Yes, today was my first time!  I know at 44 I’m a bit of a late starter but as they say, it’s better late than never.  Was I nervous?  You bet or maybe terrified would sum it up a bit better.  Talk about blowing hot and cold but I suppose that’s only natural after all, it‘s quite a big step to take.  On the one hand, I had managed all these years without such an experience so why on earth should I start now?  On the other hand, if I never tried I’d probably always wonder would I have liked it or not.

 Anyway, the fateful day finally arrived so it was really now or never.  I knew I could back out if I wanted to as nobody was going to force me to do anything I didn’t want to but maybe this would be my one and only chance.  I was so nervous and all the encouraging advice and tips the girls had given me were buzzing around in my head.  However, one thing they had all said to me was “try to relax and enjoy it”.  So with that thought, I took a deep breath and crossed the point of no return.

The pace to begin with was slow and calming so I began to relax a little and quite enjoy the feeling of oneness.  However, then the pace quickened and panic set in.  My legs were quivering like jelly, my heart pounding as I desperately tried to heed the girls’ advice, “relax” I told myself, “r-e-l-a-x”.   Amazingly now and again it worked and I managed to get in the rhythm, rise and fall, rise and fall, and when I did, it felt surprisingly good.  The whole thing only lasted 30 minutes but was certainly long enough for a first timer.                          

Afterwards, just as the girls had warned, I was sore in places I’d never been sore before.  I felt as if I’d been with a whole rugby team, the reserves and the linesmen!  All the girls were excitedly asking, “How was it for you?”  So we all sat down over a nice cup of tea to tell all and swap experiences.  After a few minutes, the enormity of what I had just done swept over me.  I had just ridden a horse for the first time!  Wow, amazing, unbelievable!!  To think after the introduction day on 11^th  January,  I was on a high after just hugging a horse for the first time and now just two weeks later this.  Also, I was obviously not alone in my euphoria because as I looked around the table at everyone’s beaming faces and the sheer excitement being shared by one and all, there was really no need to ask, “How was it for you”.

What a fantastic experience to have shared with the other girls and also reassuring to know  that despite our group’s very varied horse riding  abilities,  we’ll all have equally sore bums tomorrow!