“When I was 10 I bought a pony for £10”
Once you’re touched by the magic of horses, it never leaves you. For Pamela Binns it’s lasted 80 years so far. Here she shares a story that started with Pippin in 1941 and continues now with Marcus at Park Lane Stables, 8 decades later.
When I was ten my parents divorced and my father left my life forever. This was in 1941, and my mother was busy doing War Work, so I was often very lonely. Then my real life Godmother turned into a Fairy one, she sent me a cheque for £15. (She said she’d missed so many Christmases.)
I announced I was going to buy a pony! My best friend at my day school knew of a farmer who was selling a little Welsh roan pony standing at 12.2 hands. She was going cheaply because, although she was four years old, she’d never been broken. As soon as I saw Pippin I lost my heart; and soon, for £10, she was mine. The other £5 went on a felt saddle, a second-hand snaffle bridle, and a dandy brush.
I had to find somewhere for Pippin to live. My Grandfather had been giving me 2/6 a week pocket money (that’s a half crown, which would be 12½ pence today). For this I persuaded an old lady who lived nearby to let Pippin graze her two fields, which had a stream running through the middle. It was perfect.
Pamela with Marcus at Park Lane Stables in Petersham
Pippin quickly grew used to her saddle and bridle. But she was still terrified of lorries and cars. I persuaded my brother to start up our Grandfather’s car, and then put a bowl of oats on the bonnet. Pippin gulped down her treat at great speed, but she never got used to traffic. So when I was riding her and we came to a busy road, I dismounted and led her, always rewarding her afterwards with treats for her ordeal.
But a sadness began to creep into my riding days. I was used to being small for my age. With the happiness of having Pippin, I suddenly shot up: I grew more than two inches in that one year. I’d outgrown my little roan mare!
I continued to ride her, mainly bareback with my now long legs dangling down. But my Grandfather very kindly bought me a bigger pony. She was a bay, 14.1 hands, with a beautiful black mane and tail. I christened her Gypsy.
“There was a snort of recognition. It was the moment all of us who love horses recognise”
I watched as she was unloaded from the horse box. She came towards me, dancing, her ears pricked in anticipation. She shook her head, the black forelock moving to show the white star on her forehead. With a little spring she moved from the planking to the soft turf. The man leading her passed the cord attached to her head collar to me. She lowered her head, and there was the gentlest whisper of a whicker as her opalesque eyes met mine. There was a snort of recognition. It was the moment all of us who love horses recognise.
And so our adventure years began. To begin with, Gypsy was so naughty, bucking, rearing, bolting, anything she could think of to unseat me. But eventually we formed the friendship that comes with perfect partnering. And there were so many wonderful times, shows and Pony Club events, and the joy of just hacking about the countryside.
The years passed so happily with my ponies, but the time came to part, as I decided to make my life in an entirely different sphere. But if you have the love of horses, that magic is always there. Just to see a police horse in the street makes your day. There’s a horsey event on TV, all day you’re in a state of suppressed excitement.
That’s how it was for me when I saw Marcus on TV and heard that he was available for people who felt they couldn’t get through lockdown without hugging a horse. “That’s me!” I said to the lovely girl, Cessa, my befriender from Age UK who helps me out. And Cessa drove me out to Park Lane Stables in Teddington, and thoughtfully provided a bag of ready cut up carrots.
Pamela riding Marcus in Petersham
Well of course I just lost my heart to Marcus, and he showed he wasn’t averse to a treat of carrots. Before we left, I made a vow, and told him that one day I’d come back and ride him! And so on 14 July 2021 I visited him again, this time at Manor Farm Stables in Petersham. With help from the entire team I was in the saddle again, 80 years after it all started! We set off, I was 90 years young, Marcus was 23 (making him about 70 in human years). So it was a slow and steady procession, with Park Lane’s Rebekah leading Marcus, Verity on my left, and Amelia to my right.
And me? I was transported back to being 10 years old and riding Pippin, all over again.
Thank you, Cessa, and Park Lane Stables, and most of all Marcus, for making a dream come true.
Marcus with Pamela on the day they met in Teddington
Pamela Binns was born and brought up in Lichfield and started her stage career as Assistant Stage Manager at the local Repertory Company. She has made many TV appearances, and acted with two James Bond heroes: Roger Moore and Sean Connery. She toured the Far East with the Royal Opera Company as a dancing monkey in The Magic Flute, and finally ‘signed off’ at the age of 86, playing Philomena in East Enders. In 2018 she published her memoir, Little Good Luck.