Simon Bates writes:

I’m lucky, I’ve been able down the years to indulge most of my enthusiasms, my passions, if you will.

Travel, I’ve done a fair amount of that across the world and have no intention of stopping doing it.

Books. Yes, I’ve collected enough down the years to limit my ability to move house.

But nothing, nothing compares to the sheer joy that horses have given me

I rode old ponies bareback on my grandfathers farm and often minus a bridle when i was a kid. But the first pony that was really mine was Jimmy, a Welsh mountain pony from Clun market.

He was a wiry little fellow who would carry you for just as long as it suited him. Then he’d dump you on the ground and stand innocently grazing next to you as you picked yourself up and got back on.

When i was a rousie in New Zealand i couldn’t afford a car so i bought a horse and cart and travelled from farm to farm that way. The horse's name was Kit and she was an ex racehorse.

If you stopped paying attention, or worse went to sleep, she’d notice the lack of concentration and take off lickety-split and you’d need all your strength to pull her to a stop, a mile or two down the road.

I was actually flagged down and warned for reckless driving by the cops in the town of Morrinsville. Kit stood calmly by while the policeman gave me a talking to

Since then I’ve riddden in Australia, the States and India as well as back home. All the horses different and unique individuals

There was the stallion Jumbo…still famous throughout the three day eventing world… Sometimes he would flash his eyes at you bear his teeth and maybe rear a bit. But the moment you said “stop being bloody stupid” he’d calm down and nuzzle up to you

The thing about horses if you love ‘em, is that they recognise that affection and empathise with your emotions and your emotional state. To me they are all the symbol of a free individual spirit. 

Because of most of those horses, I’ve learned that true strength and friendship is quiet and unwavering. That it’s never about who leads and who follows, but the willingness to travel together.

And I’ve learned that not one hour in the saddle is ever wasted.

I’ve had so many horses since Jimmy the Welsh mountain pony and i miss each of them and i still remember their names and their quirks.

I had a back injury a few years ago, which means that riding for me now can be a painful problem. Being with horses though isn’t.

Meet my current friend Bailey (pictured)

Hear Simon's 70s on Saturdays at noon; and catch him on Sunday at 2.00pm