Page 140 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

CHAPTER 26

THE BRITISH DRIVING SOCIETY

During the later 1970’s Ruth and our daughter Helen decided they would like to take riding
lessons. Ruth had already completed an evening class course on equine management
and I suppose this was the next logical step.
They both thoroughly enjoyed the experience which ran on into a year or two.
Jill who ran the riding school suggested they could take on a pony of their own and a small
energetic equine arrived who was in need of a good home. It lived in one of our stables at
the rear of our garden and I must admit I rather enjoyed the experience too. As this first
pony was too small to ride I was the one who exercised it and spent an hour or so each
day running up and down the long quiet lane in our village that ran at right angles to the
main road. I realise now, I had never been so fit before or after this experience!

THE BEGINNING
The little pony eventually found another home and Juno came to stay. Jill found her for us
at a horse dealer near Lincoln. She was a quiet bay mare of mixed parentage but mainly
Dales Pony, a rugged sturdy breed from the Pennine hills in Yorkshire.
Juno was a big hit from day one. Both Ruth and Helen could ride her with confidence and
she seemed to know that their safety was in her hands. I began to like the horse owning
idea more and more but two on bikes and one on a horse seemed heavy going, until we
were struck with the idea of using Juno to take us all for rides if she could pull a cart.
We investigated the subject thoroughly and eventually bought a small tub trap and harness
from the regular Horse sales at Leicester.

Juno with Ruth and Helen and newly acquired “Tub Trap” in our yard. Juno taught us to
drive.
Without a doubt she had done all this before and was delighted to take us round and about
together.
The tub trap was not ideal to drive and the fact that all passengers had to get in at the rear

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