Despite my life long fear of horses (since a traumatic incident about 25 years ago) I was keen for my kids to be comfortable riding and had ensured when they were younger that they ventured on horseback whenever we were out and about in the countryside. Then, when overseas on holiday recently, I overcame my fears in order to fulfil one of my ambitions – to ride a horse along a beach.
Having survived the holiday beach ride (although I didn’t join the kids when they bravely rode their horses bare back into the sea for a swim) I thought that I might give it another go back here in London.
So at the weekend I took my delighted daughter with me to Park Lane Stables in Teddington where we paid a significant amount of money to spend an hour being given an hour’s lesson (well, she didn’t need teaching much but I surely did) and plodding and trotting (yes, I have the aching legs to prove it) around Bushy Park in the marvellous sunny Autumn weather. All the people strolling in the park looked up and waved. All the kids pointed. Even the cars slowed down to allow us to pass when we were on the roads. The horse was impeccably behaved and I actually relaxed and started to enjoy it.
My daughter then spent several hours in front of a PC looking at where she could – even if her reluctant mum didn’t join here – spend more time on horseback in and around London. And there are loads of opportunities.
There are plenty of riding schools – especially in Richmond Park - which is also nearby. And if you are happy for your kids to join a group class then the cost comes down considerably. A little bit of country life in the middle of one of the best cities in the world – fantastic.
