Rainbow 1 - Becky 0

So I was given a list of things that I wasn't allowed to do this holiday by Daddy and concored by a certain Italian. 

The list included no rent mopeds or quad bikes, no visiting waterfalls or scuba diving. I did want to go diving but I had heard the health and safety is pretty non-existent here. 

I decided instead to go horse riding. Baring in mind that I've ridden for a few years (albeit I've had a year break) and I've also ridden before in Costa Rica, Zambia and Egypt, I thought it would be fine.  

I know the horses abroad are completely different from the school horses in the UK but usually I can control them and the guides are good. Not so much the case in Bali. 

I was taken to the stables and shown a piece of paper with beginners (no experience of riding), intermediate (rode a horse 5-10 times) or advance (ridden for over a year). 

I had been riding for nearly three years so I said advanced. He asked if I was ok with a stallion which I said yes otherwise I thought I'd be stuck on a little pony. 

Because there was only me, they decided I'd just have a 'guide' walk with me. Rockie mistake!

The guy was barely 16 and didn't speak a word of English. 

All started off ok. My stallion, Rainbow, was walking fine. I think the problem starts with his name. I think he had a complex with being a stallion called Rainbow. 

From walking, we very promptly went to cantering the whole way to the beach. Luckily he knew where he was going as I didn't have a clue. 

I have cantered before but never as fast or for as long. I literally had no hope of stopping him so I just went with it. 

If you've cantered before, you know how liberating it feels. You're riding on the back of this beautiful animal and it feels like you're doing the speed of a rocket. 

We made it to the beach, in one piece. My stirrups were around my ankles. It was lucky I didn't fall then as I definitely would've broken my ankles. 

Some locals were watching to see if I was ok and after 5-10 minutes later, the young boy appeared rather breathless. 

We rode in the sea for a while. It was lovely but Rainbow kept getting spooked by the reeds and rubbish in the sea. I felt really bad. 

After we finished in the sea, it was time to go again. Rainbow was being so stubborn. He didn't want to move forward and kept going backwards, I knew trouble was brewing. 

After walking for a bit, the guide asked me to run (canter) and I tried a few times but he was having none of it. 

He then got a stick for me to use as a crop, that was the final straw. Although I threw the strick away, Rainbow already saw it and started cantering. 

We did a couple of strides then my strirrip broke. I lost my balance and fell off. 

Thank god I was wearing a helmet as I hit my head and arm

on a rock. My other ankle also got caught in the other stirrup so that hurt badly.  

The guide asked if I wanted some water and rode Rainbow back to get some. He clearly didn't realise how hurt I was as when he came back I refused to get back on that mad horse. 

Luckily a motorbike (sorry Daddy) came and took me back. 

Although it wasn't particularly fun to fall, in a way it's good to get it out of the way. 

I was only saying to myself that morning that I've never fallen before. At least now it's over and done with. 

I've been in big trouble for doing 'stupid things' whilst on holiday but I hardly went out with the intention of falling. 

Let's hope tomorrow's 65km bike ride is less eventful.