London Family Photographer | My camera-shy girls and their horse riding experience at Trent Park London

For their birthday presents this year from family, my girls asked for a horse riding experience. We went to Trent Park Equestrian Centre and saw nearly a hundred horses. First we were given a tour around the stables where we met most of their horses including the ponies. They are such beautiful and docile creatures. Well, most of them…

There’s beautiful and placid little Boo… there’s Jock with the plaited mane which gives him the unicorn look…and there’s Lucy. We were told Lucy is a little naughty. Her stable door has to be double-bolted as she keeps kicking it from excitement whenever she sees people or her keepers or when hunger strikes. The gorgeous little diva loves attention…and food.

My girls then got introduced to their ponies. This is Minnie – she’s as shy as my little one. In fact, they were pretty terrified of each other to start with. My little girl needed some bonding time where she slowly stroked Minnie’s mane and groomed her before agreeing to ride her.

After an hour’s riding, they had a little lesson on grooming: the various names of brushes, which brush to use on body, hair or tail etc. And they also got to see a very old horse, 30+ years old. He’s a real sweetie and has very bad and huge teeth {due to age}. Nowadays he no longer does much work; he just gets groomed.

This photo might not show how much they enjoyed the experience which ended with a cake and hot drink at Trent Park’s Cafe Remy. You just have to take my word for it; they both loved their birthday pressie.