Dear friends,
It's an amazing sight, watching somebody doing something for the first time, and finding it was what they were born to do. Big Boy O had that with horses. The first time we put him on the back of one, it looked like he felt at ease, had found his place. When he started riding classes, it became even more obvious. He felt and looked like he belonged on the back of a horse. And the horses looked like they knew it, too.
I never had such a relationship with our four-legged friends. I love animals, and that includes horses. But more as conversation partners (yes, I talk to them, a lot). My strained relationship with altitudes over the thickness of a Monday paper has always had a negative impact on my enjoyment of being on top of an animal that high. Miracle Mom is, fortunately, different. She was what we call in The Netherlands, a horse girl. She loves riding, even though she hadn't done it since her youth. Apart from the occasional holiday ride on a donkey or camel. Now that we are looking for a riding school for the kids in our new home, and she had her birthday recently, I decided it was time to bring about some change. So, after her birthday, we drove to nearby Horse Town. Or the Cité du Cheval also known as Maisons-Laffitte.
Maisons-Laffitte has a beautiful race track. Not long ago, the last race was run here, but it still serves as a training ground for the French Horseracing Association France Galop. The racecourse is situated in a part of the town that is completely dedicated to horses. There are pony clubs, stables, more stables, training facilities, stables with rooms, more stables, more training facilities, and of course: horses, horses, horses. This place breathes horses. So much so, that on the streets, horses have the priority. Over all other traffic. This is horse town.
Needless to say, Miracle Mom loved her birthday gift. We will certainly be back. If you are in the area and want to do some horseback riding, let me know. I know just the place to go.
Equine greetings and hugs,
A.
This is the fifth postcard in the Greetings from la Grande Couronne series. Find the first, second, third and fourth postcards as well.
The Grande Couronne is the second circle around Paris, which includes the Yvelines department.
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Sounds like a lovely birthday present for Miracle Mum! 💕 I had horses growing up but it was my sister who was the real horse girl of the family 🙂 thanks for sharing, Arjan 🌸