As a relatively low-level paraplegic with some strength in my bum and thighs, I had ridden before, and didn't anticipate any problems.
We settled on a ride that would take us out of Machynlleth, a town we both knew well, up into the nearby hills on lanes he had ridden before and I hadn't, and which my mother, an overenthusiastic mobile librarian, tells us she's not allowed to drive her library van on, because of the dangerous gradients ("but I do anyway").
Months ago, I despaired over not seeing another bull market before I rode to the great roundup in the sky.
Get lessons from a qualified instructor in all basic horse riding before attempting to jump.
On Halloween, less than a week before Election Day, I rode with Ted Cruz, now the senator-elect from Texas, who was folded into the back seat of a Toyota Corolla as an aide drove him from San Antonio to Austin.
With little time on a Sunday morning before departure, I rode to The Eglise Saint-Nicolas (St. Nicholas Church) for Sunday service, and to light s candle for my uncle.
"I don't remember being at Tweseldown on the day and I rode three horses before I had my fall.
"I didn't know Gordon before I rode Chickabiddy and he didn't train that many horses, but the ones he did he was successful with, so I'll be forever grateful to him for giving me the ride".
So one day, just before lunch, I rode the light rail 45 minutes to the end of the line and walked to a bus stop, where, after studying the route map (another breach of my rules, but it was in Chinese, hence unreadable), I boarded a bus that passers-by assured me would not go anywhere I'd been before.
I have ridden before but not with any real enthusiasm.
Maybe I need to repeat that: all but two students already owned and rode before taking the Basic.
