Horse riding
Heels down, eyes up
Riding is my favourite thing in the world. I love the feeling of a good canter, but I also love the bits people don't see: grooming, picking out hooves, tacking up and getting to know each horse's personality.
The four paces
Every pace has its own rhythm. Count the hoofbeats and you can tell which one a horse is doing with your eyes shut.
- Walk4 beats
- Trot2 beats
- Canter3 beats
- Gallop4 beats
How tall is that horse?
Horses are measured in hands from the ground to the top of the shoulder (the withers). One hand is 4 inches. "14.2hh" means 14 hands and 2 inches, not 14 and a fifth!
14.2hh is 147 cm to the withers. That counts as a pony.
Things every rider learns
- Always approach a horse from the side so it can see you coming.
- Mount from the left (the "near side"). The right is the "off side".
- Check the girth before you get on, and again after a few minutes.
- Pick out the hooves before and after every ride.
- Wear a hat every single time you ride. No exceptions.
Baking
Weigh it, mix it, bake it
Baking is a bit like science you can eat. If you measure properly and get the oven right, it works. Here's one of my go-to recipes.
Lemon drizzle cupcakes
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 125g | soft butter |
| 125g | caster sugar |
| 2 | eggs |
| 125g | self-raising flour |
| 1 | lemon, zest for the cakes, juice for the drizzle |
| 50g | granulated sugar, for the drizzle |
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan, gas 4) and put cases in a muffin tin.
- Beat the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then fold in the flour and lemon zest.
- Split between the cases and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until golden and springy.
- Mix the lemon juice with the granulated sugar and spoon it over while the cakes are still warm.
Always ask a grown-up before using the oven, and use oven gloves.
Oven temperature cheat sheet
Recipes never use the same units. The row marked "cakes" is the one I use most.
| Normal | Fan | Gas mark |
|---|---|---|
| 140°C | 120°C | 1 |
| 150°C | 130°C | 2 |
| 160°C | 140°C | 3 |
| 180°C | 160°C | 4 cakes |
| 190°C | 170°C | 5 |
| 200°C | 180°C | 6 |
| 220°C | 200°C | 7 |
My top tips
- Use room-temperature butter and eggs. Cold ones make lumpy batter.
- Don't open the oven door in the first 15 minutes or the cakes can sink.
- Poke a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean, it's done.
Medical stuff
How bodies actually work
I'm a big fan of Operation Ouch. I love finding out what's going on inside us, from broken bones to why we get goosebumps. Maybe one day I'll be a doctor or a vet.
Check your own pulse
Put two fingers on the side of your neck or the inside of your wrist (not your thumb, it has its own pulse). Tap the button, or press Space or Enter, every time you feel a beat.
-- beats per minute
A resting heart rate for someone my age is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
Body quiz
Guess first, then select a question to see the answer.
206. Babies are born with around 300, but some fuse together as they grow.
The femur, or thigh bone. It is also the strongest.
In your ear. The stapes is about 3 mm long and helps you hear.
Your skin. It keeps germs out, keeps water in and helps control your temperature.
About 100,000 times. That is over 35 million beats a year.
Tiny muscles pull each hair upright. In furry animals it traps warm air. On us it mostly just looks funny.