Day 02 ??

This one was missing from the list so I’m free to decide a topic for this day, the day nr. 2. So… let the topic be MY HOBBIES. I know I’m creative..

During my life I’ve tried quite a many sports and hobbies so far. My very first hobby was ballet (how come I’m still not a good dancer?!), and next, there were gymnastics (telinevoimistelu), visual arts school and tennis.

Then a new girl came to our class and took me to the stables and I was sold. That was the one thing I wanted. My dad must have seen that my desire was stronger than before as he actually went to the stables and booked riding lessons for me. I was more than happy, and it lasted for many years. I have to say I don’t know where I would be right now if I hadn’t started riding and hanging around in the stables. I got my most long-term friends from there. I found a sport I like. I learned to trust in myself and believe in myself. I had the feeling that I was good at something (haha well not always..). Those years were maybe some of the happiest years of my life so far. I went to the same stable for six years, I had a care horse, and there were times I went to the stable every day in a week. 

After that time I had a rent (?) pony for half an year, then it was time for a pause. During that pause I started playing football and I went on with that hobby for a few years. Then there was a pause from everything, after which I continued riding, at a different stable than before (in the stable I already knew as I had been there at summer camps a few times). I had riding lessons for a year after which I had another rent(?) pony, at the same stable as the previous one was. I rented her almost an year ‘til I didn’t have time anymore. I had a pause. Then, last fall, I went back to the riding lessons, but I stopped at New Year’s as I moved to Spain. So, since New Years’ I’ve had a pause from riding again, and I miss it, a lot. At the moment I have no money for lessons (student budget) but I hope I can continue at some point.

So, it's not hard to guess which one has been the most important hobby for me? As I said in the yesterday’s post, I can’t say I would like sports, but riding is the only sport I like. It’s an exception.

pictures (C) Emmi H. & Heljä N-K. 

Btw, off the topic - the world is insane. People are insane. I just cannot understand. This kind of things don't happen in Finland. A candle is lighted..

my dearest hobby

it took a while to come up with an idea what to write about. now that i have more time (Christmas holidays!!) i try to be more active with the blog, but i just need some innovative ideas what to write about. oh well, i decided that today I'm gonna tell about my dearest hobby, riding.

during these 20 years I've tried quite many sports and activities but, no doubt, the most important for me has always been riding and horses. my riding career started in 2010 (i was 9 years old) as my friend started to take riding lessons. i was with her at the stable many times (even before she had started) just to see ponies and horses. my dad had noticed my enthusiasm and interest in horses so one day he just told me he had booked riding lessons for me too. to be honest, without that decision i don't know where i would be right now.

there were a few drawbacks as i fell off a pony (two times during the first year) and as a pony bit me on the back. i still didn't give up. after two years of riding i got my first care pony (that i took care of a few days a week). he was like the kindest pony at the stable - a little black pony that liked to be brushed and fondled. only bad thing was that he was kind of small and not the strongest one so i didn't get to ride him much and not for long, because he was on the easier lessons. he was my care pony for 4 years until i stopped going to that stable.

at that stable, there were separated lessons for pony riders and for horse riders. i never proceed to horse riding lessons because i was keen on ponies and not too big for them. i didn't get to ride my care pony but i had another favorite pony that i rode almost every time i had a lesson. that pony was small and grey and full of energy every time! so cute and so nice. it was never boring with her.

yep, sadly I became too big for her.

after six years of going to that stable (that was located near to my home and from where i got many many good friends!) me and my dad made the decision of choosing another choice for the hobby. the prices were high and i know i wouldn't have been able to continue with the ponies anymore. my dad got me a pony that i took care of one day per week. he was maybe the nicest pony in the world. he was a private pony - not owned by a riding school. so he was kind of my own once a week. the stable situated further away from my home but my friend went also there (just more often than me) so we went together.

i was very keen on to that pony but too soon he moved to another stable and i couldn't continue anymore. i went to that stable only for half a year. it was spring 2007 when he moved away and my riding pause began.

it was winter 2009 that i got back on the saddle. the stable was kind of far from where i live but i started going there with my friend. for me the place was familiar because i had been there on four summer camps (years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005). the place was big and there were a riding school's side and a private side. i went back to the lessons. i found my passion for riding again during the one and a half year that i went there. i also found my favorite pony that was kind of like the same as the little grey pony at my first stable: energetic and quick. and a little bigger than the grey one!

in the summer of 2010 i took a horse to take care of a few times a week again (leasing-pony? rented? i don't know..). this time i went there more often, 3+ times a week. she lived at the same stable as the previous one so the place was familiar. that pony was so (sometimes too) energetic and active that it was almost too much for me! me, who loves that kind of ponies. but she was so kind and nice. and cute! that pony became maybe the dearest for me because i went there so many times a week and i spent so much of my time with her.

in the winter 2011 i honestly didn't have much time left for the pony. i had studies and work to do and my way to the stable took an hour per direction so i couldn't handle everything. i stopped riding. and i missed my dear pony. 

after half a year of not riding, this fall, i started again because i missed my hobby so much. the place was same as before - the big place separated into the riding school's side and the private side, and i went back to the lessons. once again. this fall I've been riding there but as i leave for exchange, I'm not going to continue in January. so its a pause with riding once again. but i have every intention to go on when i come back!

©Maria F.

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