Latest NewsSpringbridge RDA Training Day - Wagons Ho !(June 15, 2010)The second Carriage Driving training day was held on Tuesday 15th June, 12 from the original party arrived with their hats and gloves ready to harness up and have a go at driving round the cones in the field, hoping that they would not knock any over. After registration and coffee we were split into groups of 4 and allocated a pony, Harry, Yorkie and Jack had drawn the short straw, so to speak and my group had Harry.
We went to the tack room to collect the harness we were going to use, Harry soon had his harness on and we got it right first time !! then we had to "put to" which meant you attached the horses to the cart. This we had to think about a bit harder but Harry, Yorky and Jack were soon ready and I had the pleasure to be first to drive Harry, with the help of Jane (who was really in charge).
 I drove him out of the yard and into the field which was set up with numbered cones to drive through. First I just walked round the field getting a feel of Harry, one horse power felt a lot more powerful that the four wheeled one I was use to driving, but with Jane's instruction I was soon trotting round the field and then the cone course and a clear round ! We all had a wonderful morning driving all three horses and feeling the difference of the carriages before a break for lunch.
Our thanks to all at Springbridge for the hospitality and patience and if they should do it again I would thoughely recomend trying it yourselves.
Mount Group Volunteers and "Yorkie" with myself Pat Bishop and Roy Cowley the Springbridge Chairman in the driving seat. |
