on-line edition

Issue 5/04

Editor’s Introduction

Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that we’ve become the official magazine of the British Horse Driving Trials Association and we’ve also obtained a cover price with this issue, the fifth in 2004. Naturally, the magazine remains free to those members for whom it is included in their subscription. I just wish we could afford to circulate it more widely – one day? If a sponsor lurks in the wings, please get in touch!

There have been problems with the delivery of Carriage Horse throughout the year: if you’ve missed a copy, please contact the Office and Amanda or Gaynor will send you one. Don’t miss out…

Thank you for the many kind, favourable and helpful remarks you’ve made over the year about Carriage Horse. I’m still here, despite a few dropped bricks now and then. Please do contact me as soon as possible if there is anything you want publicised or advertised or that causes you concern and I’ll do what I can to print or fix it! This is your magazine and we need your news and views and support: I want to encourage debate, not upset people… Most importantly, please send us your event dates and details as soon as you can so we can all get our 2005 diaries sorted out.

I hope you’ll find the time over Christmas and the New Year to read this issue, including the curious spy thriller epic which went on, unbeknown to most of us, at the Windsor Championships in September.

Fiona Powell, Suffolk
01473 735732, editor@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk

Office News     Office News     Office News

SELECTION EVENTS TO BE HELD AT 2005 NATIONAL EVENTS:

Newnham Park and Farleigh House are selection events for the World Combined Ponies Championships, 14-17 July 2005. Brighton, Hopetoun, Sandringham are selection events for the World Horse Pairs Championships, 8-11 September 2005.

EVENT ENTRIES

Those drivers who are wishing to be considered for selection are strongly advised to post their entries for selection events as early as possible to ensure that they are accepted. It is of great assistance to all organisers if competitors can send in their entries in good time. Elsewhere in this magazine you will read that in an effort to encourage you the Event Organisers have decided to reward those drivers who get their entries in early by offering reduced entry fees.

INTERNATIONAL EVENT INVITATIONS

May we please remind those competitors wishing to compete abroad that they need to inform the office IN WRITING, clearly indicating each individual event they wish to receive details for.

NEW FEI EQUINE INFLUENZA REQUIREMENTS

The FEI have introduced the following rule change: The FEI requirement for influenza vaccination will be for booster vaccinations at six monthly intervals from 1 January 2005. Primary course of vaccination – requires two doses of vaccine between one and three months apart (30-90 days). The first booster vaccination must be given no more than six months after the second vaccination of the primary course. Booster vaccinations must be given at six month intervals. However, to avoid interruption of the horses’ competition schedule, it is permissible to vary the six monthly booster date by 21 days. This provides a six week window around the six month date to vaccinate the horses. For example, a horse vaccinated on 18 March has a window for the next vaccination from 28 August to 9 October.

NEW BHDTA RULE BOOK

The new rule book will be printed and ready for sale in mid-January. It is a new smaller size which, when canvassed at the Annual Conference, members indicated that this would be preferred (same size as the current FEI rule book). The style is again punched loose leaf pages for inserting in to a ring binder. The cost for the new rule book is £10 plus £4 for the new sized ring binders. They can be ordered by completing the merchandise order section in your new membership renewal forms.

COUNCIL ELECTION

The following elected Council members are due to retire at the next AGM: Mrs Pat Cooper, Mrs Sarah Garnett and Mr Adrian Puddy. Mrs Garnett and Mr Puddy are eligible for re-election. Mrs Cooper has indicated that she does not wish to stand for re-election. There are three vacancies on the Council, all for a three year period.

Nomination forms can be obtained by contacting the BHDTA office. Completed nomination forms must reach the office by Friday 14 January 2005.

2005 CLINIC DATES

• 15-16 January - Scorers Training Clinic, including Scorers Assistants and Scoreboard Writers at BHDTA Office, Stoneleigh

All following clinics at The Unicorn Trust, Stow-on-the-Wold

• 5-6 February – Clinic for National Course Designers /Technical Delegates/Presidents of the Jury/Health and Safety Officials
• 19-20 February - Club Course Designers Clinic and Clinic for National and Club Technical Delegates
• 19-20 February - National and Club Technical Delegates Clinic
• 5-6 March - National Judges Clinic
• 23-25 March – Junior Drivers Clinic
• 23-25 July – Junior Drivers Summer Camp
• September – Junior Drivers Championships
• Date to be announced - Young Drivers Summer Camp
• Date to be announced - Trainers Seminar
• Date to be announced - Stewards Training Days

Dates and venues for Club Judges and Steward Training Days will be confirmed both here in forthcoming newsletters and on the BHDTA website.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Membership forms for 2005 are included with this newsletter. If you need more forms for friends or grooms, etc., please contact the office. Please note it remains a mandatory requirement that Marathon Grooms (anyone acting as groom/navigator on vehicles) are members of the BHDTA (in any category other than Supporter).

Please remember that the membership is now handled ‘in house’, our new Membership Secretary is Neil Davenport. Very briefly, Neil took early retirement from an IT company, he enjoys playing golf, holidays and has just bought himself a Border Collie pup so will need to also take up walking!

AREA REPRESENTATIVES

• SOUTH EAST - Rob Sims, Briars, Station Road, Heathfield, East Sussex 01435 863624
• SOUTH WEST & WALES- Anthony Cooper, Lyvers Farm, East Grimstead, Salisbury, Wilts 01722 712709
• MIDLANDS - Lesley West, Jodders, Soudley, Market Drayton, Shropshire 01630 661314
• NORTH - Pat Cooper, Redcote, Wetherby Road, Bardsley, Leeds 01937 573507
• SCOTLAND - Andrew Smith, Moat House, Hawksland, Lanark 01555 892227
• NORTHERN IRELAND - Penny Campbell, 1a Moss Lane, Lower Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim 02892 652292

National Driving Trials dates 2005

International & World Championships

Annual Conference Report

13/14th November 2004

Report based on notes reproduced by kind permission of Barbara and Phil Nadin of Equifor, with some additional comments from your editor. See more reports and chat on their website, www.equifor.com.

This year's conference was held at the Coventry Hilton, with an almost identical message to that of 2003. "Insurance premiums are to be increased". Nevertheless, Tom Pettifer began with a warm welcome to an attentive audience and an up-beat presentation of awards.

Awards: The awards for 2004 were presented by Tom Pettifer and went to :

• Philippa Howe - Young drivers' Award (made in Philippa’s absence)
• Anneke Wallace - Chairman's Award
• Pauline & Keith Jones - Stewards' Award

Tom also announced formally that he would be standing down as Chairman at the next AGM which will take place in the marquee at the Brighton HDT in May 2005. Tom didn't drop any hints as to who may be taking over. The World Combined Pony Championships will take place 14-17 July 2005 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire and the BHDTA have donated £5,000 to the event organisers. The insurance premiums are now standing at £63,000 from July 2004 (£49,000 public liability plus £14,000 other insurances) with the burden for the increases falling on the individual member. However, public liability cover has also increased to £30,000,000 from £20,000,000. Membership income brings in £62,500 per year. Subscriptions for 2005 (2004) Full membership £125 (£83) Associate £50 (£41.50) Groom £35 (£23.50) Young member £50 (£43) There has been a drop in Associate members but Full member numbers remain much the same. The National Championships showed a "modest profit". The BHDTA event levy on entry fees goes up next year from £10 to £15.

Derrick Mayes put over this news very succinctly to a quiet membership, all of whom accepted the inevitable and concurred that the insurance cover they were getting for the fees paid was actually good value compared with other equestrian disciplines. £21 of the subscription pays for the personal part of the insurance. Derrick reported that another insurance company (NFU) was offering £2.5 million public liability cover for £30 per animal, emphasising that we probably have the best value cover on the market.

Derrick’s research showed that the cost of registering horses with other affiliated bodies, such as British Dressage and the British Show Jumping Association, also compared favourably with the BHDTA and Derrick was comparing their 2004 membership fees with ours for 2005, so we came out pretty well. The Chairman reported that our administrative expenses were down from £80,000 in 2000 to £72,000 in 2004 with the probability of a "small surplus" this year.

The BHDTA office lease expires in February 2005 and a six-month extension is being sought as is a new office, still near the BEF office at Stoneleigh so it's easy to keep in touch. The new FEI Rule Book will be available in a new format at the beginning of February 2005 - thanks to the hard work of Anneke Wallace. It includes FEI Dressage Test no 8. There are hundreds of minor changes so a new rule book is a MUST for everyone - here is just a tiny taster of some of the amendments:

* Mobile phones can now be carried but must only be used in an emergency - useful if there is an incident on the marathon cross-country phase, but for no other purpose.

* Competitors will be penalised if they stop for any reason in the last 500 metres of section E.

* A full ten minutes rest will be allowed at the halts; any time incurred getting to and from section starts will be added to halt times.

* The location of the compulsory flags must be put on the marathon drawings exactly where they are located and if drivers don't drive them in the correct order (including the obstacles) they will be eliminated.

* In the cones phase, if the bell has rung (for any reason) the groom is allowed to tell the driver (assuming he/she hasn't heard it) without incurring penalties or elimination.

* No person must be tied into the vehicle in any way. Belts may be used but must NOT be secured to any part of the carriage. One end may be held by the groom and the other end must be attached to the driver only.

* Standard track width will be mandatory for the dressage as well as the cones phases.

* Brushing boots and/or bandages, if worn in the dressage phase, will no longer incur elimination but instead will incur 10 penalty points. The boots/bandages must be removed in the collecting ring after the test and the animal(s) will then be examined - by an official - to determine if the animal(s) have any problems.

None of these amendments to the rules has been approved by the Council yet, so you'll need to buy a new Rule Book to get the official version in the New Year. Details will be published in the next issue.

Ian Douglas consulted the audience about their preference for the size of the new Rule Book and whether it should have a hard or soft back. Most popular was an A5 or nearer pocket-sized book with a flexible cover. Ian also mentioned that red ink would be used instead of italic text to highlight the differences between the International and National rules. Martyn Willis asked if the rules could be made available on the website, like the FEI rules, but the sales of Rule Books are an important income so this was ruled out.

IMPORTANT - From 1 January 2005, all competition animals have to be vaccinated for flu virus every six months rather than 12 months as now.

NOVICES - The number of qualifying events has been reduced for 2005 and the reason given was that many of last year's events were under-subscribed. Is this so? Why do you think that was? What events do Novice drivers want? Write to us and let us have your thoughts and ideas And finally....after two years' involvement, Crag-hoppers have withdrawn their sponsorship of the National Finals. Their support was much appreciated during this time. See page 5 for details of our new sponsors!

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BHDTA MEMBERS, AFFILIATED EVENTS, AFFILIATED CLUBS AND CLUB MEMBERS

From 1 July 2004 a third party property damage excess of £500 has been introduced under our Public, Products and Personal Liability Policy which means that the member, event or club is responsible to pay up to this amount themselves before a claim can be settled. This is to help keep down the cost of the insurance.

However, even if a claim appears to be below £500, it should still be reported to British Equestrian Insurance Brokers at the outset: BEIB, Hildenbrook House, The Slade, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1HR – 01732 771719, Fax 01732 359982

Stewards Meeting

The well attended Stewards Meeting on Saturday morning was chaired by Philip Bateman, who outlined the significant changes to rules for 2005, highlighting issues of particular concern to Stewards.

Lively discussions ensued on various issues, including Stewards briefings, obstacle drawings, outside assistance and that Obstacle Stewards are to be re-titled Obstacle Observers.

There was widespread appreciation of the compilation, by Philip, of a Master List of some 500 stewards, from which has been extracted Accredited Stewards, i.e. those considered proficient as Obstacle team leaders, etc. These lists are naturally not complete and will be subject to correction and modification over the coming year.

Tom Pettifer thanked all Stewards and the Supporters for their fund raising efforts during the year and those who manned the Supporters marquee at Events.

The revised format of the meeting was approved by all present and agreed that this would continue in future years.

International Competitors Meeting

A fair cross section of competitors attended this meeting to exchange views on international matters.

There was general accord with the current selection procedure but the majority felt that all selection events should take place in the same year as the Championship. The Chairman will pass this request to the Council but pointed out that with current FEI policy of scheduling Championships as early as July, it would not always be practical.

The change in FEI rules regarding qualification was explained and it was noted that the National Championships 2004 was designated a qualifier. Royal Windsor and Sandringham 2005 provide further qualifying opportunities. There were also discussions on other matters including the introduction of FEI Test 8, appointment of Team Vets, fund raising for International Teams and methods of lettering obstacles. Views on the latter point to be passed to the Competitions Committee.

Event Organisers Meeting

Representatives from all National Events attended to exchange views and discuss the coming year. The calendar continues to concern all, in particular the congestion in the early season and whilst efforts are made to spread events evenly throughout the year, the availability of venues, limited by other activities, i.e. shooting and agricultural programmes, is the main cause of the problem.

Competitors should take note that Organisers continue to experience difficulties due to late entries and the failure to use the correct procedure when withdrawing.

Following discussion and taking note of views from the Competitors meeting it was agreed to introduce FEI Test 8 for all Horse Classes except Tandems and continue to use Tests 6 and 7 for all Pony Classes and Tandems in 2005.

2005 Rule changes were explained in particular those affecting Organisers.

The listing of Accredited Stewards was welcomed as was the new Scoring and Administration system.

There were discussions on joint sponsorship proposals and sponsors recognition and updates on Health and Safety guidelines and insurance.

Club meeting

I would like to thank all clubs who sent members to represent their clubs at the Conference meeting. Fourteen clubs were represented: nothing major took place but the meeting was constructive.

The majority of clubs have had to increase subscriptions to cover the increase in the cost of the insurance premiums. Despite the increase, some clubs have increased their membership, which is very encouraging.

I feel clubs need to talk to each other more to discuss dates of events, etc., and also liaise with their club liaison officer more.

Child welfare – self-declaration forms for trainers are available from the BHDTA Office.

Club benefit schemes are available for the following:

• Training grants
• Loan scheme
• Membership scheme
• Advertising grant

The Junior Championships were very good and I think all clubs should try to encourage all junior drivers to take part. It would be helpful if clubs could raise some money to go towards the running of the Junior Championships. It was encouraging to hear that the Indoor Horse Driving Trials Club has secured a sponsorship deal to help out this season.

Edmund Goodwin

British Equestrian Federation Board Directors

The BEF, working in conjunction with its member bodies, is the national governing body for British equestrian sport. Following a thorough review of its corporate governance structure, the Federation seeks new Non Executive Board Directors to assume responsibility for the direction and strategy of the BEF and so for its future success.

Directors are sought with experience and competency in each of these areas, and who have the drive and commitment to deliver the following portfolios:

• * Chairman
• * Treasurer & Commercial Affairs
• * Equine Development
• * Sports Development
• * Participation
• * Marketing
• * International Affairs
• * External Affairs

Board Directors will develop and implement a strategy for their area of the BEF’s work and budgets to support them. They will be elected by and responsible to the BEF Council, representing the Federation’s twelve member bodies and will be supported by the BEF’s executive staff.

Board Meetings will be held at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire and will take place around six times a year.

These positions are voluntary but offer the opportunity for close involvement in an exciting phase of the development of equestrian sport. Knowledge, therefore, of the equestrian industry or of another sport, whilst not essential, will be an advantage.

Further details of the British Equestrian Federation and Terms of Reference for each of the directorships are available on www.bef.co.uk or from Andrew Finding on 02476 698871.

You are invited to submit your expression of interest, supported by a brief CV and referees, to the BEF on or before 31 March 2005.

SsangYong to sponsor 2005 Championships

The British Horse Driving Trials Association is delighted to announce that they have secured the sponsorship of SsangYong Motor Company for the 2005 National Carriage Driving Championships at Windsor.

The BHDTA introduced SsangYong to the world of carriage driving at the 2004 Championships where the company provided loan cars from the Rexton range for the Judges and Officials to use throughout the competition.

SsangYong have been manufacturing specialist motor vehicles for 50 years and are represented in the UK by SYUK Cars Ltd based in Fleet, Hampshire. They distribute a range of 4x4 vehicles through some 59 dealer outlets, and are very close to the equestrian community as their vehicles have excellent towing capabilities.

So teaming up with the BHDTA as the title sponsor gives SsangYong the opportunity to put their range of cars firmly into the forefront of today’s fastest growing equestrian sport, creating the “ultimate driving experience”

The SsangYong National Carriage Driving Championships, with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as Patron, take place in Windsor Great Park, 16-18 September 2005.

For more information visit www.windsordriving.co.uk

Letters Page

Martyn Willis’s displeasure with Novice Presentation has stirred up several responses. Some remarks just might be made tongue-in-cheek?

Reply to Thoughts on Novice Presentation

With reference to Martyn Willis’s letter in the last edition of Carriage Horse, I would like to add the following comment.

We have competed at Club and National level this year in the novice class and I think standing presentation is a good thing. Yes, it makes more work. Yes, I am very glad to be in the open class now, but for us it was only for one season and due to various comments throughout the year we have managed to improve parts of my turnout. We have had some comments that I would not necessarily agree with but I have presented myself in front of that judge for their opinion: if they don’t like modern vehicles or frills it is the same for everyone across the class.

Martyn made reference to the judge who didn’t have “conviction of his comments, to write them on the score sheets for us to consider”. I found this particular judge very helpful, he talked us through what he felt could be improved in a polite and informative way. I have to say once he had drawn our attention to these areas we found he had a valid point. Looking back through the year none of the judges have written any comments on my presentation sheets, however, since the judges have always talked through what they thought could be improved, I have not found this to be a problem.

There were two novice drivers in our camp and we certainly did not take comfort from the judge’s cones score, I think we should all remember that without judges we could not compete, they, along with all the officials and stewards volunteer and do so for the good of the sport. While we may not always agree with the Judges we have presented ourselves to them for their opinion, so should therefore treat them courteously.

From Maxine Ingham

Best wishes to Maxine Phillips and Mark Ingham on their recent marriage.

Keeping Novice drivers “in their place”?

At last - what fun we can have with the discussions on Novice Presentation. Can we have a collection of horror stories? Here are some of mine to start with:

Most Presentation Judges seem to think they are judging a Showing Class and mark accordingly not as per the BHDTA Rule Book, as Martyn Willis says.

I have one sheet (from Windsor Park) with marks ranging from 6 to 7 (total 32.5) but without one written comment, and no verbal comment was made either. How can you know what the judge thought was incorrect?

Most of the time you feel you should not reply to any comments you do get from a Judge in case it jeopardises your marks. On one occasion I walked my 13.2hh pony up to the judge standing at the board marked "Presentation - Ponies" at my stated time, only to be asked whether I was a Horse or a Pony. I wrestled with whether to reply "I'll give you three guesses" or "Are you a Judge?" At another event I was told my pony needed re-shoeing - it had been re-shod two days before. Again I had to stop myself replying that perhaps new spectacles would be in order, or asking whether my farrier was really that bad.

The most difficult occasion was when I approached a Judge and steward with a smile and a cheerful "Good morning" but was ignored, even after repeating it twice, the second time more loudly in case the wind was blowing away my manners. When I halted, still trying to get a reaction, I was sternly told that my test started from the time I halted and that the Judge then spoke to me first and only then I was at liberty to respond: perhaps when I had done a few Standing Presentations I would learn the routine (this after three years of suffering them!). My Presentation was the last of a long class, and it was only by charitably thinking that perhaps it had been too long a day that kept me from speaking my thoughts.

I cannot see that standing Presentation for Novices will be discontinued in the foreseeable future as it is a way of keeping Novices "in their place" as little more than beginners compared with the experience of Open competitors, although if you took to heart everything you were told in Standing Presentation it would soon put you off competing in Novice Qualifiers. The other way of looking at it is that having to do Standing Presentation makes up for doing an easier dressage test, even if the dressage test has been altered in recent years to one based on a previous Open test.

The main advantage of clawing your way out of Novice classes is to avoid the nitpicks of Standing Presentation.

Miranda Purves

Kilkenny descendants – record-breaking?

At the 2004 National Championships we drove two young horses, a six year old and an eight year old, both home bred. They have the same mother but different stallions for their sires. They completed all phases, made all the times and did the eight obstacles in reasonably respectable times.

Perhaps you think that this is not a particularly unusual feat, but their mother Trowlesworthy Warren (Millie) a Hackney x thoroughbred first competed at the National Championships in 1988 in the Novice Grouse as it was then called and came second. For the next five years she regularly qualified for the single horse and apart from a trauma of a broken vehicle one year usually managed to be in the upper first half of the class. In 1992 she went to Royal Windsor where she was fourth and the following year we retired her and started to drive her half-sister Foxton Mires (Foxy). Foxy did well in single horse for four seasons but David’s ambition was to drive Tandem so we put Foxy’s daughter Redlake Georgie (Red) in the wheel.

David has driven this combination sometimes successfully and sometimes entertainingly unsuccessfully, but always with enjoyment for five seasons.

At the end of the 2003 season we decided to retire Foxy as we had a promising young horse Borringdon Bertie an eight year old out of Millie and thought to try him in the lead. He did one competition in 2004 with Red at Thoresby and we seemed set to go onto other competitions.

But tragedy struck and we lost Red to a virus and seemed to be back in single horse. We were training at our good friends Trevor and Marilyn Harding’s super facilities when David had a brain storm and decided to put our six year old King Toyah in the wheel. Everyone was apprehensive to say the least but he took to it like a duck to water.

So the 2004 season has been a revelation for us. Either horse goes lead or wheel. At the National Championships this year the six year old King Toyah went into the lead for the first time in a dressage arena and also did the cones. The eight year old who has had more experience was in the lead for the marathon.

The point of this little story is that in 16 years we have had six homebred horses at the National Championships every one goes back to a 15.2hh thoroughbred chestnut mare named, Kilkenny. She started the line in 1980 when Millie was foaled and we have gone on from there.

The pleasure of driving homebred horses, who have been with you from foals, is immense and we look forward to a few more seasons with the current tandem.

To sum up, we have competed at the National Championships since 1988 to 2004 with five homebred horses. Quite an unusual record perhaps?

David and Judy Gulley.

Notes on Presentation for Ponies

Diana Brownlie is one of our top judges and she has kindly written this article specifically addressing the presentation of ponies mainly from the perspective of the dressage judge although there are many useful tips for the Novice driver.

Ponies are no different from horses in their presentation: they have to be really clean and shining. The only difference is that they generally have more hair and this has to be managed.

To plait or not to plait? Yes, in general, I like to see a pony plaited. However well ‘laid’ a mane is it will still tend to look untidy once the pony has been trotting around for any length of time. But you must also plait the forelock or it gives an untidy, unfinished appearance. A (plaited) tail is a matter of choice. Traditionally tails of harness horses were not plaited, but we are in the twenty-first century and a well plaited tail can improve a pony’s looks. I would never mark down a plaited tail, but it must be well done.

Many ponies we see are of the ‘hairy’ variety: Fells, Welsh C, Shetland. These are produced with flowing manes and tails but they must be controlled: just a long, tatty mane will not do. It should be levelled (not ever with scissors!) and the tail straightened at the bottom. There is no place for beards and tummy hairs, and tufty ears must be dealt with. I do think you should leave the hair inside the ear but cut off the tufts that hang out. Always leave whiskers on but make sure the contents of the last feed have been washed off.

Feathers are also determined by your type of pony. If you are producing a ‘native’, then keep the feathers. However, a lot of ponies just have tufty fetlocks and I think these should be clipped off to give a tidy appearance, especially if you have a plaited pony.

White markings and skewbald, piebald and grey ponies must be sparkling white. If you think that your pony’s white bits are not as clean as some others that you see, then ask around and see what they use. Chalk, blue bag – there are all sorts of tricks and it will make a difference to your mark. There is nothing like hitting the judge in the eye when you first enter the arena with a really sparkling turnout.

Always use hoof oil or paint: it will be noticed, even in muddy conditions.

Finally, a word about ear muffs. I know that they are necessary for many ponies but please keep them discreet. You do not want your pony to look like Muffin the Mule. Many ear muffs are too big for ponies’ ears. It is not too difficult to turn them inside out, re-sew and cut them so that they fit. I particularly do not like white or brightly coloured earmuffs – much better to have black or brown so that they blend in (unless you have a grey pony). Also watch the length of the front piece: if it comes down too low over the face you might find your pony learns to play with it by tossing his head.

Teams and pair must match particularly in the length of their tails. You will need someone on the ground to help you because if you trim them to match when the ponies are standing, they will almost certainly be unmatched once the ponies are moving. Always cut tails by tiny degrees: believe me, it is so easy to take off too much and it takes a long time to grow it down to the length you like.

Harness must be really clean whatever type you use, and all the metalwork must shine. It does not matter whether you have yellow metal or white metal so long as it is similar throughout and also matches your lamps. Dirty bits are horrible. The cheek pieces must be polished: many people lose marks because of dirty bits.

The fit of the harness is most important. Remember: a comfortable pony is one who can concentrate on what he is doing and give you his best. If something is tight or pinching, he will be distracted.

Starting with the bridle: a common fault is to have the blinkers too tight on the eye. The blinker stays must have sufficient adjustment in them so that the pony is comfortable and the eye should be in the middle of the blinker, not peering over the top or underneath. The noseband should not gape: it is adjusted slightly tighter than a riding bridle noseband and the best kind you can get is independent of the cheekpieces. I am not a great lover of flash nosebands but I know many people use them. They tend to make such a “budge” in the pony’s chin groove when used with a curb chain. The noseband must not be pulled out of shape. The curb chain should be the right way up: if in doubt, cut off the extra middle ring, which is only for a ridden horse when used with a lip strap. Of course, the curb chain must not be twisted or too tight. You must always be able to run at least one finger between the chin and the chain. I heard a horrible tale from a vet the other day. He was called to treat a very valuable dressage horse with a “mouth injury”. When he got there he found the lower jaw of the horse was broken. The rider had lost his temper and, with the aid of a very tight curb chain, had snapped the horse’s jaw bone. It was not in this country, but he assured me that it was not the first time he had seen this – so beware!

I have no problem with small (narrow) coloured or metal browbands. They look nice – but they must fit. Throat lashes are sometimes so tight that the poor pony cannot flex without throttling himself. I know that ponies have little ears and you might be afraid of the bridle coming off, but the answer is very simple: just plait the headpiece of the bridle into the first plait. I have shown many people over the years how to do it and I am sure that someone can show you how if you are unsure. I always used to plait this way, even when exercising.

Ponies usually wear breast collars. They are more easily fitted than full collars but you need to take care that they are not too low on the shoulder. The breast collar must be above the point of shoulder otherwise it will impede the pony’s action. If you think it is too high, it is doubtful that you are throttling him, but ask an expert. There are such good-shaped collars on the market nowadays that it is always possible to make the pony comfortable and able to use himself to his full ability. The trace tug buckle should never come behind or underneath the pad. If it does, you need to see your saddler as the breast collar is too big and needs adjusting.

One of the most common faults I see is the pad/saddle sitting too far forward on the pony’s back, right up to the withers. The pad should be in the middle of the pony’s back, where you would put a riding saddle. The tugs should be centred on the skirt of the pad. There should be a keeper on the back strap behind the pad to keep it looking neat. A full breeching is the most widely used. The broad padded breeching body passes behind the pony about a foot below the dock. It it’s fitted too high it will ride up and possibly cause the pony to kick: too low and it will take the pony off his feet going down steep hills. The loin strap, which holds up the breeching, should run in a straight line over the top of the pony’s quarters, over the hip, to the breeching. You should be able to run your hand comfortably between the breeching and the pony’s bottom. If it’s too tight you will, again, restrict his action and cause him to be tense.

All straps must be “keepered”. Nothing looks worse than a pony in a nice set of harness with untidy strap ends hanging and flapping all about him. You need help from someone on the ground to help you find where the problems lie. Keep with you a roll of insulating tape which matches the colour of your harness so you can tape up the strap ends just before you come in to do your dressage. I am sure that some of you will have had me write, “Untidy straps spoil the turnout” on your dressage sheets. Pairs should also take care of their pole straps.

Single turnouts driven to a four-wheel carriage with independent shafts must have French or Tilbury-type tugs. Any two-wheel carriage where the pony wears a breast collar must have a swingle tree for the traces.

The carriage: we can tell the difference between old mud and new, so make sure the carriage is really clean. You should always carry a little pot of black paint with you to touch up any damage, and also a pot of paint to match the colour of your vehicle. The shafts must be the correct length: so often I see the tug stops way behind the tugs. This is a safety issue and will be marked down quite heavily, perhaps by a couple of penalties – from eight down to six.

The driver must be sitting in a secure position. You might need to get a little foot rest put into the vehicle, but I cannot stress too much how important it is to feel comfortable when driving. The groom must be safe. One of the problems with modern carriages is that there is no comfortable place for the groom to sit. They are fine when the groom stands, but that position is useless for dressage and cones. The dual-purpose vehicle poses a particular problem. The groom must be able to sit on the vehicle with his feet on the floor. It is no good having your groom “crucified” on the back of the vehicle: in an emergency, he will fall off. If I feel that the groom is not safe, I will mark down as low as five. I think in one really bad instance I marked as low as four.

Now we must touch on the controversial question of dress. Top hats and liveried grooms are not suitable for pony turnouts. Sorry, but we must face it: it only looks ridiculous. So what do you wear?

A man (driving) looks best in a suit and tie which can be matched to the colour of his vehicle. Either a bowler hat or Trilby could be worn with black shoes and dark socks. A small buttonhole looks as if you have taken a lot of trouble. Shoes or boots must be clean.

“Sara Howe looks fantastic in her red…”

A woman can be more artistic in her dress, but at all costs keep it neat. A nice little suit jacket, buttoned fairly high, and either a loose skirt or trousers. Low-heeled shoes – never sandals, trainers or high-heels – and absolutely never with jeans. Personally, I prefer not to be too colourful, but I have to admit that Sara Howe looks fantastic in her red. Match your colour to your carriage colour and you won’t go too far wrong. A dark jacket with a colourful blouse always looks good and is more “country”, which is what most pony turnouts are. If you have a dual-purpose vehicle, you must not over-dress: it looks as if you are going to a smart wedding with your welly boots on. Hats must be neat and not too large or you will have trouble when it’s windy. Frills and excessive feathers do not look right with ponies.

Gloves should be comfortable and dark-coloured. There has been a trend recently to wear very light tan, almost yellow gloves. You have to be very brave and secure in your rein handling to wear light coloured gloves as they magnify every movement your hands make.

A lot of silly remarks have been made about jewellery. “No” to nose-rings for both males and females. “No” to earrings for men but “yes” to sleepers or small, neat earrings for women. “No” to loads of bangles and bracelets but “yes” to a neat little lapel or collar brooch. “Yes” to a buttonhole, but only for the driver, never for a groom.

Grooms must not be over-dressed. A man can wear a suit, either a dark one with a bowler hat or a tweadier one with either a Trilby or flat cap. Women can wear riding clothes, but please, not full hunting dress complete with stock! A shirt and tie looks neatest and best. Either wear a black or tweed jacket with jodhpurs or breeches and boots, which can be black or brown, short or long. A riding hat looks nice and, if you must, you can have a retaining harness, but, unless you are accompanying a novice driver, I don’t think it is necessary for the groom to wear a full crash helmet for dressage. I have seen a couple of more mature lady grooms wearing a nice skirt suit with a felt hat – much more comfortable and quite correct. A trouser suit with a felt hat would also be comfortable and look right with a pony turnout.

There is no reason why a pony turnout cannot get 10 marks for presentation. A dual purpose carriage will, I am afraid, never get the highest marks but, at National events, should be able to get eight marks. Internationally, the directive is that you cannot get more than five, but I know that most international judges will at least go to six and, if everything is spotless, seven.

I have concentrated almost entirely on single turnouts, but everything I have said also applies to pony pairs and teams. You may not always be able to have matching ponies but you can present them looking fantastic. Grooms (for teams) should match their clothes (jackets and hats) with each other, and their clothes must fit. All grooms should sit up straight: no slouching, and remember that they are very much a part of the whole turnout.

Achieving all this should contribute to many nines and tens for presentation marks next year. The presentation mark is so important these days, when competitions are won and lost by such small margins.

Finally, I should like to record how proud I was of our team in Karlstettan last year. They were far and away the best turned out through the whole competition, from the first vet inspection to the final ceremony – well done!

Diana Brownlie

Junior Chariots Round-up

Junior Chariots have had a successful year competing and bringing on new members. We are slightly different to most 'clubs' as we tend to pile members and ponies into lots of wagons and move to where the action is! Their first long trip south was to the Carriage Fair at Ardingly to participate in the North/South Junior Challenge. A great idea of cones and obstacles together against the clock, while the southerners took the title, Christine James was third and they all did well, especially considering their ponies were half the size and then had to perform in the Display Team.

The trip to the National Indoor Finals in April was eventful for several reasons, with the number of Juniors driving we had to do a 'double run' with the artic to get all the ponies there, which meant driving through the night and arriving a bit late necessitating the Junior class starting later than planned.

Megan Carruthers drove like a demon to win the Junior title for the club and Scotland. Then half the ponies had to return to Scotland and the others waited for us to return and take them to the Junior Clinic at Stow. In the meantime a storm blew up at Keysoe which ripped the stabling off the side of the wagon. Guess the juniors now know how to deal with an emergency and full credit to Anna McGill for dealing with the crisis and cleaning up the mud.

As always, the Junior Clinics are great fun and bring together friendships from all over, we had ten kids attending and they all came home wiser.

The summer has seen us competing at club events as well as organising an event at 'home' for newcomers to the sport as well as our members. We also held a training day for grooms and backsteppers as we do emphasise safety. We had two separate days of 'fun cones' and obstacles, one of which was following clues to drive through 'towns' in the correct order from Land's End to John 'o Groats.

Two of the high-lights of the year have to be the opening ceremony at the World Championships for drivers with disabilities and the Junior Championships. The club produced the Musical Drive for the opening ceremony, 30 people, 12 ponies, one cow and two sheep and a golden loo were part of this story that came alive at Hopetoun in May. The ability and at times, the speed and accuracy of the juniors was quite phenomenal and it was loved by all.

The Junior Championship at Eskrick Park in Yorks was a first for Junior Drivers. The fabulous atmosphere with competitors from all over the UK and Ireland made it a competition to remember. Our club proudly brought home two National titles!

The season has drawn to a close now that we have finished the last indoor competition until February. We will now plan for our second anniversary dance and think up new ideas for 2005.

Amanda Saville

BHDTA Young Drivers’ Summer Camp 2005

Sunday – Tuesday, 24-26 July 2005, inclusive.

In both 2003 and 2004 we had just under 30 students on the Summer Camp held at Forest Farm, so put the 2005 dates in your diary so you don't miss out.

Top competitors, trainers, drivers, instructors give up their time to share their knowledge, - all started as young drivers, and some have even come through the formal BHDTA Training System.

The New Forest Show runs from Tuesday – Thursday, 26 - 28 July, with Coaching on the Tuesday, Private Driving on the Wednesday, and the Driving Championship on the Thursday.

Forest Farm has six visitors' stables and two stalls, and two self catering accommodation units - if you want either, book now! Details and booking forms for the Summer Camp (and the Unicorn Trust Spring Camp) will be available later.

Contact Pippa Jarman & Debbie Butler, Forest Farm, Barnes Lane, Milford-on-Sea, Hants, SO41 0RR

Tel/fax: 01590 644365, email: driving@ffarm.fsnet.co.uk, website: www.forestfarmdriving.com

Members’ News

Congratulations to Mark Broadbent of Fenix Carriages and Jo Sugden on their recent engagement.

Andrew Heaford’s new bride, Ann, has promised me a photo of their wedding so I look forward to printing it in the next issue.

Steve Jarman, one of our keenest sponsors and advertisers, married Liz Lain on the island of St Lucia, in the Caribbean on 4 November.

Obituary - Ena Potton

“Ena and Mel Potton were stewarding for the EACDG before I joined in 1991. They always seemed to be there. They only missed events due to family commitments and the odd holiday. No matter what the weather chucked at them, they were always to be seen setting out the cones course on a Friday night and often helping set out the dressage arenas. Ena was the Cones Timekeeper and Scorer and the next day saw her stewarding an obstacle with Mel. Ena even tried her hand at scoring, but decided she preferred to be where the action was. Ena was always there to lend a hand, and contributed greatly to our social events, often with delicious puddings.

Ena and Mel also stewarded for the Midlands Driving Trials Group, and they did the odd National event and hardly ever missed the National Championships. Her input over the years was extremely welcome and her dedication to the sport was remarkable considering she was a non-horsey person! However, just before she became ill with motor neurone disease, Stephanie Byrne encouraged her to drive her pony Wally, which she thoroughly enjoyed.”

Her funeral was on 15 October. Donations were made in aid of motor neurone sufferers’ charity.

Goldie Francis

Club News

Auction of promises – Sandringham 2005

Catton Park in July next year is host to the Combined Pony World Championships and to make this a truly memorable event we need to raise funds for our team taking part.

Please be as generous as you are able and remember the fun we had and the money we raised at the last one.

All promises and donations will be gratefully received by Yvonne Johnston, Poplars Barn, Evenlode, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0NN – 01608 650816, fax: 01608 652996

p.s. We will try and get some lighting in the marquee this time.

Southern Clubs Get It Together

At the Windsor Finals in September, representatives of some of the southern driving clubs had an impromptu meeting with a view to preventing any clashes of dates in their 2005 calendar. This was such a success that a further meeting was held at the AGM in November.

The result has been that we have a well spaced programme of two day events at superb locations right across the south of England and in addition several other ideas to promote and reguIarise our organisation. Inter- Club competitions will be held at each event, an individual points league will be introduced and we will be helping each other, where possible, with hardware, stewards, publicity, etc. Just throwing ideas around has benefited everybody and competitors should notice the difference when they join us this year.

The program will be published in the next edition of Carriage Horse and we look forward to the 2005 season with great enthusiasm.

You, the competitors, will enjoy National Event standards at Club prices, its an offer you cannot ignore!

Anthony Cooper

Calling all trainers…

The BHDTA is introducing a new service via the website.

For an annual fee you can place an advert on the dedicated trainers page on the BHDTA site and a listing in the Year Book.

The advert will have a link to your site or email address.

The office gets a lot of enquiries about trainers and training centres so this is your chance to promote your business and services to the correct audience.

The fee for the year is £100 which is a small price to pay for an advert that will be on view for 365 days …….the site currently has over sixty thousand visitors a year which represents tremendous value.

Email your details to web@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk, the Office will invoice you within 14 days of advert going live.

Within reason, no limit to the number of words, etc. – so send as much information as possible – the webmaster will do the rest. Enquiries: please call the Office-02476 293760

New venue for Royal Windsor

After 62 years, The Royal Windsor Horse Show, on the recommendation of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, is planning to move from its current public location into the private grounds of Windsor Castle.

In previous years the show has shared its grounds with rugby and cricket players in the Home Park Public. The move, across the road to Home Park Private, means that the show will have a dedicated site. Three arenas are proposed with 180 shopping outlets. The main arena will have seating for 3,000 people. Around 3,000 competitors take part in the show and over 60,000 spectators attend the show over the four days.

Normally, the beautiful parkland is strictly off limits to members of the public but from 12-15 May 2005 all will be allowed access to one of the most picturesque locations in the country.

Royal Windsor is already one of the most prestigious equestrian and social events in the spring and summer sporting calendar and the move will enhance its national and international reputation.

Additionally, the organisers have submitted a planning application for an all-weather surface for a main arena of 120m x 60m and costing £300,000. It is hoped that, if permission is granted, the surface would be laid in time for the 2005 event and dressage competitions are planned. “We will lead the way in twenty-first century outdoor equestrian events,” said Simon Brooks-Ward, the show director. He’s also keen to place the potential of the site alongside Aachen, the World Equestrian Games site for 2006. High-profile sponsors, such as Land Rover, Daks, Laurent Perrier, Country Life and Jaeger le Coultre are already engaged.

The show will take place 12-15 May 2005 and tickets will be available for sale from early December. For more details, to register for an email newsletter or to book a ticket, visit www.rwhs.co.uk or call 01753 860633.

200 Club Winners

November Draw: Rosabel Raynor, Anneke Wallace, Paul Chambers.

This completes the 2004 draws. A big "Thank you" to everyone who has supported the 200 Club in 2004. I look forward to your renewals for 2005 - application form enclosed with this newsletter, see reverse of address sheet.

Thanks to Sheila Hawking of the BHDTA Supporters Club.

Indoor Driving

... might not be on your driving agenda. But it just might be a key to unlocking the “outdoor” horse driving trials’ competitors of the future. We need more people to take part in our sport if it’s to flourish and drive up standards.

In East Anglia, at least eight drivers who started competing indoors, some very cautiously and carefully, are now enjoying outdoor club events. If it weren’t for local indoor driving events, and the friendliness and helpfulness of the Indoor Horse Driving Trials Club’s volunteers, I’d certainly have taken much longer to gain my confidence and my “competition feet”. When I started competing I hardly knew anyone and learned by making my own mistakes. Some tactful people have pleasingly short memories about my early Novice driving days, not so long ago, and I’m very grateful for the accelerated learning that indoor events offered.

The immediacy and accessibility of the whole event encourages spectators – usually competitors’ friends and family – who, because they can more easily understand what’s going on, feel more interested and involved. Novices can watch Open drivers and compare Precision and Paces scores. They can observe other people’s obstacle routes and, if they are shrewd, afterwards compare times. What makes So-and-so faster than us? Does he take a tighter route? How did she go from B to C? How can I save a vital second or two? If I practised driving cones…

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that, if you want to improve your score, you must do something differently. Seeing other drivers compete in exactly the same event can help you to work out what you need to do better. And you can easily find someone to ask, what do you think about… this driving technique/harness/vehicle?

One of the drivers I referred to earlier is driving a four-wheeler for the first time this season. “The difference is unbelievable!” She still goes in the show ring but she’s a driving trials junkie now, thanks to local indoor events.

Training is becoming a word overheard more regularly, too. A hectic summer schedule of Pony Club, shows and (even) non-horsey events means that training can be neglected. Although indoor arenas do not come cheaply, getting together with friends to hire a trainer and an arena for a few hours makes training more affordable, focused and a bit of sociable fun on gloomy winter days.

Winter also gives the “private driving set” a chance to have a bit of fun and to show us how to strut our stuff. BDS drivers, too, are being introduced to competition through BDS Trec, where timed sections are followed by driving skill tests, such as driving through a set of cones, standing still in a box for a few minutes, going through a gate safely. While some of us might sniff at such simple tasks, people who are new drivers or returning to driving, who want to gain confidence and experience, can use these events to develop their skills.

If we want our sport to thrive, we are the best people to promote it. If you’ve never seen one, why not tootle along to a local indoor event and soak up the atmosphere? Perhaps take a friend or two, tell people about the positive bits you enjoyed – yes, sometimes there are cold, wet, hanging-about times, too, but don’t we get those outdoors as well? Most venues have somewhere to get a hot drink. You could make a New Year resolution to get at least one person better informed about competitive carriage driving in 2005, and do us all a favour?

See www.indoordriving.co.uk for the event schedule, Precision and Paces Test 10, entry form and joining details, or write to Rita Bundock, Secretary, 15 Hollow Lane, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 3SB, with an SAE, for more information, or phone 01227 768769.

South of England Carriage Driving Fair 2005

Ardingly Showground, Sunday 20 March (10am to 5pm)

Britain’s largest indoor carriage driving show, organised by Brockham Harness Club, is at the South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex on Sunday 20 March and offers carriage driving enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport the excitement of a live sporting event with all the entertainment of top quality attractions.

The programme in the main arena starts at 10am and combines thrilling competition, instructional and informative displays and sheer entertainment from the country’s leading carriage drivers and equestrian personalities. There will be a large range of trade stands and full bar and catering facilities under cover and with free parking and free admission for children, it’s the perfect family day out.

Tickets are available on the door, but for more information or advance discount tickets call 01483 276936 or visit www.brockhamharnessclub.co.uk

Join us in the company of renowned drivers such as:

Boyd Exell, Karen Bassett, Georgina Frith, Pippa Bassett, Gary Docking and Dick Lane. Main arena attractions include International Horse Team competition, Tanya Larrigan and her mini marvels, Here comes the Bride, The BHC Roadshow, Private Driving, Heavy Horse Power, Scurry Competition, Breed Displays, RDA Driving, Trade Vehicles, Masterclass with Boyd and Karen, Ridden Dressage, and there’s the ‘Suck it & See Hour’, a chance to drive under the expert supervision of leading whip Gary Docking. Everyone has a chance to scoop the ultimate prizes in the Grand Draw for only £1.

Whether you are looking for information, new products and ideas or want to enjoy a mesmerising day’s entertainment, come to Ardingly for all the fun of the fair on Sunday, 20 March 2005.

Buyer beware

Clare Wigmore, LHHI, offers some useful advice and tips to help you buy the right horse. Part 2 covers how to view and try out your potential buy.

Viewing

If you are not experienced take someone fairly knowledgeable with you, also two heads are better than one.

Tip - Try and arrange the trial for early in the day, as you ideally want to try the horse when fresh and not to have been worked earlier!

First of all notice how the horse greets you, is he friendly or not does he have a kind eye? Study his conformation and condition: is it acceptable?

Ask to see the horse run up in hand, look for soundness and action, does he move straight or is he too close or wide in his action

Ask what the horse is fed on and why? What people feed their horses on says a lot, and if you are going to consider a trial it is vital that you do not change his diet suddenly. Always request that the horse is ridden or driven by the vendor first.

If you are still interested at this point, ask to either ride or drive the horse yourself. However, if at this point you have seen enough and know that you are not interested for whatever reason, politely say thank you and leave. No point in wasting anyone’s time any further!

Do remember that you have possibly travelled some distance so make the most of this opportunity and if you are interested, give the horse a fair trial. By this I mean drive/ride both in the field/school/enclosed area and then out on the roads, preferably in traffic. Take particular note of bitting, way of going, etc. And remember that first impressions count.

Decision Time!

Sallie Walrond told me years ago that choosing a horse is like finding a husband, you either have to take him home or leave well alone. How true that is! If you need to go away and think or talk yourself into it then quite probably he is not for you.

Vetting

I strongly recommend having a horse vetted prior to purchase both for your own and the vendor’s peace of mind. Some insurance companies insist on a vet’s certificate before insuring over a certain purchase price. Ideally your own vet is the one to ask however, if the horse is not in his locality, ask him to recommend a vet in that area. You do need to make it clear to the vet as to exactly what purpose you are requiring the horse for. This is a good opportunity to mention any reservations that you may have arising from your initial inspection – i.e. abnormal looking lump on canon bone, one very flat front foot, etc. Although you are paying the vet for their expertise their opinion is not “cast in stone”: by this I mean, be practical. If, for example, the vet has brought to your attention that the horse aged 11 years has a slight stiffness in his hocks, and you are wanting a horse to use only for pleasure as a safe weekend drive, does that really matter? Temperament and safety (soundness of mind) are to me far more important. A lot of horses have been athletes and at that age are starting to show signs of wear and tear, rather like many of us at the age of 50 plus. I doubt whether I would pass a vetting but I certainly do not consider myself useless! However if you are expecting your new horse to be an athlete and to be used compatibly then take heed to everything the vet says and possibly request x-rays of feet, etc. Ask the vet also to measure the horse as owners misinterpretation of height can be quite different as discussed earlier, also ask the vet to clarify age which can be particularly difficult after the age of 12, therefore ask for proof if possible, such as breed papers, foal certificate, flu vaccination, etc. Also today it is fairly standard for the vet to take a blood sample to be used in case of a query relating to doping etc. I would strongly advise not to purchase a horse with a vet’s certificate supplied by the vendor.

Don’t expect miracles, a time of change can be quite unsettling for any horse, give him time to settle in, he needs to build his trust in you and after all he is going to be your friend for life. Good Luck!

Clare Wigmore

Horse passports update

As you know, the EU insists that horse passports are required for all horses, ponies, donkeys and mules (but not, of course, zebras) in case we inadvertently eat them after they’ve been given medication which might disagree with us. Failure to bring in passports could have meant that medication such as bute would no longer be allowed to be used on horses in the UK. If you have not yet applied for a passport for Neddy, get on with it or face a fine of up to £5000 or two months at Her Majesty’s pleasure after 28 February 2005. Get in touch with your horse’s breed society, if it has one, or contact a passport issuing organisation (PIO). The cheapest passports I’ve found were £10 for BDS members, (£7 for your donkey), and £20 for non-members, although there are cheap (as low as £14) passports from other PIOs.

Please note: DEFRA says the passport must accompany your horse in the following circumstances:

• * When it is moved into or out of Great Britain;
• * When it is used for the purposes of competitions;
• * When it is moved to the premises of a new keeper;
• * When it is presented at a slaughterhouse for slaughter;
• * When it is sold; or
• * When it is used for breeding purposes.

More information can be found on their website, below, or by calling 08459 335577.

www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/horses/ horses_q&a.htm

A few people from various parts of the country said at the Conference that they had been stopped by police and passports for the horses had been requested, so do take them with you.

Craghoppers Championship Competition Winner: Wendy Jenkins. Lucky Wendy wins £100 to spend on Craghoppers clothing. Visit www.craghoppers.co.uk to see their wide range of sporting and travel clothing.

Christmas books

Here are a couple of ideas for spending your Christmas book tokens…

“30 Years on and off the Box Seat” is a frank and lively account of how HRH The Duke of Edinburgh began driving. It details his early, often catastrophic experiences, and his involvement in the organisation of the sport of competition driving. He has woven together the story of the origins and development of competition carriage driving, with accounts and results of the events and championships in which he has taken part. In addition he explains how the International Rules came to be written and follows their development over the last thirty years. In the early years he was president of the FEI, the international governing body for show-jumping, dressage, three-day eventing, long-distance riding, vaulting and reining, and therefore found himself on both sides of the fence between competitors and administrators. As a result he was able to identify with the interests of the competitors when changes were proposed to the rules or to the general administrative regulations. He claims that he must be one of the very few competitors in any international sport who has competed in a World Championship in one of the disciplines of which he was the president of the international governing body. Some of his experiences as a driver are somewhat hair-raising, but he stoutly maintains that the sport is not particularly dangerous. He emphasizes how much successful competition depends on teamwork, both among the driver and grooms as well as among the horses and ponies, and how much they all come to depend on each other. He makes the point that everything has to come together to achieve success in this demanding and very competitive sport. The events are obviously the point of competition carriage driving, but Prince Philip makes it clear that the social life during these weekend events is also an important aspect of the sport. As so many of the competitors are regular participants, he has described the season as a 'peripatetic week-end party' for like-minded people. His Royal Highness also writes about his horses and ponies, his grooms, friends, fellow competitors and his travels in pursuit of the sport. Many of the competitors' horses and ponies become just as well known as many of the humans and, in fact, everyone comes to know the names of the leaders in the tandem classes very quickly. The book contains many hitherto unpublished photographs and anecdotes and is distinguished by the author's inimitable dry wit and humour. It is a book for every driving enthusiast. This book is £25 in the bookshops and £17.50 on Amazon.co.uk (review thanks to Amazon).

Sally Walrond’s latest book, “Trot on, sixty years of horses”, co-authored with Anne Grimshaw, is now available in a limited edition of 1000 signed copies. This is Sallie Walrond's life story, full of humour and anecdotes, instructive and entertaining. She describes how horses and ponies are managed, trained, produced and judged all round the world. The book is packed with information explaining numerous methods of how horses are managed, trained, produced and exhibited throughout the world. It is full of humorous anecdotes and is illustrated with over ninety photographs.

You can use up those Christmas book tokens if it doesn’t appear in your stocking: it’s £21 on Amazon and £30 in the shops.

Gavin Schofield Lecture Demonstration

10:30 am, Friday, 11 February 2005

at Solihull Riding Club, Four Ashes Road, Bentley Heath, Solihull, West Midlands – 01564 770180

“The Point of Balance”

Gavin Schofield, DO, MRO, is a graduate of the European School of Osteopathy. For the past 14 years he has run a full-time international equine practice, consulting and treating over 100 horses each week, ranging from the Olympic team to family ponies. He lectures at the European School of Osteopathy and The Imperial College on Equine Biomechanics and Locomotion, in the UK and abroad. Gavin acts as consultant to the equine industry on biomechanical matters. His work encompasses all aspects of the equine world – saddlers, vets, dentists, farriers, trainers, judges, carriage drivers and riders in all disciplines. He applies his knowledge to help train horses to the highest standard and promotes a greater understanding of the horse’s needs for safe, efficient movement with the aim of optimising and enhancing performance.

This lecture demonstration shows how to look for and attain the point of balance in the ridden and driven horse. The lecture is about four hours’ long, plus a short lunch break. There are 35 places available at a cost of £15 each, paid in advance. Early booking is highly recommended: please call the organiser, Paul Chambers - 01527 850390 or 07831 271462.

For Turkmenbashi or die!

Someone writing as Emma Burge’s Champion pony humbly submits his entry for the First Glorious Turkmenbashi Short Non-factual Writing Contest. The purpose of which is the creation of literary art inspired by the leadership of Turkmenbashi - "The Father of all Turkmen" - and his wisdom. The goals are personal betterment, a greater and wider appreciation of the good works of Turkmenbashi, and the good of the Turkmen people...

Date: 10 September ’04.

Venue: Craghoppers National Championships, Windsor Great Park.

Present: Me, deep cover name ‘Thorneyside Flyers Pride’ - code name’ Zip’ and my accomplice, whom for the purposes of this document shall been known as E.B. but has this season been announced variously as Emily Burger, Emilia Berg, Emilio Bergman - the list goes on.

Mission: To collect intelligence about the U.K World pony competitors for our home country, the little known Russian state Turkmenistan and report back to our team at their training camp on the Caspian sea and our leader, Turkmenbashi the Great (above left).

Time: 05.45 am The dawn of our final assignment of the season before we slip out of the country and return home for our mission de-brief. An eerie mist slowly lifts to reveal the distant outline of Windsor Castle – home of the man they call ‘The Duke’ – handy pony team driver and, I can reveal, an avid ‘Steps’ fan, spotted at Catton Park beer tent dancing (with all the moves) to one of my personal favourites, ‘Reach for the Stars’. I digress, E.B stirs in her caravan this can only mean one thing…

Breakfast: Me – Bucket of Vodkatini (could have been colder) two scotch eggs.

E.B.: hi-fibre mix, garlic (bit early!), probiotics, supple joint formula, iron supplement, electroytes and sugar beet - each to their own.

It’s dressage day: we’ve been careful not to blow our cover through the summer. A catalogue of finely judged deliberate mistakes has kept us nicely low profile in this phase:

Brighton – Failed to stop at C - 5 penalties.
Farleigh – Break in the walk and turn circles into amoebic blobs (my idea).
Catton – four fabulous emergency halts and 60 kph rein-back (nice touch).
Henbury – Dropped rein in one-handed deviation E.B salutes judge at C in “fluster”.
Lowther - Sorry, my slip up. We won that one!

Today, as we are warming up, the woman we have come to know as ‘G’ approaches and whispers in E.B’s ear ‘..pull your finger out!’ – A quaint English good luck missive or an unveiled threat from the all powerful Turkmenbashi at home? In the event we decide to put on a reasonable show just throwing in a few subtle inaccuracies, but as we are leaving the arena a man calling himself Luke-Axel Berg (sic) drives in, a spook if ever I saw one – Savile Row pinstripe suit and a bowler hat – who’s he trying to kid!… He’s probably got a poison dart stashed in his whip. We decide to watch him…Thought so, his guy ‘Wizard’ can’t help himself - So unprofessional winning like that, and with an absurd margin of six penalties over us! I’d be embarrassed, I really would. Wonder who he’s working for…

Lunch: Me – Comforting liver and bacon awash with onion gravy and lashings of mashed potato, unfortunately tarnished by the disappointing Tarte aux Poivres - a gooey mush of a pie not flattered by translation, two buckets of an inferior Saint Veran, 2002 I think.

Plus: Quart bucket of brandy and 20 Marlborough Lights. E.B.: see Breakfast.

Spent a couple of hours grazing around the camps of our opposition. Sara Howe and her chap ‘Sooty’ were in buoyant form, she is one to watch – a serious competitor with excellent track record and she has begat a wunderkinde capable of thrashing all of us within a year or so. Two others who have emerged as of particular concern say they are from The Isle of Man. The two Sues, Denney and Corlett, explain that though there country is part of the United Kingdom they have their own parliament and money and a very special way of dealing with criminals. I sidle up to Sue D’s little grey man, ‘Rolls Silver Spirit’, he reckons he’s got the fastest thing on four wheels, built out of motorcycle parts - crick my neck trying to get a butchers at the turntable mechanism. Sue C’s guy ‘Lakeland Spirit’ pipes up about the World Championships next year, laying odds on who will make the team… it all starts to get a bit heated between them so I make my excuses and wander back to the tent. All this spirit alerts me to the fact that the cocktail hour is upon us. Just fixing a Manhattan when E.B gets back with news of the marathon course. “Very technical,” she says ominously. Also learn that the woman we know as ‘G’ is coming on the back of the carriage tomorrow. Starting to feel a bit peckish. We dine out tonight.

Supper Venue: ‘G’s’ lorry

Present: Me, E.B., ‘G’, Matt (G’s groom) The PR man from BHDTA

Meal: Pacific Tiger prawns, roast suckling pig, strawberries with crème fraiche. E.B. brings her nosebag see breakfast/lunch

Wine: Hip-flask in tent before sauntering across, Gavi (seven buckets) replaced by Pinot Grigio after mis-hap by an over-enthusiastic Matt.

Plus: 60 Marlborough Light, eau de vie de prune all round (except E.B.).

Comments: Tiger prawns juicy and tender, suckling pig had been around the M25 a few times but fulsome and tasty with excellent crackling. Strawberries, always hoping for that magic explosion of flavour reminiscent of ones youth – but sadly it eludes me once more… The PR man starts fishing about our past, E.B. quickly spins our ‘legend’ and gets him off the track, so much so he tries to line us up for a radio interview about it but phew! a clash with the start of ‘A’.

Back to the tent, E.B. wraps me up in my burkha for the night and I dream of the old country.

Marathon Day - Breakfast: Me – a bacon loaf and two bottles of Moet (non-vintage) E.B. see yesterday with addition of ‘Rescue Remedy’ – oh dear.

Section A sets us off on excellent tour of Windsor Great Park. B mostly on roads, a bit slippery with studs, enjoyable sport though witnessing E.B. wriggle in agony as I move gingerly towards the end flags. Spanking trot in section C but sneaky hidden finish induces momentary panic. Section D another slither, this time all roads. Couldn’t help being distracted by astonishing revelations of beer tent indiscretions by our fellow competitors divulged throughout. E.B. wriggling furiously by end but we made it in time.

Section E – Wow! Loved it! The bridge, the water, the snake, everything. Chasing times and having a ball! ‘G’ was a great motivator when EB showed signs of flagging in the barley sugar (number 7) – knew the Rescue Remedy was a mistake.

Weighed in at the end by the charming French judge who had looked upon us so favourably in the dressage – did I notice a little frisson between him and E.B? Maybe it’s the beret she wears, the Chanel suit from Oxfam, the flash of turquoise tights from beneath her driving apron or was it the lingering aroma of triple garlic from breakfast ? Who knows. I reflected on this and many other things as I lit up one of my best cigars and walked back to the tent.

Lunch: Me - Steak frites with dijon sauce. E.B. See breakfast

Beverages: Me - Two, no three gin fizz’s and a nice bottle of Bordeaux. E.B. double shot of ‘Rescue Remedy’

Comments: Frites a bit limp but E.B. in a hurry to watch the teams.

After a wash and brush up, mosey up to the leader-board. We’re in the lead! Race around trying to find E.B. It’s fantastic news but have we blown it? Turn a corner beside the ‘Craghoppers’ tent and bump straight into Philip Bateman , Technical Delegate, (MI5, I swear). He eyes me suspiciously, “So, all you need now is a double clear tomorrow… think you’re up to it this time.’ he says, his Trilby tipped perilously on his forehead. I presume he’s referring to our Lowther Castle cones debacle when E.B. over-did the Rescue Remedy and we lost our way. I giggle nervously and ask weakly, “When will the course be open for inspection?”

“Tomorrow at eight, and I don’t want to see anyone sneaking around the arena a moment before!” he barks.

“Niett. I mean No!” It just slipped out: I try to cover up with a cough. “Have I seen your papers?’ he asks, leaning forward. Our eyes are level now: has he rumbled me? Is the white emulsion describing the blaze on my face still tacky?

“…I… I understand the sponsor’s brandy is very good. Have you tried it? Maybe see you later for a shot... in the club yurt ... tent?” I yelp, backing away, all too aware of his steely gaze following me.

“Tell Emily Burger I want to see her in my office!” he bellows.

I nod my head and turn the corner and lean heavily against the Portaloo to regain my composure. Beads of sweat spring from my brow. What are we going to do? My papers are as hot as a glasshouse in August and probably as transparent. I am suddenly aware of some muffled cries. I move away from the door. Felicity Ruffe emerges – good – I hit on her for a much-needed roll-up. Still no E.B. – Can’t understand it, the teams finished ages ago, so take another trip around the horse park asking all and sundry for any sightings of her, just walking past the line of caravans when I notice the French Tricolor hoisted high over one of them is waving rhythmically to and fro, my eyes move slowly down the flagpole to the caravan - its rocking. I take a few steps towards it and…oh dear, the distinctive cries are unmistakably those of E.B. Has she, in a moment of weakness given in to the advances of Monsieur Le President de Jury ?

Just getting used to the idea that I’ll dine alone when E.B. bursts in red in the face and short of breath

“…Pack your things we have to leave tonight,” she says. “I’ve spent the last two hours being chased around the Frenchman’s caravan by a needle! I was called in for what I thought was an invitation to tea - but no! He springs a random dope test on me.”

“The Rescue Remedy!” I cry.

E.B. droops her head in shame “Oh Zip, I’m afraid I’ve fallen off the wagon again… fortunately I could point out he was breaking the code of conduct - no witness - so after a lot of difficult negotiation he agreed to postpone my test until 11am tomorrow when he’ll have Jill Holah present.”

Poor E.B. – I compound her worries with the tale of the T.D, she calmly mutters “…they’re closing in on us.”

I set about packing the trunks. Mixed feelings fill my head – regret at leaving after such a fascinating season with wonderful people against the excitement of returning to the rigours of home and the first sips of fermented yaks milk for nearly a year. I slam the trunk shut.

“We should do the cones - brave it out!” I exclaim.

“I don’t know if I can ‘ she whimpers. I put a hoof on her shoulder. “Get to bed now, we’ve got to see this thing through… but you better lay off the Rescue Remedy, just in case.” I wait until I hear her gentle snoring then pull on my Thermatex 2000 and head out into the night. I needed good advice and I knew just where to get it.

Venue: Star of India, Windsor.

Dinner: Me - Chicken Jalfrezi, okra fritters, sag aloo and five naan bread. Mel (Di Hayes’ Worldbeating Hackney ) – Lamb Rogan Gosht, onion bhaji, chutney and pilau rice.

Beverages: Me - Seven pints Stella Artois, Mel – 16 pints Castlemaine XXX.

Extras: Me - 60 Silk Cut, two bottles Stolichnaya, Mel – three Irish coffees and a sambuca .

Comments: Nice restaurant, no flock wallpaper, polite service. Okra a bit watery but more than compensated for by excellent Jalfrezi. Naan bread fluffy and as sumptuous as a goose-down pillow.

Mel and I go back a long way to spy school in the mid-nineties. With five languages and acres of experience she has worked as a double agent across Europe for some years now.

I don’t know what her current assignment is, of course, but suffice to say it’s something big. Among other things Mel taught me the art of disguise. She is a great art historian and her current identity is based on the Godophin Arabian but there have been many others including Alexander the Great’s horse, Bucephalus, and the Stallion, Whistle-jacket, made famous by Stubbs. I for my part use a well-thumbed copy of the 1978 “Welsh Pony and Cob Society Journal”. We discuss my dilemma: after chewing it over she agrees I’m right, we should see out the competition - do the best we can. Test the opposition to the hilt. “Let them see what they’ll be up against at the ‘Worlds’” – “...its just that at the Worlds they’ll be watching a blue roan with four white socks!” I added, Mel threw her head back with a raucous laugh so fierce she knocked her sambuca for six. We hatched a plan. She’d create a ‘disturbance’ to distract the officials just before 11am leaving the security wide open for us to be able to ghost quietly away from Windsor and make our escape to Europe and beyond.

I bid a fond farewell to Mel and walked back to my tent - couldn’t help noticing Julie Camm was burning the midnight oil plaiting her new chap, Alfie. A really good all-rounder…but oh dear, that mane!

Just time to grab some kip – smallish swig from the hipflask as a night-cap sees me right.

The day of the cones. Everything stripped down, packed and ready for a speedy getaway.

Breakfast: Me – smoked salmon bagels with sour cream. Muscadet de Servre de Main which puts me right in the mood. E.B.– Poor thing, off her food but manages a spoonful of Vi-sorbin with her tea.

E.B came back to brief me on the course after her initial walk, she was pacing about nervously so I sent her back to watch the first few go. Have to admit to feeling a little bit queasy myself - Doing a few deep breathing exercises when Australian supremo Boyd Excell appears from nowhere ‘ Do the hard turn from 3 to 4, you haven’t got time to go the long way, and keep up your speed, no-ones made it so far…oh, just one more thing…Turkmenbashi say, “Don’t f*** up” and he is gone, a chill like the Siberian wind runs through me. The tentacles of our leader stretch queer far from the shores of the Caspian to you never know where. E.B. returns white as a sheet - still no clears. We head over and start our warm up. Mel trots past and gives me a wink. The first clear is announced - can feel E.B tensing up through the reins. I try to ignore her. I can see ‘G’ circling her team over by the collecting ring. Suddenly a big cheer from the crowd, the little grey Isle of Manner has gone clear inside the time. Just over two penalties separate us, we head over to the ring.

The competitors part like the Red Sea, many people wishing us luck, some of them genuine, and in we go – the Frenchman, and the T.D sit forward in the seats of the judges box - we salute them – the bell rings – the commentator announces us, (another identity for E.B. the seventh this season - who needs snap cover!? )

“Now in the ring Emilo Barg and ‘Thorneyside Flyers Pride’ who have to really chase the time if they want to hang on to that slimmest of leads.”

E.B. shudders under the pressure. I trot round and then it happened, casting aside all my own rules, I break into a canter as we head for number one. E.B. flinches as I accelerate but relaxes as we safely make it through the first three. Remembering Boyd‘s advice I do a sharp right catching E.B. totally unawares – sorry! forgot to say – I make the tight turn and canter on through four, continuing the pace as we approach the first combination: we make it!

My blood’s up now, E.B. totally with me, we snake our way through the course keeping in canter wherever I can. I over-adjust for thirteen - a nasty little offset number but we make it. On we go, keeping the rhythm, turning back on ourselves and heading for the second combination – faster this time. Back up the arena, seventeen, eighteen in a tight circle and there in front of us NINETEEN – the last…

“Turkmenbashi, Turkmenbashi,” ringing through my head like a mantra. We push through and race to the finishing line. I can’t hear anything… Did we do it ? We did! In an amazing time: it feels good. Really good.

We go to the stewards to get measured – E.B. in a daze – all of a sudden we’re back in the ring at the head of the line up.

The little grey and his guys magnanimous in defeat. Stephanie Byrne seems as joyful for us as if she’d won it herself. The Chairman of the BHDTA, Tom Pettifer heads towards me carrying a big stick, but it’s ok, it’s for him not me. Sashes and rosettes and silver plates and fleeces from ‘Craghoppers’ abound. Our great leader will be very pleased, especially with the years supply of ‘Strongid P’ caramel flavoured wormer. We have a glorious round of honour and leave the ring on a tide of emotion with an ocean of kind words from fellow competitors. ‘G’ pats me on the back and introduces us to the ‘Horse & Hound’ reporter – E.B answers her questions whilst I talk the round through with my comrades. Mel is suddenly beside me – congratulations, felicitations then a whisper, “You have twenty five minutes.”

I signal to E.B, we make our excuses and head back to the horsebox park.

Quickly we unharness and load up the trailer: everything is in readiness. Only two minutes to go before Mel unleashes her distraction. Then, the familiar whistle of the stable manager’s P.A. system grinding into action with Mr. Ted Genge’s Brummie drawl, ‘Attention please, will Miss Emilio Bergman please report to the secretary’s office, that’s Emilio Bergman to the secretary’s office, thank-yau’ The colour drains from E.B’s face “What are we going to do…how can we ever get past Ted ?” Suddenly a shout goes up, ‘Runaways!’ we look at each other, they can’t mean us surely … Just then a pair of ponies come flying past – it’s Rachel Steven’s guys Luke and Flash, they tip me the wink and hurtle off weaving wildly among the camp.

“Stop them!” Lindsey her groom cries as she runs past. “Quick! Jump in the trailer – this is it - now’s our chance!” E.B. runs to slam up the ramp behind me and then races to the truck, we speed off towards the exit gates.

Luke and Flash time it perfectly, galloping headlong towards Ted’s tent, sending him and his wife fleeing for safety as we dive for the gates, but through the front window of my trailer - a terrifying sight. The slender figure of Jill Holah slips into view.

“Stop!” she shouts, stepping in front of the truck. E.B has no choice but to stop. We’re done for. But then an extraordinary thing, Jill produces from behind her back the most enormous silver cup, big enough for a Balthazar of champagne.

“This is for you, ‘The Ted Bewlay Memorial Trophy’ for the best score of the Championship. No-one else can touch you.”

E.B. gingerly steps out of the truck, is this a trick? “I’m sure Monsieur Le President would have wanted to give you his congratulations in person but he has been unexpectedly called to arbitrate a serious affray in the Single Horse class. Oh… and the TD was gesticulating wildly at me from the other side of the arena as I walked up here… couldn’t make out what he was saying but I expect he was hoping to catch you before you go… say well done.”

E.B. graciously takes the trophy and gets back in the truck. Bidding farewell, we sedately roll out of the gates waving to Jill as we go, speeding up imperceptively to 125 kph as we hit the drive. Phew!

The long journey home was uneventful but for a severe bout of food poisoning from a very disagreeable B.L.T sandwich on the ferry but in the depths of sickness I was much buoyed by a fetching likeness of me in the ‘Horse & Hound’ but E.B very upset about her flapping outside rein. Locking her in the cabin without the Rescue Remedy induced a bad bout of cold turkey, but sometimes you just have to be cruel to be kind.

Now we are back at the training camp awaiting a visit from our esteemed leader, only then will our plan for next year be unveiled. For those in the U.K with aspirations for the World Championships next summer, remember, we’re watching you….

“At the moment of betrayal to my President, let my breath stop.”

Zip or E.B.?

Chardon wins FEI World Cup Driving

Dutch four-in-hand driver Ysbrand Chardon (left) has caused a sensation during the season opening event of the FEI World Cup Driving Series in Hannover, Germany. The triple World Champion won this first competition by beating his strongest opponent and triple World Cup winner, Michael Freund.

"I had a good feeling about my horses this morning and luckily it proved to be a good sign," explained a relieved Chardon. "During yesterday’s qualifier I set the fastest time, but partly because of the very difficult course, I knocked down five balls. That made me extra motivated today."

The course, designed by German course builder Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf, was adjusted a little this afternoon, which was positive for Chardon. Where this year’s Bronze World Championship medal winner went clear in both the first round and the winning round, his strongest opponent Michael Freund made mistakes.

Freund, the reigning World Champion is awaiting final results of the B-test of the positive medication control of one of his horses at the World Championships in Hungary. When Freund is disqualified, this will not affect his participation in the World Cup. Only when the FEI decides to suspend him, another driver will take his place at the remaining shows. Freund did set the fastest time in today’s round, supported by the enthusiastic Hannover spectators, but had 15 penalty seconds added to his score for knocked down balls.

It was not the first time that wild card driver Christoph Sandmann entered the arena in Hannover. In previous years, he and Michael Freund had treated the audience to an indoor marathon as part of the show programme. Sandmann, who had brought his fan club to Hannover, drove a steady course and was satisfied with his third place.

The next FEI World Cup driving event takes place in Mechelen, Belgium, on 26 and 27 December 2004.

The official World Cup website is at www.worldcupdriving.com. Created in 2001, the Driving World Cup has provided an innovative style of competition for indoor events, with courses combining marathon and cone driving obstacles. The 2004/2005 season of the World Cup includes seven competitions: Hannover & Stuttgart, Germany, Stockholm, Mechelen, Belgium in 2004; Leipzig, Germany, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands and Göteborg, Sweden in 2005. The top five drivers after six events will qualify for the seventh event in Göteborg. The winner of the first three seasons of the World Cup was Michael Freund (GER).

Events Diary 2005

Send us details of your driving and training events.

Single Pony Training: find out more from Julie Camm – 01454 415050 – Novices are welcome, too!

BDS “Spring into Action” Driving Demonstrations

6 March 2005 Moreton Morrell, Central

13 March 2005 Arena UK, East

13 March 2005 West Wilts Equestrian Centre

2 April 2005 Greenways Equestrian Centre, Carlisle.

16 April 2005 BDS Annual General Meeting and Dinner Dance, including Judges' Conference and Area Commissioners Conference, to take place at the Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, Leics.

30 March Young Drivers Training & Competition Day for BDS members at Fordham, near Newmarket. Call Claire Bourne 01638 721655

Indoor Driving Events

Please contact Rita Bundock, Secretary, 15 Hollow Lane, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 3SB, with an SAE, for more information, or phone 01227 768769 or you can download a joining form from www.indoordriving.co.uk where you’ll also find the rules, Precision & Paces Test 10, regional organiser’s contact details and some lively on-line forums and news.

Indoor Finals: 2-3 April 2005 at The College EC, Keysoe, Bedfordshire. Come and watch if you aren’t competing?

Summary of 2005 dates

National Events, Novice Qualifiers, Club events & Training Clinics

NOTICE TO ALL AFFILIATED CLUBS
Please send your dates to the Office as soon as you can to be included in this listing.

Horse & Hound wants our dates for 2005

Kerry Bowness, Driving & Listings Editor, Horse and Hound magazine, wants your event dates for 2005.

If you have the dates of your club’s events, make sure that someone has sent them in and, you never know, you might get some extra spectators and more competitors!

Kerry says, “Please send details of the type of event, whether or not it is affiliated, the venue name, nearest town, county, contact number, closing date for entries and venue or event website address, where applicable. In addition please send in the name, full postal address, telephone number and email address of the secretary.

If you are including your close of entries dates, please put "entries on day" for any shows that can be entered on the day or the close of entries date clearly next to the date to which they apply.”

The deadline is 25 January 2005. Send all your event details to Kerry Bowness, Horse & Hound, Show Dates, Room 2018, King’s Reach Tower, Stamford Street, London SE1 9LS or email kerry_bowness@ipcmedia.com

See their website – www.horseandhound.co.uk

p.s. H&H readers will have read on 25 November the very thorough, exclusive interview of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. He talks to regular Horse & Hound driving correspondent Andrew Cowdery in a six-page interview.

As the Prince's book, “30 years on and off the box seat”, is about to be launched, he recalls his early competitive career in horse teams and the use of mares, and his decision to switch to ponies when people thought it strange to drive Fells.

Memories of people who have played a part in his life as a driver are included, as are the reasons he loves the sport so much. There are comments on the rapport between driver and horse, and how this differs from that between rider and horse.

Your news wanted!

Please send us your personal news, club newsletters – photos - amusing, informative, opinions, facts. All grist to the mill that is your Carriage Horse: gratefully received.

Please send paper letters and your faxes to the Office and emails to the Editor, cc: the Office – thanks!

Contact details are inside the front cover.

Why join the BHDTA?

If you are interested in carriage driving, particularly if you wish to compete, consider joining the British Horse Driving Trials Association. Among many membership benefits are – Members' Personal Liability insurance cover – now £30,000,000, eligibility to drive or groom at National driving trials, information-packed yearbook and regular newsletters, BHDTA clinics with the country's top driving experts and help, advice and information from the BHDTA driving committees.

See our website for more information or contact Amanda and Gaynor at the Office - 02476 293760

Dinner Dance Presentations

Rachel Stevens produced another superb presentation – with video and sound – to announce this year’s winners of the Points Leagues at the evening Dinner Dance after the Conference. Over 170 people attended and had a wonderful evening!

The Open and Multiples classes’ Points Leagues are sponsored throughout the season by Mark Broadbent of Fenix Carriages, East Ruckham, Cruwys Morchard, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8LS, 01363 866532 See their range of carriages: www.fenixcarriages.co.uk

British Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd – 01732 771719 – kindly sponsor the Novice Horse and Novice Pony classes. Points are won by competitors taking part in affiliated club and National events’ Novice Qualifier classes in the UK and Northern Ireland. More details – see the website.

The  will be published at the end of
Deadline for articles and contributions -

All items for inclusion in the next issue of CARRIAGE HORSE should be sent to BHDTA Office or preferably e-mailed to: editor@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk

This publication has an independent editorial policy and is intended as an open forum for BHDTA members. All letters and reports from members and clubs of the BHDTA are welcomed and will be published where possible, although some editing may be necessary if space is limited. Letters will have the right to reply in the same issue if considered appropriate. Anonymous, defamatory or objectionable letters will not published. Unless the contrary is shown, the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the BHDTA or its Council.