Woman, 82, achieves 'bucket list' wish to ride horse

Hilary the horse was Barbara Heslip's ride for the day

A care home resident has ticked off her "bucket list" dream of riding a horse at the age of 82.

Since turning 70, Barbara Heslip says she has tried skydiving, abseiling down cliff faces and even riding an ostrich.

And with the help of Kiwi House Care Home in Derby, she enjoyed a day in the saddle for the first time.

The charity, Wenlo Riding for the Disabled Association Group, allowed a group from the care home to spend a day at its base near Loughborough in Leicestershire.

The ride, which took place on 15 August, had been a lifelong ambition of Mrs Heslip's.

The retired hospital and school worker, from Draycott in Derbyshire, said: "I think I've always been adventurous.

"I wanted to do a skydive but my husband had always said, 'you've got to think of the children'. I lost my husband a long time ago, so aged 70 I did it.

"I rode an ostrich, when I was on holiday and went to an ostrich farm, and I did two abseils down some cliffs.

"Riding a horse is something I've always wanted to do, it's been on my bucket list from a long time ago, the closest I'd come was the donkeys at Skeggy [Skegness]."

Mrs Heslip had only ever ridden the donkeys at Skegness as a child - and also an ostrich as a retiree

Mrs Heslip added: "It was fantastic, I was a bit nervous at first but after that it was fine. The horse was lovely, it was called Hilary - one of my sisters was called Hilary so it seemed fitting."

The trip was organised as part of the home's "Make a Wish" programme, which lines up a range of activities.

Marie Gilbert, activity co-ordinator at Kiwi House, said: "Barbara is pretty much at the top when it comes to being adventurous.

"We knew of Wenlo and the work they do, they welcomed us with open arms and made it possible.

"We took five other residents to watch Barbara and they all had a chance to groom the horses and were treated to tea and cake. We all had a fabulous time."

It was a day to remember for Mrs Heslip

Dawn Whitmore-Kirby, volunteer head coach at Wenlo, added: "She [Mrs Heslip] said she was nervous, but she didn't look it.

"She did everything she was asked to do so she could ride, and the smile on her face was amazing."

Mrs Heslip will not have to wait very long to tick another item off her bucket list - appearing on the radio - with her trip set to feature on BBC Radio Derby.

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