Charlie in Hyde Park

We all have our favorite-things-in-the-world to do. For me:

• Horses

• Pickleball

• Travel

The order is alphabetical because ranking is just too hard.

What are your favorite-things-in-the-world to do? I love asking that question because being someone who loves to “hobby-blog/write,” I’m aware that nothing bores a reader more than first-person-all-about-the-writer prose.

An earnest attempt is made to share experience vs. status updating.

If you happen to enjoy vacationing in London and horseback riding, I recommend Hyde Park Stables. (HPS). The

British love their horses and Hyde Park Stables is an admirable example of sharing said love with the public.

Hyde Park Stables’ first priority is safety. If you want to have free-rein right off the bat HPS isn’t the place for you. Until the guides know your riding ability you’ll have to remain on a lead line. And that may be for the whole ride depending upon their assessment. Or, if you’re like I was for most of today you may request to remain and relax on a lead line.

I rode an Irish Cobb named, Charlie, today. Having rented a few UK horses, I‘m familiar with the Irish Cobb.

Are you?

Truth be told, they’re not that great. However, they are “safe.” A guide once told me that “a bomb could go off next to that horse and he won’t flinch.” Needless to say, knowing that didn’t make me fonder of them. (Albeit, I must say, at my age safety is becoming more prudent.)

Hyde Park Stables offers private rides where you go out by yourself (almost) with a guide.

Today, I was pleasantly surprised upon being introduced to my ride, Charlie. He was small, only 14 hands. Exactly what I hoped for. Sixteen plus hand horses provide only visual and ground appeal in one’s 60s…know what I mean?

Charlie had spirit and spunk like a show pony. His walk was swift, ears perked and he was ever-so annoyed by his companion, Lemon. Charlie was much smaller than Lemon but valiantly wanted him to know that he was boss.

To my surprise, Charlie is an Irish Cobb!

Hyde Park has trails of sand specifically for horses. There are also paved lanes marked Horses Only. People out and about seem to enjoy watching the horses. A few took photos today (and they asked if the could). My guide, Ryan, asked a young boy on a scooter to please stop but the boy ignored him. It‘s always nice when the public respects the spook-factor and flight instinct of horses, but not everyone knows about this and the boy was quite young.

Charlie and Lemon didn’t react. Bomb proof?

Thank you for reading!

Love, Shelley

Charlie meant business the WHOLE ride. Back off Lemon.