Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill -
IN THE NEXT
ISSUE...
EQUESTRIAN
A special report on the
2006 IW Scurry...
Never too
late to
saddle
up
Horse riding lessons used to be regarded as a
weekend activity that was strictly for the kids – but
nowadays, more and more adults are taking up the
pastime.
It’s easy to see why. Riding is a relaxing sport that
allows participants to get out into the fresh air, see
more of the countryside, whilst benefitting from
some good healthy exercise into the bargain.
Good examples of these new adult riders are
husband and wife John and Clare Baiche-Duke. Clare
rode for 10 years as an adolescent, but like many
others who ride at that age, she found that other
commitments in her life took over as she got older,
and the riding took a back seat.
Clare said: “It’s funny, but riding stays in your
blood, you always come back to it at some stage of
your life”. This is precisely what happened recently
when she and husband John decided to get back in
the saddle.
Clare, in her late 30s, managed to convince her
husband (who had never ridden a horse in his life)
to take lessons at Brickfields so they could go out
riding together. John, 43, admits he was slightly
apprehensive at first:
John said “Initially I had some aches and pains in muscles that I
have never used, and the hardest part for me was learning the
rising trot. However, my instructor was very patient and I am so
glad now that my wife talked me into riding. I can see exactly what
she meant – it’s very relaxing and enjoyable”.
John went for a one-hour lesson every week for 7 months, and he
now has his own horse and r