{"id":2669,"date":"2012-08-03T08:34:27","date_gmt":"2012-08-03T08:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=2669"},"modified":"2019-01-28T10:50:22","modified_gmt":"2019-01-28T10:50:22","slug":"urban-ponies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/urban-ponies\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Ponies – Riding in Bushy Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

A final post from our time at home.\u00a0 I couldn’t not mention the following…<\/p>\n

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A scene from Thelwell<\/a>?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Almost!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Seven Year Old’s first experience of pony riding, thanks to my sister arranging a lesson for her with Park Lane Riding Stables.<\/a><\/p>\n

As I have probably mentioned countless times, we lived in and around this particular area for 15 years before we left the UK, and I quite honestly had no idea that this historic old building was here.\u00a0\u00a0 Once upon a time it was home to Teddington Fire Station, in the days when horses pulled the fire trucks.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This family run Riding Stables still makes use of the buildings, and provide lessons, hacks and even birthday parties, along with the help of a dedicated team, and lots of horse-mad volunteers (meaning that their 20 odd charges are a pretty spoiled lot no doubt!),\u00a0 you could feel their love and enthusiasm for the place, and the Dickensesque building is fascinating.\u00a0\u00a0 Quite surreal for an suburban area of South West London!<\/p>\n

\"Riding<\/a><\/p>\n

The Seven Year old was matched with a Shetland pony called Barney, a placid little chap (who was apparently in a bad mood, not that we noticed), but she thought he was the funniest thing she had ever seen, I don’t think she stopped laughing from start to finish (which is a far better response than being scared, as I was the first time I went horse riding!)…<\/p>\n

We loved the patient and kind instructor who explained all the basics, and led The Seven Year Old for a half an hour lesson through beautiful Bushy Park (another one of our old haunts) with myself, my sister and Small Boy following closely behind.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thankfully Barney’s short legs didn’t take much catching up with, and our merry band was viewed with complete disdain by the Royal Park’s four-legged residents as we made our way through the grounds…<\/p>\n

\"Riding<\/a><\/p>\n

It was a great introduction to what I think might become an obsession for The Seven Year Old.\u00a0 So if you are visiting the area and fancy trying something different in Henry VIII’s former hunting grounds, or if you live nearby and want your child to start riding lessons (but like me you didn’t know this place existed!), then I suggest you get in touch…<\/p>\n

\"Riding<\/a>
Riding in Bushy Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bidding farewell to a new friend…<\/p>\n

* I wasn’t asked to write this post, and we didn’t receive any money or lessons etc. to do so.\u00a0 As usual, I just like to give deserving parties a mention..<\/em><\/p>\n

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