I suspect I have bred a townie'

How long do you persist in insisting a reluctant child should enjoy horses as much as you do, ponders Tessa Waugh, as she settles for one last roll of the dice before she'll throw in the towel

SINCE the beginning of the year Jack our youngest child, who is 10, has been tackling me about giving up riding. He started off by saying, “After this year please can I not ride again?” which soon changed to, “After this summer I don’t want to ride anymore.” Like bargaining chips, he was offering a few months of compliance before withdrawing from the game altogether.

I stopped his Pony Club subscription; he endured rallies and camps for five years with the forbearance of a prisoner. On top of that, the idea of riding around the farm is anathema and he doesn’t see what all the fuss is about as regards hunting.