Horseback riding - first attempt in years

I never gotten the chance to learn horseback riding. As a prepubescent teen I used to dream about riding my horse through the Savannah, I sighed when I watched Robin of Sherwood and Lady Marion was chased through the forest on  horseback. I was convinced that it would be ultimate freedom to have a special bond with your horse. However, my parents argued that it was too expensive so riding a Shetland pony when we rented a family house once a year was as far as I got. I had a massive collection of girly horse magazines and covered the walls in posters of prancing horses, their tails stretched out, necks bowed and caught in that ultimate moment when their feet barely touched the ground and they seemed to be flying.

I haven't been on horseback in over 16 years and never had any formal training. 
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