WHEN RISI MET MUBARAK!

                                     

Ever tried taking a selfie with a horse? Well I've been there, done that and worn the T-shirt, not an easy task I tell you!

Now this was not how it was planned, honestly!

I had always thought the first time I make an appearance on a post, I'd be looking 'the part' my slimmest ever, skin blemish-free, make-up on point, eyebrow game forever strong, best side on display, standing against the back drop of one of the most envious place ever. Alas, this was not meant to be, Man proposes......blah di blah. 

So what I'm treating you guys to instead is a blurry pic of me with my mate Annie and her horse, Mubarak aka MuMu, on a windy rainy summer evening at the stable yard. 

We all have different things that make us tick; some of you may know that food and music do it for me. On 2nd thoughts, scratch that, it's actually 'eating' food that does it for me. As the cooking part is neither here nor there! Even with the music, it's nothing too deep like jazz or anything, it's Naija Afro beat music I gravitate towards. Simples!

We should all have something that makes us buzz though, don't you think? It could possibly be something one has not yet discovered, buried deep within us. 

I know someone who had always wanted to dance and invested a lot of time back in the day, enquiring how she could dance for Fela without necessarily becoming part of his harem! I look at her nowadays all settled down and smile. She now claims to hate all things 'Fela' and refers to his music as being 'secular' I know, don't ask! 

It's good to have something we're passionate about, it can lower the stress levels, gives us something to look forward to and/or serves as a form of escapism. 

Well my friend, Annie, just happens to be into horses!

Me being the Naija home girl I am, could not really get my head around this, I'd ask her "But Annie why horses?" And she would reply 'why not, Ola?' She'd go on and on about her horse, Mubarak, and one day as she's telling me how human-like her horse is and how she has such an attitude, I roll my eyes and ask her to bring Mubarak to 'greet' me at home. This was my attempt at sarcasm, so you can imagine my surprise when Annie says she would, but only on the condition that I come down to the stable yard to help her 'muck out'. For the sake of clarity, 'mucking out' is to clean out a place where an animal lives it involves removing waste products and old hay. 

Always one for a challenge I tell her 'game on'. 

                            

                                Mubarak and Annie

On the day in question everyone at work knew I was going to help Annie 'Muck out' at the stables, It's joke of the day, questions ranged from; Ola what about your nails? You sure you wanna do this?, 'mucking out' is really messy you're gonna smell of horse poo for days you know? Don't stand behind the horse, you do know they kick? Ola don't attempt to climb on the horse, you know horse riders have to be featherweight??? (so rude, I know!)

'Anyways' as we leave work on the 'mucking out' day,  I receive a text from my daughter, Funlola 'Mum please don't even think of climbing on that horse, I don't want you to get hurt'. (Really what she meant was 'Mum if you fall and they are now hanging your leg in Igbobi (aka Fractures unit) you're on your own!'

So we head to the stable yard that is based on the outskirts of the 'local government area' where we live. And there for the first time I get to meet Mubarak in her stable. 

I'm so taken in by the size of her, she is ENORMOUS, she's a 14 year old Thoroughbred cross with an Irish Draft and is 17.1 hands in height (yes they measure horses in 'hands' ). A former Show Jumper, Mubarak has Dressage under her belt ie highest expression of horse training. She has also bred many Grade 'A' foals over the years. 

Annie often describes her horse as being a snob and I can really understand what she means by this as I could imagine her giving other horse's an inferiority complex!! 

I help Annie to clean out the stable, Mubarak sleeps on a fresh bed of hay every evening, all her manure (poo, there's loads of it!) is shovelled out and and new hay laid down. Water is topped up and she's fed. The work is physically challenging and now I have a greater understanding of how Annie manages to 'eat like a horse' (no pun intended!) and maintain her svelte figure, I also now know how she gets her washboard abs, biceps and triceps to die for! Caring for and riding Mubarak is literally equivalent to a whole gym workout!

Annie had us in tears with laughter as she jisted us what a group of guys once shouted out to her as she was riding Mubarak past them. As this is a family blog, sorry guys I will not be sharing it with you (It's a real fish 'n' chip one!)

           

     Mubarak and Moi

                                

                            

    

                                          

Annie's love for horses began when she was a little girl of 5, she tells me she used to write stories about horses, draw pictures and was never one for playing with Barbies! Her mum had a friend that groomed dogs and horses so Annie made sure she hung around this woman a lot! Helping her clean out stables come rain and shine, grooming the ponies. By age 13 when Annie's parents saw how dedicated she was they got her a horse. 

I'd say Annie is well balanced, she 'horses' hard (am I allowed to say that ?) works hard and parties hard!! She has busted the myth that horse riding is only for certain types of people (a bit like Serena and Tennis!!!). Annie's plans for the future are to make horse riding more accessible to children within the BME (black and Minority Ethnic) communities. 

At weekends people visit the stables and bring children to see the horses, they have a therapeutic effect. 

                                     

                                         Annie and Mubarak. 

Well done Annie and thanks for giving us a glimpse into Mubarak's world, prior to meeting her the only other encounter I had with horses was at Ojude Oba festival, Ijebu Ode back in the day. (I've also uploaded a pic of my mum back in the 80's on horseback at Ojude Oba, yes that's random, I know, but I can!)

Oh yeah, and there I was minding my business on a boring Sunday afternoon and I get a text from Annie it reads 'Ola I'm approaching your street with Mubarak, see you soon' (yep, texting on a horse!) so we all dash out and can hear the clip-clop-clap of Mubarak hooves on the road and there she was in all her glory, what an evening!

       Funlola, Moi, Annie and Mubarak. 

                                                 

      Annie, Mubarak and Moi.

      Annie and Moi @ the day job!

                                          

                

    Mum at Ojude Oba Festival, Ijebu Ode, Nigeria

Any of you guys got a passion, hobby or (healthy) obsession?

On that note guys, don't let anyone else hold the pen when writing YOUR story. 

Have a great weekend.