what is the MOST fun you have on a horse?

[MitchyInge]

just wondering - some people get a real buzz from schooling, some x country, hunting, doing sideways things and 4m circles or just lovely long relaxed hacks

what is your thing? at moment am mainly fantasising about barrel racing

Cantering, especially outdoors and when it is sunny!!

I would love to do hacking, but there are no places near me that do it.

I would love to try this place.

www.cumbrianheavyhorses.com

A good hack with good company on a cold frosty morn.

Wasn't Catherine the Great killed trying to have fun with a horse?

Hacking and not falling off does it for me.

Beach riding

Missing it at the moment as 23 weeks pregnant and finally had to stop riding last week as I was starting to lose my centre of gravity / balance a bit and the horse I ride is a little unpredictable

Scudd - Stephen Fry dispelled that as a myth on QI

TBH, i am very competitive, so like to compete. Like hunting and jumping too though not as brave as i used to be.

Jamie - i am 21wks and missing it like mad!

Riding XC definitely! Although won't be doing it for a while as just sold my horse!

jumping - anything really, especially when don't have to interfere with his own pace/balance/movement and can just go with him at his own speed

¡Ándale!

ohh... I like jumping but I'm not brave, about 2ft 6 is my limit.

Hunting I love.

...and possibly fav is a pub hack on a lovely warm day with my kids. My eldest feels quite special when all the other kids wnat to come up and pat his pony.

Trekking over the Canadian Rockies with pack horses... bliss!

I'm 24 weeks and haven't ridden since ¬15 I think, horrendous weather + lost nerves.

I have ridden in some lovely places in the world but my best memories are being a teen, just my horse and I on long hacks through Epping Forest.....

One of my favourite rides was a couple of winters ago with snow 18" deep on the ground, I rode through an "enchanted forest" wearing ski trousers rather than jods. I love hacking out in the rain, just feels really special.

Give me a fallen log or two and I'm in paradise.

Oh this is cruel fantasising - given that I am currently 30 weeks pg and horseless.

Where do I start?

Cross country riding as a teen. I remember my first ever cross country course in a junior ODE. I came back with a huge grin on my face - even though I had had several refusals and went the wrong way at one point so was obv eliminated. I didn't care, I just thought it was the best thing in the world.

Also hunting as a teen. I never wanted to stop and once had to be told by the master that my pony had had enough for the day.

Hacking in the woods in autumn with no sound but the birds and your horse's hooves.

On a trek in the Australian bush, tearing headlong through the trees and jumping whatever logs appeared in our path. Unbelievably sure-footed horses. Very 'Man from Snowy River'.

mitchy I have done barrel racing years ago. I was quite good!

Hunting or X-country- really anything where from time to time you get those moments where you just have to hang on and hope .
I haven't done either nearly enough since having DS as he's made me slightly more cautious.

On a more relaxing note, mooching along the beach with DS sat in front and the dog trotting alongside is just blissful.
I can't wait until he's old enough to get him a little pony of his own [melts]

Galloping generally, more specifically hunting if I can organise myself early enough!

XC is brilliant too, especially going pairs with a friend.

Less energetic but am also having fun plotting more glittery fly repellent for summer

Am barrel racing pro!

Riding through bluebell wood in dapple sunshine

Galloping with giraffes in the Okavango Delta

Galloping with good company. Ever so sightly out of control preferably over open undulating fields. Good weather helps too.

Tried it once on a dark winter evening. A bit reckless but got the old adrenelin pumping.

Can't get the smile off my face when I do it.

Oh Endurance is my sport (although time off for children at the mo).

Just being with them. Ponies are naturally fun without 'doing' anything much. Mine have fantastic senses of humour. If I have to name one thing, taking a muddy furball and turning it out for a show, then seeing it win. Have had some wonderful training from a top welsh a producer, taking this and using it on scruffs and rejects is great fun and strangely satisfying.