Essential horse riding equipment for beginners

So you’ve decided to learn to ride a horse? Congratulations!

As any experienced rider will tell you, this is one of the most rewarding adventures you can embark on, but before you get carried away with thoughts of saddling up and galloping off into the sunset, you need to master the basics and that begins with the getting the right horse riding equipment.

These are the essential, top-to-toe items you need:

Riding Hats

This should be the very first thing on your shopping list. Children aged 14 and under are required by law to wear a riding hat when riding on a public road, but everyone, including experienced riders, is at risk of a fall or injury from impact and should wear one for any ride.

Conquering a new Castle.

I love days out with Bug.  Whilst children themed play places and attractions are fun and exciting, my favourite days out with Bug have been day's spent in the great outdoors and enjoying nature at its best as well as trips to visit beaches, time at National Trust properties and historic attractions.

As Bug used to love conquering Cilgerran Castle before we moved I thought it was about time he conquered a new Castle now that we live further afield from his beloved Cilgerran Castle.

With that in mind this past half term we took a walk to the Castle in town and enjoyed a peaceful afternoon exploring Haverfordwest Castle with the sunshine showcasing the castle beautifully in all of its glory.

Let's Grow Wild! #GrowWild

I have always loved spending my time outdoors in nature and since having Bug my love of being outdoors has been rekindled thanks to the many moments we have had together exploring and playing outdoors.  We love the great outdoors and love nothing more than enjoying time together as a family having fun outdoors come rain or shine, relishing in the wonder of Mother Nature. 

I have many fond memories of our time spent together in the great outdoors such as the time we had a rainy day adventure at the beach where we were the only ones mad enough to brave the beach in the rain, the bank holiday when Bug was a muddy mess as he played in the mud during a lovely walk in the countryside and when Bug loved getting green fingered and having fun getting into a mucky mess as he took part in a Kids Grow Wild challenge.

Whilst I love being outdoors regardless of the weather or time of year, and appreciate all of the seasons and all types of weather for their own unique, special reasons there is something enchanting about spring and summer when flowers are emerging and blossoming into beautiful blooms.  I love walking in the countryside, appreciating the wildlife and admiring wild flowers that attract insects, beautiful buzzing bumble bee’s collecting pollen and fluttering butterflies.

Driving through puddles (Project 365 - 252/365).

Wild blackberries (Project 365 - 250/365).

Paddington Bear keeping an eye on sleepy Bug (Project 365 - 238/365).

Bike fun (Project 365 - 236/365).

Loving rural life.

I have lived by the west Wales coast of Cardigan bay all of my life.  Even though I have moved numerous times all the homes I have lived in have been within a few miles of each other.  The beauty of Wales has captured my heart and I love living in this area.

Whilst the area may be lacking in some ways such as poor public transport links and no large city centres and shopping outlets for miles that may put some people off the area, the beauty of the area, relaxed way of life and gorgeous surrounds overpower those downsides for me.  Being a proud Welsh woman and feeling privileged to live in such stunning surroundings I consider the west Wales coast to be a special place to live. 

One of the main reasons I love this area and consider it a special place to live because it is a beautiful rural area that showcases Mother Nature at her best.

I love the stunning coastal shores and beautiful beaches.  There are a number of gorgeous beaches within a few miles from our home where I have amassed numerous memories of fun times at the seaside……one of my best memories of being at the beach was Lee proposing to me on Penbryn beach where we had spent a few romantic hours together enjoying the sunny weather, golden sand and splashing in the sea.

Bird feeding safety tips.

Living in the rural countryside we get to enjoy Mother Nature at her best.  We are very lucky where we live that we get to appreciate the wildlife of the countryside all around us, being able to enjoy the beauty of the countryside and see all the amazing creatures and animals that also call this area home.

I love living in the rural countryside especially as this lovely area has such an array of wild creatures for Bug to see and learn about.  With wild birds flourishing in the beautiful countryside surroundings of our home wild birds have become one of Bug’s favourite wild creatures to look for on our countryside adventures.

As Bug loves seeing wild birds, enjoying mimicking them as they fly in the sky I want to teach Bug about the different varieties of birds and encourage his love and appreciation of our wild winged friends.  When we go on country walks we look out for any wild birds and I tell Bug about the birds as we observe our wonderful winged friends.  We watch birds soar in the sky, admire them flitting along peacefully, listen to bird sounds and watch small woodland birds dart and scamper along trees and shrubs. 

Picture source.

As well as teach Bug about birds whilst on country walks I am encouraging his interest in wild birds by getting him to help me feed the local birds in bird feeders in our garden.  Having bird feeders in our garden gives Bug an ideal opportunity to see and learn about birds when they visit our garden to feel.  Not only am I teaching him about the birds that visit our garden to feed, I am also hoping that as he helps feed birds in our garden he will develop an understanding of how to feed safely so that we can keep our feathered friends safe when they visit our garden to feed.

"Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?" - David Attenborough

Biker racing boy (Project 365 - 221/365).

Rainy day adventure at the beach.

This past bank holiday Monday was a wash out for us.  Over the bank holiday weekend we had lots of dry, sunny weather on the Saturday and Sunday and then on Monday the rain made an appearance. 

With Lee busy working on the weekend Bug and I were stuck at home.  We made the most of the lovely weather playing outside in the garden and in the surrounding countryside.  We had fun playing with his car and slide and went on a little adventure hunting for interesting bugs and creatures. 

Muddy mess play.

As Bug loves messy play and the great outdoors he loved combining the both and getting messy outdoors when we went on a lovely country walk in the sun on the bank holiday Monday at the start of May.

Bug took his Smart Trike ride on with him on our little walk and was happily scooting along.

His scooting soon came to a stop when he came across a muddy puddle.  Bug being Bug he could not resist the temptation of having a little jump in the puddle.

The fly and the flower (Project 365 - 142/365).

Getting messy in the great outdoors.

Bug loves getting messy. 

Bug loves the great outdoors and country walks.

Bug loves getting messy when playing outside.

As soon as Bug sees a pile of mud or dirt he cannot resist getting stuck in, playing about in the dirt and soil.

 

 

Helping mummy walk the dogs (Project 365 - 95/365).

Helping mummy search for our lost little doggy (Project 365 - 88/365).

I love going for walks and making mummy tired (Project 365 - 42/365).