The Road Driving Assessment Training

The Road Driving Assessment training was well attended at Elms Farm EC near Caythorpe. Claire Bourne took us through the do's and don'ts within the Classroom,this was  followed by demonstrations on how to Put To, accompanied by the sort of questions an examiner will ask. e.g How tight should the noseband be?, How would you signal left turn?

    

Tacking up Lucifer. Claire Bourne and Sarah Braybrook

 

Checking the Carriage



Putting To, Lucifer on his best behaviour

All complete and off for a drive

The Road Driving Training day.
 

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Jolly Folly @ Laughton Manor

Lincolnshire members attended the Jolly Folly at Laughton Manor on Saturday 16th Febuary. The event was run by Angela Flanagan from the Midland Driving Trials Group. There was a very good turnout with 19 entries from Lincolnshire and surrounding areas including Norfolk and Leicestershire.

This was set up to be a fun day with your horse / pony, meet new people and encourage more to have a go. With Valentine's day just gone the theme was Red roses / hearts. Most turnouts had something extra   to mark the occasion, from a simple red heart, to  complete carriage and horse makeovers which  included  Plumes and Hearts on the horses to roses and champagne on the carriage.

All entrants were given heart shaped shortbread biscuits after the first round and a hot drink voucher for the restaurant.

There was a series of cones set up in the warm up arena, so everybody could practice beforehand. The actual event consisted of an indoor driving trial obstacle in the centre of the arena with a series of cones. The course started with three sets of cones, into the obstacle for gates A & B and then to cones 4 & 5, back into the obstacle for gates C,D & E, followed by cones 6,7 & 8.

Each entrant had three goes at the main course, The first attempt was used to get to know the course and to get the balance right between the accuracy needed for the cones and the speed of the obstacle, by the third run everyone knew where to go and the cones were made quite wide which encouraged a bit more speed, without the need for total accuracy.

The event was a great fun day, there were special awards of rosettes for 'hairy pony', 'fancy dress' etc, as well as fastest times. David Faulkner looked after the timing and scoring and the day ran very smoothly, so special thanks to Angela and her team of helpers for a great day.

The next Jolly Folly is on March 2nd, if you fancy a go be quick. Please contact Angela Flanagan (amflan@hotmail.com or tel: 01664 822911, 07740 707729) as soon as possible.  See the Event Page for an entry form

Scurry Driving Association

The SDA held it's AGM on the 13th January at Charvil in Berkshire followed by refreshments and a winter get together for all the members.

Lincolnshire BDS member Carole Davenport was presented with a medal and rosette for winning the Novice League with AD Photography's Tarmac 'n Adam with Lorna Hullah from Dorset in reserve with Pebbles and Bam Bam. Danny Kinsella from Dorset won the Novice League for large ponies with Port and Brandy.

The awards were completed by a lovely surprise win for Carole Davenport of the Pavlov and Peanuts Trophy which is an award chosen by the Council members of the SDA for the member they believe merits the award on their performance throughout the season. This trophy was donated by Jon and Christine Dick in memory of their famous Shetland pony pair called Pavlov and Peanuts.

Training day  at Elms Farm Equestrian Centre, Caythorpe, 18th November, 2007 with Angela Flanagan. BDS Attendees: Kathleen Faulkner & Woody, Anna Sadler & Monty, Cathy Towle & Mouse, Duncan Seth-Smith & Rambo. David Faulkner set this.......Read full report

Kathleen Faulkner takes 'Woody' past the Poppies during the Indoor Le Trec demonstrations at the Lincolnshire BDS open day. Deano Smith emerges from the miscanthus grass

Deano Smith demonstrates 2 more disciplines from Le Trec, the fast walk & slow trott between 2 parallel lines. The other picture is the gate obstacle to demonstrate horse control.

The British Horse Society is calling on all equestrians to sign a petition asking the Government to give them a say in all new access and rights of way legislation.

The BHS Access Department and its regional access and bridleway officers would like riders and other horse lovers to sign the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Equestrianaccess/  

Equestrians are the most vulnerable of road users and need increased off-road access for their safety and the welfare of their horses. Horse riding and driving provides healthy outdoor exercise, which the Government is keen to encourage.

It is enjoyed by more than four million people in the UK and is the second biggest land-based industry, but equestrians have not been included in recent access-creating legislation which would help make them safer and encourage healthy outdoor recreation.

Mark Weston, BHS Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, said: "It is vital that we use all means available to impress on the Government that equestrians need more and safer access. E-petitions are one way of showing the demand, along with writing to our MPs."