Shelley's Riding School, North Devon

I had a couple of attempts at a final sport of the year; American football which I didn’t really fancy once I got there (too many meat heads) and then a Christmas Eve triathlon in reverse (Parkrun dressed as santa, bike ride to an open air pool, then a swim). Unfortunately the pool was closed, which left me until the last day of the year to finish my challenge, trying horse riding for the first time. I took Ena along for a lesson, and have a totally new understanding of how complex and skilled equestrianism is, and it’s something I would definitely try again if I had the chance and the money.

 

Ena really enjoyed it, especially when her little horse got up to a trot, and after I’d got over the shock of the up and down motion crushing the old meat and two veg, so it was a relief to be taught how to counteract that by raising yourself out of the saddle.

 

The year is finished, 52 sports tried in 52 weeks, but it has given me a taste to keep going, albeit at a much slower rate, maybe one a month….