Back to home pageShepway Harness Club Newsletter - March 2008
News
In
between the rain, wind (hurricane force) mud and water we have all tried to get
our ponies/horses back into working mode again and we have a full programme of
events for members during the year
Moat View Demonstration Day
To recap for those of you unable to attend the demonstration day at Willow Farm by Moat View Riding Club, Shepway was asked to do a demonstration of harnessing up, show driving, obstacle and cone driving. Joy gave everyone present a very in-depth account of what this entailed; the drivers for the harnessing up and putting to were Sue and Keeley. Nicky and Peter had an uncooperative lorry on the day so couldn’t make it. Maria and groom and Jackie and groom demonstrated cones and obstacle driving. Thanks to Joy for an informative talk and to all those who helped set it up and clear it away
Wildwood Konik Horses
The
talk with slides about Wildwood by Anne Riddell was excellent. We could have
listened for ever, she told us the history of the Konik horses and how they
evolved, their habitats and desired food, and how they were related to the
Tarpin
both
from
There
are plenty of other animals at wildwood and if anyone would like to have a club
visit let me know. Jean 01233 750379
Terracotta Army
I
enclose a photo from the terracotta exhibition in
Road Driving Assessment – Theory
Seven candidates attended the 2 hour
session at Maria’s house with Joy Claxton putting everyone at ease by guiding
them through the syllabus and procedure for taking the test, which is to be
held at Cobbes Meadow on 30th March, all agreed that they had
learned a lot. It seemed that the worst
fear for many was ‘exam day nerves’.
Good luck to all taking the test. Candidates and stewards only please.
Tendon Works
May 17th
Tendon Works, please phone Maranda on 01233 750280 if you are coming as numbers
are needed for the Tendon Works.
Other News
If you
need to be assessed by the club, please phone Jean on 01233 750379 and she will
arrange for you to be assessed
The
following letter of thanks has been received from the
Web Site
. I see
that some of you have already noticed that our new website is now up and
running although it’s not quite finished yet. We have managed to change the
hosting of it to another ISP because we have all had terrible problems
accessing the old one and it has been impossible to upload anything for a good
many months; which gave poor Jon a real headache ending up with him pulling his
hair out!!:-) We really hope that this one will be better and we will keep it
updated with any alterations to events, dates and venues.
If any
of you would like to advertise anything on the “For Sale/Wanted” page please
send details to me with a full size photo if possible. I would also be grateful
if you could send me any photos that you take of this year’s events (also at
FULL SIZE please) to Linda shcwebpage@gmail.com
Back to School by Keeley Taylor
As you
know I have been slowly working my way through the BDS Light Harness Horse
exams. If you read the February issue of Carriage Driving Magazine you will
have seen Minta going through Optional Unit 7 – Enabling Disabled to Drive. (If
you were looking closely you will notice that it is our very own Linda Peacock
in the photo shoot!) Any way, the article shows some of what is required by way
of knowledge to pass this section.
I have
been a volunteer for the Cobbes Meadow Carriage Driving Group for 6 years and
the Group organiser for nearly two years. As such I was able to compile a
portfolio of my work with the group and apply for ‘accreditation’. I keep a
log-book for myself and a separate one for the group, so although it took some
time to collate everything together I had all the information I needed to hand.
I parcelled my portfolio off to Linda Tate for verification. A month later
Linda sent my portfolio to Caroline Dale-Leech, also for verification. Every
time the post man came to the house I was wondering whether I would find out
today if I had passed or failed. Would I have put enough ‘evidence’
together? Had I portrayed enough
‘working knowledge?’ I was very relieved one day to open the post and receive
my Certificate of Accreditation for Unit7! Hooray! Just the Horse Care and
Knowledge section to go!
B.D.S. Road Assessment Test taken by Linda
Peacock
A
Couple of weeks before Christmas Sara Howe had a training day for the BDS Road
Test to which 8 or so people attended, myself included. The date for the test
was set for the 19th December with Minta Winn examining. However,
there were only 6 places, so none of us knew if we would be taking the test on
that date or not. I still hadn’t heard by the time I left for Germany a week
later to stay with friends and experience the fairy tale Christmas Market along
with the Glühwein in the beautiful village of
Bad Wimpfen near Baden Baden (well worth a visit.) I eventually received a text
message
Then I
got nervous!
Oh oh!
Was this such a good idea after all? What had I done? Why was I going to put
myself through this ordeal?
We
arrived home from
I
arrived at Sara’s to find that 4 of us were taking the test that morning and I
was the last. First out was Sandy Punyer, next was Sarah Owlett both returning
triumphant and telling us some of the questions that they had been asked, one
of which was whether one had to call the police if you knocked down a dog or
cat. I remembered this from my driving test and knew that the police have to be
contacted for a dog but not for a cat. Yet, according to Minta, you also have to contact the police if you
knock down a chicken!! Is she pulling our legs????
My turn
to do the test eventually came and I had to harness up Kizzy myself. As you
know, I have a spinal injury so I wasn’t sure if I could manage this part.
However, I was allowed to instruct an assistant to pass me the girth and to put
the bridle over her ears, as I couldn’t reach high enough. Minta then asked me
lots of questions about harness fitting and a few “what if’s” before we set off
for our drive. Just before leaving, Minta said, “Are you happy going out on the
road with me as your groom or do you need a groom that knows the horse to go
with you?” Oh heck! There is no room on that carriage for a second person on
the backstep and this question momentarily made me doubt myself! Do I need
someone else with me? I hesitated. Then luckily Minta continued “Because I’m
quite happy if you are”..PHEW! .. Yes of course I am PERFECTLY happy; I don’t
know why that question threw me!
Those
of you who know Sara’s place will know that the busy A25 road runs right
outside the premises. We had to make a right turn so 2 people were there with
high visibility coats to see us across the main road. The drive went well and
Minta asked questions all the way round on the Highway Code and what would you
do in an accident etc until finally we approached the T-junction at the main
road again for another right turn in order to head for home. (No-one to help us
over the road this time) Kizzy is great
in traffic, in the past I have driven her through Sevenoaks High Street
experiencing heavy traffic, stopping at red traffic lights and the Zebra
Crossing, passing the Railway Station with all the taxis and going under the
noisy railway bridge. The one thing that she doesn’t like much is to stand
still at T-junctions! This day was no different. The road was really busy, a
constant stream of lorries and cars whizzing
B.D.S.Road
Driving Assessment
Paragraph from BDS website re: ROAD DRIVING
ASSESSMENT
It is hoped through our
network of Area Commissioners and Approved Test Centres to encourage members to
get together in their areas to take their Road Driving Assessment. They will
find that it is not difficult but just involves the demonstration of a series
of correct, safe procedures many of which they should be familiar with. There
is a £50 Training Allowance for the Road Driving Assessment Day, (Minimum no.
10) being made available to Areas to assist members training, prior to them
taking the Assessment. The Training Committee will consider special cases if
groups cannot fulfil these requirements. Liaison between the Area, Office and
the Assessor will take place to carry out the Road Driving Assessments. The SBF
propose to pay £10 towards each candidate entering the assessment with
additional funding from the Society. In addition the BDS will make available
the sum of £50 towards training costs linked to an assessment day and the
Salisbury Bursary Fund a further £50 going towards the administrative costs of
an assessment day.
Obituary
Some of
the longer standing club members will remember Richard Bateman who was a member
of Shepway and Weald Clubs. He loved and had a variety of animals together with
several ponies on his and Ann’s small holding. He was Priest in charge of
Stelling Minnis together with 5 other parishes so did not get to as many shows
as he would have liked. His last event with Shepway was at
Sadly
after a long illness Richard died in December.
I have
been in contact with Ann since and two of her carriages are in the “For Sale”
section of the Newsletter.
Have a very good season and if you still
owe your subs, please A.S.A.P. to Jon Studd or we cant post you any more
Newsletters.
Jean
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FOR
Benington 2 Wheeler Buccaneer Competition
Vehicle
Midnight Blue metal work
In excellent condition
To suit
12.2 – 14.2 h.h.
£1800.00
Leftly Gig Show for and Leisure driving
Very comfortable attractive Carriage
£1000.00
! Set Webster Single Harness
EQUIFOR – Hardly used
Large pony size – 14.2 – 15.00
£450.00
Phone 01227 700440
(