Horsey Mums

OMG, I have turned into a stereotype. I have become an English Horsey Mum, without even realising it. It came to me in a blinding flash last week after coaching my daughter a bit on her horse. Terrifying. 

I am obviously dead cool, down with the kids and am unquestionably an original. But even if this is true the stereotype still fits (uncomfortably).

I wear an australian "cowboy" hat (albeit a real Barmah one), jeans, checked shirts, muddy boots, brightly coloured riding jackets and my hair is always a mess. I am of a certain age, comfortable size top and bottom and there is no question that I have a 'carrying' voice, (to put it mildly) with a slightly posh accent. I have a black labrador with me all the time. Also, I drive a VOLVO ESTATE WITH a tow bar, and I regularly pull a horse trailer in it. I can be seen at horse competitions on a regular basis shouting at my daughter while she competes in show jumping classes. 

But it is the volvo that clinches it I think, or maybe the labrador. 

I have NO IDEA how or when this happened. My daughter didn't even start riding until she was 13, two years ago, so I must have slipped into role very easily...

In my defence, having recently seen some other horsey mums screaming a diatribe of tellings-off at their kids when they miss a jump or fall off, or telling them before they enter the ring that they do not have the right to have a refusal or to knock down an obstacle, I think I am a very gentle type of horsey mum.

My screeches to my daughter when she is in the ring are always limited  to "BREATHE" and "ALLEZ" and my instructions before she enters the ring are only ever "Enjoy yourself" and "smile".

I am still a bit worried though, I don't really want to be a horsey mum at all...

Back in the saddle and raring to go!

So here I am, with a lump the size of half an egg still on my arm after being savaged by a horse, but it hasn't stopped me at all. I was told by all and sundry that from now on I would be scared of horses, would never be comfortable again around them etc etc etc

However, nothing of the sort. I won't go near the horse that attacked me, not from fear, but because I really don't want to be bitten again, which reaction seems entirely sensible to me. But with all the other horses, nothing has changed and I am making up for lost time (while I had no left arm to speak of). 

Since my last post the pony games season has started and I am delighted to report that our team of seniors (all over 40, all mums of younger riders) - "Les Incroyables" won our first competition. It was a crazy day, with high winds and gusts of 90kmp. The horses spent a lovely time jumping around in pretend fear of other ponies, bending poles, trees and everything else. 

Between my daughter and I we now have competitions every sunday between now and Christmas, two pony games, one dressage and one jumping. 

Woo hoo!