Many keen horsemen take up the sport because their wives or girlfriends are equestrians. Steve and Jack are examples – although Steve did have a prehistoric pair of jodhpurs.

Local event rider Keith Rosier joined beginners at Fittons riding school after meeting his partner Nicola. It is now hard to imagine him hacking out with the string of learners at the former stables, still spoken of locally with a fondness bordering on reverence.

Five years ago, Steve got on Mrs Horse, did a wall of death round the school with washing line reins and legs flapping – and fell off. Undaunted, he switched to a young and rebellious Daniel, who threw him off more than 20 times in as many months. The pair became an all too familiar sight, careering across the countryside with Steve clinging stirrupless around Daniel’s neck. Once dislodged, Steve chased a fleeing Daniel on foot, waving his whip and shouting: “Come back here, you little devil!”

Jack, who started riding less than two years’ ago, took a more structured approach but still suffered many an undignified tumble.

On Sunday, Steve and Jack set out in brilliant sunshine on the rescheduled second Easter Trail at Craven Country Ride. Jenny and Esme had good reason to be proud as their black horses leapt neck and neck over logs and brush fences.

Daniel was on top form, jumping fluently and keeping pace with Mrs Horse. He bounded over the Multibank, weaved through bending poles and clattered over the challenging wooden footbridge obstacle. “Yer’ve jus’ gotta be brave and stamp across, like me,” he said to a fancy chestnut as it backed off in alarm.

Jack took a giant leap for horsemankind when he jumped the rolltop into the water. After our recent run of ill luck, Jenny and Esme could barely watch as Mrs Horse launched herself, landing with a big splash – and Jack still on board.

It was a very successful day and good practice for when Steve and Jack tackle the Pairs class at the Spring hunter trials hosted by Craven Country Ride.

Maybe a good omen was the Fortune Cookies that came with our Chinese takeaway supper on Saturday.

“Don’t push your luck with these – I’ve had them before and they’re chewy,” Steve said. Not knowing what they were, and thinking they were a tasty pudding, he had tried to eat the whole cookie, including the paper message inside.

Having almost dismissed our fears that Baby is an alien, we now fear he has radioactive sweat. Staff member Sue had to cold hose an angry rash on her arm after it came into contact with his skin on Saturday. She thought we had sprayed him with some sort of pesticide!

Steve Wright & Jenny Loweth