Saturday 27 July 2013

Horse Power

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

Today, the weather turned from a dry heatwave to rain but Amber, my granddaughter didn't mind because she was doing her favourite thing...... horse riding. Although I always knew that her passion was in horse riding lessons, I had never attended one with her before.  It was a good tonic for me to watch her on her trusted steed because her pleasure was obvious from the very start.
Although I suspect that many young girls love horses too, this one cannot wait until she is twelve so that she can come in regularly and muck out the horses and help with leading them in and out of the ring, saddling them up or whatever else needs to be done in the smooth running of the horsey world. There seemed to be a team of such girls helping out at the stables and they appeared to be pretty dedicated too.

Horse riding is something that I never did as a child. In fact, it would have been a very unusual thing to do in that era so close after World War Two with all the hardships we had to endure and the only time any of us got to do anything remotely like it was an annual visit to the sea with ride on a donkey thrown in for good measure.
Although I wasn't by any means a rich child, I suppose I was better off than quite a few but the standards are so different today and children seem to have so much more materially than any of us did, with trips abroad being the normal thing for most families and all the technical apparatus that they seem to have in a normal household. However, I had so much more freedom compared to children these days. We roamed the countryside and did some rather dangerous things by ourselves. I didn't think I missed out on material things then and looking back, I am glad I was born when I was because I don't think there was the same pressure that children face today. Life seemed to be lived at a more leisurely pace and children seemed to stay children for much longer.
I wonder if others are glad to have been born when they were?


10 comments:

Irene said...

I don't know if I am especially glad that I was born when I was. It seemed to me that the world back then was filled with many ignorant adults and I couldn't wait to be a grown up myself so I could be in charge of my own life.

Sally Wessely said...

Your granddaughter is a lucky girl. I wish I would have learned to ride horses as a child. I never had the opportunity either. I tried to ride as a teenager, but the experience scared me to death.

I so agree with you about the times in which we grew up just after WWII. We had so much more freedom than the children of today had. I wouldn't change places with my grandchildren for anything.

Jackie said...

I am so happy that there is a special connection between Amber and horses. That is a wonderful bond; I'm so happy for her. Lovely photo of them.
My life as a child was lovely and comfortable, Maggie...filled with love and wonder. I didn't fear anything or anyone at all...very happy in our quiet country surroundings. I wouldn't change the way I was raised for anything.
Sending you love, Maggie.

Sueann said...

You are so right...much more freedom when we were children...did things they would shake their heads about nowadays. Ha
Hugs
SueAnn

Hilary said...

I have to agree with your perspective but then again, these are the good old days-in-the-making for our kids/grandkids.

She looks mighty happy upon that horse. :)

Secret Agent Woman said...

God, no. I couldn't wait to get away.

Akelamalu said...

When I was a child we had very little but we didn't miss what we didn't have. I think sometimes that children today have too much sometimes. However, it is human nature to want your children and grandchildren to have more than you did don't you think?

Rose said...

My granddaughter loves horses, too, and she's invited me to go along for her lessons a few times, but I've never been able to go. What fun to watch your granddaughter ride!

I never had the chance to ride horses when I was young, and now I'm too scared to death to try. I often think, too, of the differences between now and then. I spent a lot of time daydreaming and playing make-believe. I wonder if children today have time for that?

Sandi McBride said...

My grand daughter is daffy for horses, too...she would ride for days if we let her! Your little one has a very good seat!
Sandi

Working Mum said...

Ah, this rings a bell - my daughter is horse mad and can't wait to work at the stables where she has her lessons. I would never have been able to have riding lessons, they were far too expensive for my parents. The good thing about when I was a girl was that we got free instrumental tuition from the local council so I was able to learn the clarinet - this is no longer available, such a shame for children now.