Mrs TMR(to be) decided we should do the two hour horse riding alond the beach/over the sand dunes thing.
First off, I've only been on a horse once before and secondly, I am allergic to them - blotchy skin rashes.
But no matter, it would be nice plodding along in the late afternoon
Four of us in the group, plus the guide - Makkarone.
The other three in the group declared themselves "competent riders". Me - beginner.
No problem I thought.
It started off gently enough and the warm late afternoon breeze was lovely along the first bit.
Then, quite without warning, the guide shouted something and all horses took off like the devil herself were after them
Holy shit.
I am hanging on for dear life - not a clue what to do, so I think John Wayne stylee - lean back legs straight out in front and somehow manage to stay on, despite me falling as the horse is rising. I feel like someone has a piledriver up my back. After about a minute, the guide shouts something else and the horses all slow to a gentle trot. I am sweating and my back is killing me. Mrs TMR(to be) says "that was great - they are very fast!" I give a slight wimper and smile.
This goes on for two more hours. During one gallop, it was lobbed clean out of the saddle and was hanging on at the side, round the horse's neck, stones and small rocks only feet away from my head. And my foot was caught in the stirrup. Eventually the horse stopped and I righted myself.
On a few occasions, I thought I was going to meet my maker.
Makkarone was laughing. Mrs TMR(to be) could see I was in a lot of trouble.
Eventually, we finished and I got off the horse - my legs barely functioning.
This morning, I can barely walk and Mrs TMR(to be) is suffering too - with big bruises in tender areas.
The force of me landing on the uprising horse has also led to a fairly large tear in the scrotum region - I didn't realise until this morning.
From now on, I will stick to things with wheels...