The Thousands

Once, when I was small, I went to a horse riding camp. Everyone there was strong and confident in that country-folk way, and we got to eat bacon sandwiches every morning. So far so good.

Thing is, because I was a wee city girl I was given Sparkles, aka, ‘the shit horse’. Sparkles was a dirty white shetland pony who bit people and refused to trot. While my fellow campers cantered about on their graceful mares I’d be stuck in the stables trying to convince him that we were a team.

Long story short, Sparkles and I never really bonded, and at the end of the week when they handed out prizes for ‘best gallop’ and the like, we got ‘cleanest water trough’.

Since then, I’ve been pretty unenthusiastic about horse riding. Until now! Glenworth Valley have over 200 quality horses to choose from, and nary a grumpy shetland in sight. After schooling you in the basics of horse control, a guide takes you on a tour of their lush 3000 acres, and if you’re feeling it you can leave the group and explore on your own, wading through rivers and bounding over hills like Sigrid Thornton in The Man From Snowy River. Gallop fast enough and no one will hear you yell ‘fuuuuucccckk yooooouuuuuu Spaaaaarrrrkles!’ (Just, you know, if you should feel so inclined).