As soon as we had trundled wearily through the imposing iron gates at Somerford Park Farm, the Land Rover broke down. We had braved driving rain, blustery wind and the constant thunder of juggernauts on the M6 to arrive safely at horse camp late on Tuesday afternoon.

But, when we tried to restart the Land Rover to park in the unloading area, there was nothing but a click from the ignition. After spending more than £1,400 on repairs, this was depressing. We were bump-started and at last made it to the camping field.

The horses were bedded on shavings and given nets of haylage. Then it was our turn. While Esme and Jack catered for their stay for £20, Steve crammed nine carrier bags at Morrisons in Skipton for two breakfasts and two light lunches.

“What are you going to do with that lot?” asked Esme as Steve unpacked endless trays of seafood.

“You’ve gone bananas,” said Jenny, eyeing three bulging bags of the fruit. “Who on earth will munch their way through all those?”

Wednesday dawned showery and blustery. After breakfasting on bananas, we set forth for our lessons.

Somerford Park, near Congleton in Cheshire, is an equestrian paradise. Rows of horses’ heads look out over stable doors. There is a tack shop, veterinary clinic, clubhouse with hot showers and all-weather arenas with lines of imposing showjumps.

One of the biggest attractions is the enormous cross-country schooling field with its array of event-training obstacles, including a magnificent water complex.

It was here that Mrs Horse had her first encounter with “owl holes”. These large circular fences, cut out of brushwood, make the horse look like it’s jumping through hoops. Would our seasonally plump mare believe she would fit through?

One big leap and she was galloping safely on to the next. Esme was later told the second owl hole, ringed with bright green plastic “brush”, was 3ft 6in high.

In the beginners’ class, our tutor, European eventing gold medalist Rachel Bayliss, reckoned Daniel was a “star”. He hopped round his showjumping and cross-country despite horrible raw sores on his tail from persistent rubbing.

Baby Horse was at his worst, stubbornly refusing to move forward and stepping clumsily over the tiny fences. In the end, Rachel told Steve: “It needs another job and you need another horse.”

It is with great sadness we have decided we may have to part with Baby. He is a placid, laid back chap and, unlike his brother Daniel, has never thrown any of us, but the effort needed to school him is exhausting. As Rachel said: “If you stop pedalling, it doesn’t go!”

But Baby won’t be going anywhere unless the perfect home is found.

Back home, we needn’t have worried about a huge surplus of bananas.

“Pass ’em ’ere. I’ll ’ave ’em for afternoon tea,” said Daniel, devouring the first of many.

Jenny Loweth & Steve Wright