Jumping out of your riding boots

It's an exciting time for young riders when lessons step up to the point where an instructor thinks their pupil is ready to start jumping. However, before boys and girls gear their riding boots up for puissance-height fences, they have to start on something a little smaller.

My daughter has had six months of lessons, one a week, half an hour each time, and so far her riding hat and body protector have not yet had to perform their given tasks as she (voice goes to a whisper) hasn't fallen off yet.

But, we are gearing up for the more dangerous side of horse riding – going over the poles.
My daughter and I watched with our hearts in our mouths recently as the Olympic Show Jumping team won the most wonderful gold medal in London, and whereas I had always previously looked on as if international grand prix show jumping was the easiest thing in the world, I now appreciate much more the skill needed to go over those huge great fences.

Having watched my daughter persist with mastering her changes of rein and getting those damn diagonals right, her battle to get her stubborn riding school mount to canter a 20m circle caused me to wince with exasperation as I willed her on. And now, as her instructor gets her to trot over a pole, we both realise what is coming.

She is excited beyond belief. I am frightened out of my wits.

Still, she has her correctly fitted body protector, riding hat and riding boots to protect her and a mummy watching on with fingers crossed – what more does she need.

image © lost in fog via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Inspirational horse riding at London Paralympics 2012

There can be nothing more inspiring than seeing the Paralympic Equestrian competitors ride into the arena to perform their tests and, having been up to Greenwich Park to see the athletes compete for medals in this discipline, I can safely say that every salute to the judges bought a lump to my throat.
We saw riders with the most serious of disabilities and though some of them had special horse bridles, saddles, and assistive devices such as dressage crops and connecting rein bars, essentially they use extreme skill and connection with their horse to navigate the tests.

My daughter and I were lucky enough to see Lee Pearson and Gentleman on the Saturday afternoon, and although he did not retain his title as Paralympic champion, he rode a magnificent test and was only pipped by hundredths of a percent into silver by Joann Formosa, the Australian rider on Worldwide PB.

I have to say, as a non-riding mum of an aspiring three-day-eventer (six months of lessons in and she's loving every moment on horseback), I was totally in awe of the riders in that fabulous London arena. The atmosphere was brilliant, the crowd were hugely respectful and the horses and riders were truly inspirational.

And with every final halt and salute, knowing that both horse and rider had ridden their hearts out, a tear would spring to my eye. I could have jumped for joy every time a test was finished, but I didn't, of course, I just waved and waved.

Well done to all who entered, whether they won or lost, they were all awesome in my eyes and I know I will be following the Paralympians' progress in years to come.