Hidden -a whole other world open only to those who choose it, unseen by those who don’t! Warlingham, a small community close to the Surrey and Kent border is a perfect place to show this.
Many people pass through it every day but little do they know that behind all the hustle and bustle there is really a whole different world. Equestrianism, that’s the other world. You would never know that there are huge equestrian complexes dotted about all over the place hidden in suburbia and closer than you think.
Just behind the constant stream of traffic and rows of houses are expanses of fields and woods and in these places you’ll find horses and riders. While the beginner side to equestrianism can be said to be easy and has most likely been tried by many at some point in their lifetime what many don’t see is the advanced level. No longer do the horses plod around half asleep, instead they are replaced with highly strung, unpredictable and temperamental beasts which are by no means easy to control. The fences that are to be jumped get much higher, the level of difficulty in the movement asked of the horse increases, as does the lunacy of what the rider is being asked to do. Many people would not dream of racing towards a solid brick wall or a hedge that is so high you can’t see the ground on the other side on a living animal that most likely is just as intimidated as you!
The phrase ‘the horse does all the work’ doesn’t apply either. The rider is required to be really skilful. Too slow and it’s through the fence you go, too fast and you’ll bring the fence down behind you, misjudge the route and you’ll go one way and the horse the other.
So be aware, just behind suburbia is the wild world of equestrianism. There’s a horse closer than you think!
