奇速英语

马术俱乐部教贫民子弟如何骑马和生活

Usually in school or in clubs, children are told not to horse around—horsing around means to act badly. But in south London, there is a club that loves it when students horse around.

The Ebony Horse Club is a riding school for children from poor families. General Manager Naomi Howgate runs the team that operates the school. With the help of volunteers, they give about 140 rides each week to children. They teach not only horseback riding but also important life skills.

The club recently reopened its stables(养马场). They were closed for months because of the COVID-19. The program’s eight horses have returned to their home after a long rest outside London in East Surrey. Across the road from housing for the poor, young people are again learning how to ride. They begin by learning how to get on the horse, or how to mount. Then, they learn how to walk, trot(小跑), and finally canter(使马慢跑) the horses. These are specialized terms for how a horse walks or runs.

One of the club’s youngest riders is Shaddai Mcleod. The 9-year-old was very excited to be back in the saddle. He rides after school. But he joins the team on Sundays to help in the yard. He said he is happy to take care of the horses: cleaning out the stables, grooming(刷洗) the horses, and measuring out their evening meals. Shaddai recently received his first award for grooming.