First Ride, 22 Years Ago

My first lesson, on my 6th birthday, I rode a pony called Twinkle. He was a nice friendly bay pony, though I later found out he was almost impossible to try and catch in a field. I didn't even know how to hold the reins at the time (it's not as simple as it may sound, your hands are held in a loose fist, with thumbs on top, the reins come from the horses mouth, go between your pinky and ring finger, and come back out under the thumb).

After being shown how to mount, and hold the reins, I got to walk and trot around a very small indoor arena. I was so excited I was trembling for the full half hour lesson (the next day my legs were so sore I could barely walk). I don't think I talked about anything else until my next lesson. I loved every minute of it.