Dusting off my riding hat

Some say, if you haven’t ridden a horse for years, it’s just like getting back on a bike. Personally, I think it’s easier.

Growing up in the New Forest, riding both a bike and a horse – not at the same time I hasten to add – were activities I participated in on a regular basis. Living within 150 square miles of ancient woodland and open heathland gave me plenty of opportunity to go cycling and riding whenever possible, breathing in the fresh outdoors and eyeing up the beautiful scenery.

Sometimes I would ride in the paddock – this was the case if it was a windy day or if I hadn’t been riding for a while and wanted to brush up on my skills or learn more advanced techniques. On one memorable occasion, I went horse riding in the paddock with my sister. After donning our riding hats and boots, we rode single file; she on her horse behind me on mine.

Enjoying our leisurely ride around the enclosure, I suddenly heard this ‘thump’ and turned back to see my sister sat on the muddy ground. Turns out, her horse bit my horse’s bum, who then retaliated by kicking him, knocking my sister off in the process. Fortunately, no-one was harmed and I found the incident highly amusing.

At the age of 18 I moved from the New Forest and, now having the ability to drive, relied on my motorised vehicle to get me from A to B. The change in lifestyle meant I didn’t have much need for horse riding or cycling, so I pretty much gave them up.

City living became my new focus as the years went by, but I’m still a country girl at heart and always end up going back to my roots. However, it was only really when I met my – now closest – friend that I gave cycling and horse riding another go – and it wasn’t what I had expected.
Getting back on a bike after ten years wasn’t like they say – it’s not that easy. Every twig, stone and branch I rode over, gave me a dreaded feeling that I was going to come tumbling down to the ground below. Fortunately, after about an hour, I soon picked it up and was ‘flying’ down hills at ridiculous speeds.

Horse riding, however, was a different matter entirely. As soon as I got back on a horse, sitting upright and proud, strolling through the countryside and taking in the scenery, I immediately felt at home.

In fact, it was choosing a secure riding hat that was the most difficult task out of the whole experience. Rummaging through a box of them, trying on every shape and size I could find, it took an age to find one which felt relatively comfortable and fitted correctly. There is no doubt in my mind that, if I took up riding again on a regular basis, I would make sure I buy a riding hat which is safe and secure, guaranteeing comfort and reassurance on every ride.

Laura Collett suffers fall while training Kauto Star

Twenty-three-year-old horse rider Laura Collett, who hopes to compete for Team GB in the 2016 Olympics, has suffered a serious injury while training Kauto Star on Tweseldown Racecourse, Hampshire.


She had been riding the Cheltenham Gold Cup winning horse to prepare it to compete in dressage, when she suffered a fall.

Thankfully she was wearing a riding hat and it appears that she has escaped head injury, but she still sustained damage to her lungs and kidneys so has been kept under sedation.
Kauto Star's owner stated, "Laura's making good progress and we are hopeful there isn't any brain damage.

"She has got other injuries – some kidney problems – but everyone is optimistic and we hope she gets back in to the saddle in due course."

Reportedly the event rider woke up briefly and reacted well to family, which is promising progress.
Dogwood wish Laura all the best and hope she gets discharged from hospital soon!

Photo © Tim Simpson via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Horse riding into the future

So, L has been having riding lessons for just over a year and a half and she's a very happy young rider. Her riding boots are thoroughly worn in, she has two pairs of well-used jodhpurs, and her riding hat has been put to good use when protecting her in a couple of falls.

As a family we are learning to have horses and equine pursuits in our lives and we often accompany L up to the fields so that she can look after "the boys". L now rides Jake quite often and the owner is extremely surprised and pleased with Jake's, and L's, progress.

L is determined that horses will continue to feature in her life and as she makes plans for a future career, the strongest contender, at the moment, is for her to join the police force. She hopes that she could combine this with her love of horses and go into the mounted police division.
As a non-horsey mummy, I find this somewhat daunting, but she is strong-willed, a natural leader, and her love of horses certainly seems to be something she will not grow out of easily. So, perhaps this could be the perfect vocation for her.

We will continue to watch her riding lessons with great joy and, sometimes, a sense of trepidation as the exercises get trickier and the jumps get higher. And if you are considering taking your child to have riding lessons, I say, do it. It's fun, gets them out into the fresh air, they have to work hard and listen, and they learn respect for animals and each other.
Happy riding lessons everyone.