I’ve never forgotten the advice of a 100-year-old cowgirl: ‘Always check your own girth strap’

‘A girth strap, for non-horsey people, is the belt that holds the saddle to the horse.’ Composite: Alamy

Families are full of random useless advice and mine especially so.

My great-grandfather counselled against rock fishing. “Those whom the gods seek to destroy first turn to rock fishing.”