My mother, my friend and I went to Bromyard Equestrian Centre to see the Introduction to carriage driving event.
First we saw all the horses and the various different carriages.
There was Mandy Reddock with Just Jasper, a thoroughbred in an exercise vehicle turned out for a rally,
Jane Friend with Rosie, a grey Dartmoor pony with a Bennington exercise vehicle with a carriage dog (Dalmatians have traditionally been used as carriage dogs to guard the vehicles).
Neville Jones with Conygar Caradod, a palomino, drove a traditional style modern vehicle made by Jacks of Hay and was turned out for a private driving showing class.
Nick Jones was there with four-year-old Brinkley Buzz, a piebald cob in a Bennington fun bug turned out for disabled exercise vehicle class.
Roy Moore was supposed to come with two Friesian geldings but could not, so as a replacement there was Julie Wedgebury with four Shetlands, two greys, a black and a chestnut.
After we had been introduced to all the turn-outs we were allowed to come down into the arena and have rides. I got on the carriage of Just Jasper and on the Shetlands, which was scary because it felt like I would fall off just standing on the back step with only a bar to hold on to.
Just Jaspers carriage was better but as I sat on the seat I could not get my feet on the board.
Then we were shown how to harness and put the horse to the cart and then there was a cone demonstration.
We were again allowed to hitch rides round the cones and I got onto the Shetlands carriage. The Shetlands went zooming through the cones so fast and sharp that I almost fell off the carriage. We went through the first obstacle of the course two cones set apart just wide enough to let the carriage through then another obstacle like the first at a different angle then another and then through four weaves set at a distance just wide enough to weave tightly and then through the finish and everyone cheered.
Then the commentator said that with carriage driving you also got dressage where the ponies show off their paces and turn circles like turning on the forehand only with a carriage. The cones are like showjumping. If you knock a cone and the ball falls off you lose points like if you knock a pole like in showjumping. The cross country is driving round obstacles and through water while being timed.
Altogether it was a fun day and I recommend that if you like carriage driving you should go to such an event.
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