Horse Riding in Somerset with David & Isobel

Horse Riding in Somerset  

Entering the gates of Divoky Riding School, we all had huge smiles on our faces. We were met by the owner Pat as well as being introduced to Charlotte another horse-riding expert. After being fitted with our riding helmets we were given a guided tour of the stables meeting some of the gorgeous horses, the tack room and stables. 

First, we all got given a brush and comb where we got to groom the gorgeous little Shetland pony called Dumbledor as well as the other horses. 

We also had a tuition on stable maintenance including mucking out which was far easier than it sounds. Pat taught us all about the anatomy of a horse and that the forward two legs on a horse worked similarly to human arms. A clever poem/rhyme was taught to us so you could remember each part of the bridle from the head piece to the nose strap to the bit and the reins. We did our best to remember them all! 

Our first challenge was learning how to mount and dismount our stead’s as well as using the bit on the harness to steer between poles pretending they were small trees. We then had to pull to a halt between and we were thrilled when our horses reacted to our commands. Our session came to an end and we rewarded our ponies with a few treats. 

Relaxing in our very own hot tub was the perfect way to relax and massage our muscles after all the riding we were doing. 

Day 2 of our riding holiday and we had lots of enthusiasm. We learnt more about the bridle’s components with each of us remembering the rhyme from the previous day. We even recognised the individual pieces after the bridle was taken apart.

Taking it in turns we returned to the saddle to perform more balancing techniques raising our hands over our heads, clapping and trying to touch our own feet. Then it was time to master the rising trot, which we all did brilliantly at after a few wobbles. 

Next, we were introduced to the game of Polo which is hugely popular within the horse-riding world. Here we learnt how to hit a ball with a stick which was difficult enough on the grass…we couldn’t imagine doing it on a horse. 

With some energy left we climbed some of the way up the Glastonbury Tor giving us amazing views. We then had a little mooch around the town popping in and out of a few of the quaint little shops. 

A brilliant afternoon was spent at The East Somerset Railway where we had a fantastic lunch adjacent to the old station. There were many engines and carriages restored or under restoration in the workshop and sparks were flying while the hordes of volunteers worked so hard on these massive steam trains. 

With bright blue skies we drove to the seaside town of Western Super Mare. The vast coastline looked beautiful in the sunshine. William and Isobel headed straight to the water’s edge for a paddle; they were so brave! We then walked across the beach to see the RNLI lifeboat. we explored the different amusement attractions and spent our holiday pennies on the slot machines. William enjoined the axe throwing game and Alan and Bridget loved the two pence sliding machine. Susan’s highlight was the air hockey game. Everyone managed to win tickets which we swapped for prizes! Various photos were taken with the seaside paraphernalia, and we all had lots of laughs. 

Our walk back along the esplanade couldn’t be complete without the obligatory ice cream and the most delicious hot donuts.

It was then back to the riding school for one last time. Once our horses were saddled up, we were ready to start our day. We had competitions riding up and down the arena collecting cups from posts, swerving between them and then placing the cup back on the opposite post. It was then a trotting race back to the start. Next, was picking balls from a designated position and throwing the ball into a car tyre placed four feet away, whilst still being in control of our horses. Our rising trot and balancing techniques had been perfected. 

A day was spent in Cheddar Gorge inside the gorge itself. We entered the cave network and were fascinated by the rock formations stalactites and stalagmites. All of the group navigated their way through the cave overcoming any fears they may have had. 

Next, it was time to visit the famous Cheddar Cheese Company. Here, we got to sample several of the different cheese that they make, and we even got to try the ones that are stored in the caves in linen cloths. We all agreed they were delicious.