjoyed riding so much. Your dream is much like mine, but rather than sit on the horse, I'd like to have a nice, Romany caravan and a shire horse to pull it, and me, around the countryside I love so much. Brightest Blessings, my friend. xxx
@weemam (13372)
1 Aug 07
I would need a shire horse to take my weight anyway lol xx
@Darkwing (21583)
3 Aug 07
Awwwwwwww, no you wouldn't! xxx
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
30 Jul 07
what fun to be treated like this and I fell for Di for after not riding in such along time I know how she felt. I bet she was real sore the next day . Are they do this more this summer or is it a one time thing?
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Aug 07
yup I figured in the size ofthe horse too and I really bet she did. I love to ride but know no one any more that have any to ride and its $80 an hour here to ride
@Darkwing (21583)
3 Aug 07
Yes, I know it's very expensive.
@Darkwing (21583)
1 Aug 07
Yes, she was a bit sore but I think it was mainly down to the size of the horse and her having to stretch her legs that much farther. She looked very grand atop this giant horse. ha ha ha Brightest Blessings.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
30 Jul 07
Well I have to say they are very brave lol because like your Son I would have declined to as I would never climb on a Horse lol I rather stay on the Ground if I had the Choice to travel a 100 miles walking or by horse I would walk lol
@Darkwing (21583)
1 Aug 07
I, like you, Gabs, am a bit wary of horses, but I suppose with the staff there, in control, it was perhaps a little bit more comforting. Brightest Blessings. xxx
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I have no horses, but I wanted to say how cool it was that the girls were rewarded with experiences, not things, for doing so well. I like your family a lot, and I like the philosophy of child rearing I see in your discussions. I have gone for a rented ride, but not for years, and I usually had the horse like Sarah did.
@Darkwing (21583)
1 Aug 07
Yes, I think it's much better to reward them with experiences. It's good exercise for them as well, which I think counts for a lot in this day and age of computers. I think they might have been given a choice of activities, and chose that one because they all love horses, apart from my son, who only likes the racing kind. lolol They're having a good summer break anyway, because they went to Thorpe Park a little while ago, which is one of our main theme parks here, in England. Then, on the 10th August, they're going on holiday to a little cottage in Frome, in our West Country. From there, they are going to Longleat Safari Park, Cheddar Gorge (caves), Wookey Hole (caves) and Weston Super Mare which a lovely sandy beach. They're loving every minute of it, and learning at the same time. I think that's just great. Brightest Blessings.
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
31 Jul 07
What a lovely day they had. I can so understand all the laughter. It is great that they all enjoyed themselves. I used to have horses when i was a teenager (yes, again, a long time ago). I had 4 horses over the years, each one totally different. The town i lived in was on the beach, so we were always going riding on the sand. We used to have so much fun. Our town was small too, surrounded by lots of bush, so heaps of riding places. I have many fond memories of this time. Best wishes to you, Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
1 Aug 07
Yes they did have a lovely day... they were still laughing about it on Sunday. :) That sounds wonderful, riding along the sand, with the sea rolling on one side, and the wind blowing through your hair... very exhilarating! Brightest Blessings, Kay.
• China
31 Jul 07
horserriding session? i am not so clear about what it means
@Darkwing (21583)
1 Aug 07
Well first, they were led around the paddock and given lessons on how to ride and handle the horses, and then, they got to ride across the South Downs, a range of hills, for a while. Brightest Blessings.