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Post by clara on Apr 27, 2007 12:28:30 GMT -1
www.mikewatts.com/hdt2007/ashfields21apr07/img15687.htmlSo thrilled!! Sporty and i did our first ever driving trial it was a 3 phase two day event at Ashfields carriage and polo center. It is the best thing I have ever done - so much fun - even the dressage which is never our favorite! All the driving legends were there and we got to watch and compete along side people like George Bowman, Boyd Excel etc which was a total priviledge and very inspirational. Best of all was my little Sporty, he was a total star. I bought him when he was a lightly broken four year old and with the help of some experts re broke him and brought him on. All the hard and sometimes boring work has paid off and he came third overall outof eight, took it all in his stride and was a pleasure to drive. I have attached a link which I hope will work with a pic of us in the water hazard if you click on 'prev' at the top of the page there is another one!. Sorry to go on but basking in my moment of glory!!!
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Post by loopylou on Apr 27, 2007 14:19:55 GMT -1
Excellent photo
That all sounds so much fun, i hope to maybe do something like that in the future, but we will see. So pleased you had such a great day. Looking forward to hearing more about your next driving trials and seeing lots of photo's.
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Post by zeldalithgow on Apr 27, 2007 19:56:19 GMT -1
Well done  great pics |
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Post by harleydales on Apr 27, 2007 20:24:04 GMT -1
What a fab pic!!
Well done to you both
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Post by PonyGirl on Apr 28, 2007 5:06:13 GMT -1
How wonderful! The pic is worth framing from all that hard work!
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Post by harveydales on Apr 28, 2007 5:11:07 GMT -1
Wow! Fantastic! Those pics are brilliant - it looks tremendous fun but I'm sure requires an awful lot of skill. Well done with that placing! You must be absolutely delighted with Sporty - please "go on" some more, I would love to hear more about this sort of competiton and what you've been doing with Sporty.
I know how excited and inspired you must feel competing alongside some "big names". I was the same when we competed at dressage, makes the day extra special doesn't it? I expect those 2 days are ones you will always remember.
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Post by Debbie on Apr 28, 2007 18:01:08 GMT -1
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Post by clara on Apr 28, 2007 20:02:11 GMT -1
Many thanks for all your support. Sporty is very handsome but I think he is gay - all the mares go gaga for him and he is not the least interested. Although perhaps he is just playing it cool - who knows!
Driving Trials are just like eventing for driving folk. First you have a dressage test which is then followed by a cones course. A cones course is basically a stand in for the showjumping - you have to drive through pairs of cones which have balls on the top, if you touch the cones with your wheels the ball falls off and this is a knock down! How bizarre this sounds on paper but somehow it works in reality. The cones are set with only about 15cm more than your track width of your vehicle and the whole thing is timed, you have to be within a certain time which is very forward going without being mad i.e. not like scurry but still fast. This all takes place on the first day and then as most people sleep over for the two days, there is usually some kind of entertainment, barbeque on the Saturday night. This is an excuse to drink a fair amount if you are so minded and generally make people's aquaintance and have a laugh. Then on the Sunday, hopefully you are not too hung over, you have roads and tracks and then the obstacles. This part is called the marathon in driving. For our early season and only club level we did 5km at good fast trot 1km = 4mins. Then there is then 1km walk with no break of pace after the walk there is a compulsory 10min rest period, you are checked over by a vet and can wash down your pony and offer him a drink. After your ten mins, you set off on your obstacle part which for us was 7km with six obstacles. The obstacles are the X country part to our eventing, in each obstacle there are 6 gates the gates are posts with a red flag on the right and white on the left you have to pass through these in sequence. Every second you spend in the obstacles is a penalty so fastest time wins. Trying to remember the way to each gate (if you pass through a gate out of sequence you get penalty points or eliminated) is half the battle! Driving it fast and working out the fastest route is the other half. After the obstacles that's it. It is a great weekend do and although the entry fee (at club level) is £50 it is well worth the money and with all the organisation involved makes those showing class fees look very expensive. Most all it is a fun weekend with like minded people and your equine buddy. Sporty loves the obstacles and the cones, his ears prick up and he swerves towards them LOL!! I can't wait to get my new baby going as a pair so I can do it with two, although this is a long way off!! You can imagine how awe inspiring it is to see people drive a team of four 16.2hh horses through the same route I do. Makes me realizse how much space I have with one diddy pony!! If you are intersted in doing one or at least going to see one go onto the BHDTA (British Horse Driving Trials Association) they should have a link to your local club. Get in contact with the club and find an instuctor to give you some pointers and go watch an event. There are two tiers to the sport Club level and Nationals. Everyone starts at club level. Despite it being quite a full on event from the top people down to the bottom level the people are so helpful and approachable. The UK is current world champions in single horse and I think single pony too. There are a number of amazing disabled competitors and we are also world champions in this category for single pony and pairs. This is one sport where you can get to the World chamionship without a german warmblood!! Or indeed a very expensive horse or pony. Quite refreshing really.
I hope this goes some way to explaining what all this is about?
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Post by lucydales on Apr 28, 2007 20:47:50 GMT -1
Wooweeee! You and Sporty are so brill! What is his pedigree/parents.etc (you've probably told us so sorry if I've missed it!)
I can't see Amy and me doing that in a month of Sundays!!
I am sooo impressed!
Who's your baby???
Well done,
Lucy
PS Where abouts are you based??
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Post by bellajack on Apr 28, 2007 20:56:43 GMT -1
You both look very professional, I don't think anyone would guess it was your 1st. And your turnout looks really great; I love the black and gold, very classy!
I have done a couple of similar events as a groom on the backstep, and I find it terrifying, the only saving grace being that you can bale out more easily from the backstep, so I think that you are incredibly brave. I am much more at home ontop of a horse than sitting behind it!
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Post by Debbie on Apr 28, 2007 21:00:13 GMT -1
 WOW!!!! Okay, consider me MASSIVELY impressed!!! Trying to imagine just the 'cones' stage of the game, and then as you described the various 'hazards' as well......WOW I know Mair (dollylanedales) on here does this as well, but never realized just how much trust you've GOT to have with your pony to be able to make it all the way through. What a blast I bet you have, though. LOL...and I bet being slightly leftover drunk wouldn't hurt for nerves the second day ;D
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Post by harveydales on Apr 29, 2007 13:09:58 GMT -1
Thanks for the explanation of what is involved. It sounds a lot of fun and a great challenge.
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Post by clara on Apr 29, 2007 19:14:47 GMT -1
What do other drivers do with their ponies? Would love to hear about other events people have been to, vehicles they drive etc
The pony in the picture is Castle Hill Lad sec B- Walesmore Emperor out of a Castle Hill mare whos' name I can't remeber (passport over at stables) and my new one is Colliery Duke II section A(Colliery Cath by Stricklands Jim)
Very brave to be backstepping - I would be an awful back seat driver if I did that. Much prefer to be in control rather than hanging on by my finger nails!!! Well done you for doing that as we can't compete without a backstepper and brave folk like you are hard to find.
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Post by dollylanedales on Apr 29, 2007 21:37:15 GMT -1
What great pics - you looks to be really enjoying yourself!! I really miss competing with Molly, unfortunately, she is not too keen on water hazards lol!! I think we may fare batter with Tyson in the water department!!
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Post by Rowndan on Apr 30, 2007 8:07:47 GMT -1
great pictures. you look like your enjoying every minute.
i used to work for Rene schoop about 10 years ago which was great but i was young ans stupid and we had a few differances of opinion and he expected me to work 7 days a week! which when your 18 and have other things on you mind like pubs!! we parted company!! i wish i had the chance with him again. it would be fab now i have dan as he would be great at driving im sure.
darren and i did think about getting a little trap and harness just so we could all go out for a drive, where could i get a little trap? simalar to one like mairs tyson??
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That is SO COOOL!!!!!! 
WOW!!!! Okay, consider me MASSIVELY impressed!!! Trying to imagine just the 'cones' stage of the game, and then as you described the various 'hazards' as well......WOW 
