(CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE FULL PICTURE)
THIS PAGE SHOWS US COMPETING IN " NOVICE " FEI DRIVING TRIALS WHICH ARE THE CARRIAGE DRIVING EQUIVALENT OF THREE DAY EVENTING.
THE COMPETITION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PARTS,
"PRESENTATION"....."DRESSAGE TEST"..... "CROSS COUNTRY DRIVE"
FOLLOWED BY DRIVING THROUGH THE "HAZARDS" (OBSTACLE COURSES).... AND FINALLY.... "CONE DRIVING".YOU CAN COMPETE WITH A "SINGLE" PONY/HORSE, "TANDEM" PONY/HORSE (ONE IN FRONT OF THE OTHER) "PAIRS". (SIDE BY SIDE) "TEAMS". (FOUR HORSES/PONIES IN TWO PAIRS).
IT IS A VERY EXHILARATING SPORT WHICH INVOLVES LOTS OF "SKILL", AND AT TIMES A LITTLE BRAVERY!
HERE WE ARE DRIVING IN THE DRESSAGE TEST. THIS SHOWS HOW WELL SCHOOLED YOUR PONY IS, YOUR DRIVING SKILL, AND THE OVERALL PRESENTATION, (DRESS, HARNESS, CARRIAGE, PONY,)
THE TEST INVOLVES A VARIETY OF MANOEUVRES, AND THE ABILITY TO SHOW CHANGES OF PACE (WALK, TROT, EXTENDED TROT, ETC.)Those of you who already drive
will have noticed that we have hoops on the wheels? This was allowed in events that were on a tight timetable. These competitions were held in a
different order i.e. "PRESENTATION", "DRESSAGE", "CONE DRIVING", "MARATHON"
THE CROSS COUNTRY MARATHON INVOLVES DRIVING ABOUT 10KM OF ROADS AND TRACKS WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME (MIN-MAX). EXAMINATION BY A VET TO MAKE SURE YOUR PONY IS FIT, AND HAS
A QUICK ENOUGH RECOVERY TIME TO CONTINUE THE COMPETITION. YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 1KM AT WALK WITHIN A TIME AND WITHOUT BREAKING PACE. YOU THEN HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE HAZARDS
WHICH ARE ALL TIMED. THIS INVOLVES DRIVING THROUGH A SERIES OF GATES IN ORDER AND IS USUALLY THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THE EVENT FOR BOTH DRIVER AND SPECTATOR!
CONE DRIVING AT CASTLE HOWARD DRIVING TRIALS.ELOISE WAS GOING REALLY WELL THIS DAY AND WE MANAGED TO GET A CLEAR ROUND! TO DO THIS YOU HAVE TO DRIVE BETWEEN ABOUT TWENTY SETS OF CONES SET JUST WIDER THAN YOUR WHEELS. THE CONES HAVE CRICKET BALLS SAT ON TOP, SO THEY ONLY NEED A SLIGHT NUDGE FOR THEM TO COME OFF AND LOOSE YOU POINTS.
THIS WAS THE "FIRST" TIME WE GOT INTO THE WATER AT AN EVENT. WE STILL MANAGED TO GET ELIMINATED THOUGH.
These pictures show the same water hazard the following year. As you can see from the expression on our faces in the last picture, this time we were "successful"
These pictures show us driving a "simple" hazard at Escrick. Simple can sometimes be your "nightmare"?
Out on the road in the walk section of the competition. This can be a time to relax
but you must remember not to break "pace". Eloise could be hard work in the walk as she was a slow walker and sometimes it was
difficult to make the time!
Here we are driving in the dressage test using our "BENNINGTON". This was in our opinion far superior
"ALL ROUND" than the Jackson, but in the hazards the Jackson was hard to beat due to its very "FIRM" (nearly solid) ride.
"Jackson marathon". This was the first carriage we bought.
Where does your pony live when you are away all weekend? This is a picture of our portable stable
fondly referred to as "The Toilet Tent"
THIS IS SCRAFTON ELOISE OUR WELSH SECTION C PONY. SHE IS A WONDERFUL PONY WITH LOTS OF CHARACTER, TYPICAL OF WELSH PONIES SHE CAN SURVIVE MOST EXTREMES, LIVE ON FRESH AIR
AND STILL KEEP GOING. I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE.