Post by Lisa-Marie on Jul 19, 2005 9:54:51 GMT
MAD'S BRIDLE FROWN
19 July 2005
Horse-ride star bans the public
AS if Madonna's bid to reinvent herself as an English country wife hasn't gone far enough, the queen of pop has now turned to horse riding...
But in true Madge style, it hasn't been without some diva-like behaviour.
We hear the 46-year-old star recently booked an hour-long lesson at the Stag Lodge Stables, in Richmond Park, South-West London.
And the novice rider quickly decreed that no one, apart from her instructor, should see her ride in the arena.
"Madonna didn't want to be recognised at all, so she booked the place out," says our source.
"She was adamant and insisted that she have the arena to herself."
Despite her uncharacteristic shyness, Madge was so taken with her latest pursuit that she even borrowed two nags from the stables, to ride at her country estate.
"Madge asked for two horses - Fifi and Phoenix. She also hired equipment, including hats, saddles, reins etc. After three days, the horses were sent back to the school.
"She seems really keen on riding now."
It's just the latest outdoor pursuit for the energetic mother-of-two, whose country base is £9million Ashcombe Park, in Wiltshire.
She recently took up shooting thanks to her fanatical husband, film director Guy Ritchie.
Madge first enrolled for clay pigeon shooting lessons at the West London Shooting School, in Northolt, Middlesex. She then splashed out on a pair of £20,000 guns from the Queen's supplier, James Purdey & Sons, as well as gear such as a Barbour tweed hunting vest, moleskin Burberry trousers, a £975 cashmere field coat, knee-length breeches and a £65 cashmere shooting cap.
Madge also hired an instructor and then hosted shooting parties on her 1,200-acre estate for guests including singing legend Sting, hard-man actor Vinnie Jones and restaurateur Marco Pierre-White.
"I skip the huge breakfast," she reveals.
"Once you eat it, I don't know how you can get up and move around. So I have my macrobiotic soup and then I go out and shoot some pheasants."
But Madge soon tired of blasting birds - she wasn't a good shot and tended to wound rather than kill - and said that the souls of the creatures they did manage to kill would come back to haunt them in a future life.
So now she has settled on a more animal-friendly option...
Along with horse riding, fitness fanatic Madge does yoga, has taken up karate and uses a Gyrotonic expansion rack to stretch and tone her muscles.
"She's already very muscly and the riding will firm up her thighs even more," continues our source.
"Madonna has really embraced country living and, after changing her mind about shooting, she feels riding is a much less brutal hobby."
Whatever next, thigh-high waders and a fishing rod?
19 July 2005
Horse-ride star bans the public
AS if Madonna's bid to reinvent herself as an English country wife hasn't gone far enough, the queen of pop has now turned to horse riding...
But in true Madge style, it hasn't been without some diva-like behaviour.
We hear the 46-year-old star recently booked an hour-long lesson at the Stag Lodge Stables, in Richmond Park, South-West London.
And the novice rider quickly decreed that no one, apart from her instructor, should see her ride in the arena.
"Madonna didn't want to be recognised at all, so she booked the place out," says our source.
"She was adamant and insisted that she have the arena to herself."
Despite her uncharacteristic shyness, Madge was so taken with her latest pursuit that she even borrowed two nags from the stables, to ride at her country estate.
"Madge asked for two horses - Fifi and Phoenix. She also hired equipment, including hats, saddles, reins etc. After three days, the horses were sent back to the school.
"She seems really keen on riding now."
It's just the latest outdoor pursuit for the energetic mother-of-two, whose country base is £9million Ashcombe Park, in Wiltshire.
She recently took up shooting thanks to her fanatical husband, film director Guy Ritchie.
Madge first enrolled for clay pigeon shooting lessons at the West London Shooting School, in Northolt, Middlesex. She then splashed out on a pair of £20,000 guns from the Queen's supplier, James Purdey & Sons, as well as gear such as a Barbour tweed hunting vest, moleskin Burberry trousers, a £975 cashmere field coat, knee-length breeches and a £65 cashmere shooting cap.
Madge also hired an instructor and then hosted shooting parties on her 1,200-acre estate for guests including singing legend Sting, hard-man actor Vinnie Jones and restaurateur Marco Pierre-White.
"I skip the huge breakfast," she reveals.
"Once you eat it, I don't know how you can get up and move around. So I have my macrobiotic soup and then I go out and shoot some pheasants."
But Madge soon tired of blasting birds - she wasn't a good shot and tended to wound rather than kill - and said that the souls of the creatures they did manage to kill would come back to haunt them in a future life.
So now she has settled on a more animal-friendly option...
Along with horse riding, fitness fanatic Madge does yoga, has taken up karate and uses a Gyrotonic expansion rack to stretch and tone her muscles.
"She's already very muscly and the riding will firm up her thighs even more," continues our source.
"Madonna has really embraced country living and, after changing her mind about shooting, she feels riding is a much less brutal hobby."
Whatever next, thigh-high waders and a fishing rod?