Trying Old Things-Horseback Riding

I forget what I was reading that I felt the urge to go horseback riding a couple of summers back, but I did not act on that urge any further than finding a couple of places that offer trail riding.  This past summer the youngest was interested in riding, something she had never done before.  I finally had my reason to go!  I searched again for a local place to ride and picked one based on the description of riding through the Pine Barrens.  The other nice thing was that it was a private ride for the two of us with a guide.  It was hot that August morning and I was not thrilled to be wearing jeans.  After signing our waivers and finding helmets that fit we met our horses.  Once mounted, we were given a quick lesson on steering and then headed out.  Memories of other rides flooded back.  My first experience riding was getting to go to summer camp for a week when I was 10.  My horse Omega was so smart and beautiful.  Each afternoon we would ride in the ring and then untack our horses.  The deficiency in my knowledge comes from being in the afternoon group, the morning group saddled the horses.  We also had stable chores, cleaning up horse poop, feeding and watering.  My horse never thought I was ready to do anything more than walk around the ring so I never went any faster than that.  For the last day we would hold a show for our parents.  The day before we washed the horses, that was actually so much fun, highlighted when the white horse turned blue due to the shampoo, not a bright or dark blue but just enough.  Once I arrived home, I pretended my bike was a horse for the rest of the summer.  My next ride was not until almost 20 years later, taking my girl scout troop on a ride in the Poconos.  Most of this ride was spent worrying about my charges and quelling any nerves.  My next ride was also in the Poconos maybe a couple of years after that.  The horses were beautiful, one in our group was a massive Clydesdale, Mustang mix.  It was a group ride with others but all I remember was how peaceful it was riding through the wooded trails.

 Coming back to the present moment, I noticed the beauty of the trails we were riding.  The tall pine trees, the sandy soil.  The sounds of the birds, it was again very peaceful.  As we arrived back at the barn, I was a bit sad for the ride to end and reminded myself that I could go again.  Is there an activity from your childhood that you miss doing?  Is there an activity from your childhood that you have kept up with?  I would love to hear about it in the comments.