My Love Affair with… horses.
Riding is one of my great loves; and earliest memories. If I’m not mistaken, I was riding before I was walking. I remember going from my mom’s arms, onto the leather saddle on a horse’s back. As I was lunged around by the riding instructor, I would cling onto the pommel for dear life, but always with a huge smile on my face, and letting giggles out sporadically. (Tis true, I was even cool when I was a youngin’)
The walk felt like a gallop back then.
I learnt to ride on a pig farm (to this day, the smell of pigs instantly takes me right back to my early riding days). I remember counting down the days until Saturday, and then running to the car when it was time to leave, horse-riding helmet already upon my head.
I also remember having a huge temper tantrum when my sister got to attend a horse-riding camp, but sadly I was too young. Oh man, there were tears. My parents consoled me by telling me I would get to go the following year, but then we moved to New Zealand, so I never did (I may, or may, still hold this against them).
I remember killing time while my mom, sister or brother rode, by going to watch the cows in the fields. I always knew not to wear the colour red (you know… just-in-case the bulls were out that day.) I remember going swimming with my brother, in massive water holes, which looking back on it now? my fear of snakes must have developed late in life, as those water-holes, and fields I explored all the massive ant houses in, must have been gold mines for slithery creatures (ignorance really is bliss).
My sister and I continued to ride in New Zealand, and of course in Canada. We took 4 years off to complete our degrees (and to earn some money to support the expensive hobby), but for the past 2 years have been back at it.
There is nothing quite like riding a horse in this world. I am so thankful to my mother for taking us (and paying for us) to ride. I only have great memories when it comes to horses, and they truly are the memories of what little girls, who love horses, dream of.
