Learning to Ride Horses - at any age
It seems once you start doing something, everyone's either done it and got the proverbial t-shirt, or are learning too. One of the student assistant folks told me he took up riding in his 50s, so feeling quite young and inspired again.
The funniest thing I've heard is Russell Brand's account of how his riding lessons are going in Hawaii, on the Radio 2 show. He said walk was okay, and trot was where you get jiggled around a lot, and then canter... what could possibly come after canter, says Russell, when the horse goes like a runaway train (or something - can't remember word for word), and (I quote this bit) "your knackers get smashed to bits". I haven't got knackers, but have got equally sensitive bits in the same place, and can testify that if you haven't got the rhythm spot on, they do indeed get smashed to bits! And blistered. Mustn't forget the blisters - I certainly won't.
Am most jealous of Russell being able to learn on a beach in Hawaii, but he can keep the surfing lessons, thank you.
p.s. Brand is a bit like Marmite... you either love him or hate him, and I fink eez wanderfu' innit! Even mentioned Chomsky today - there's ejecayshun for ya!
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4 comments:
Well I haven't done it and I'm not learning and I don't intend to because I don't want any of those nasty blisters thank you very much! Russell Brand is another matter, I saw him live recently and he gave a terrific performance, I love the combination of dozy Cockneyish bloke with bits of erudition poking through.
Blisters!!!! Doesn't bear thinking about. How's the writing going?
Mmm, I think I'm probably too old for falling off now. I know that falling off isn't the plan, but in my experience it does happen! I don't bounce anymore, despite the extra padding.
zinnia - glad to find another Brand lover. Wonder how he'd feel to have writers and academics as a fan base ha ha! Well, not fans as such, obviously ;-)
liz - oh yes! Blisters! Big ones! Riding today was great though, with Touchee going 'off on one' only this time cantering whereas usually he ignores me and walks! And no sore bits - hurrah.
Writing is another matter. Still hanging on in there but not really a race contender these days. End of term marking and all that is making things a bit difficult but am hanging on in there and hope to have draft one done by the summer. Hee hee hee. Such a comedian am I!
jj - falling off???!!! Eek! I did ask if they could teach me to fall off safely (is that an oxymoronic phrase?) but they said I'm too old for all that - they only teach the kids. Seeing as bounce factor is reduced exponentially as we age, I think learning to fall off safely would be a great - if not scary - idea. Let's hope I never find out!
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