Malcolm Salter and his impeccable Dutch Warmblood Koning were on song at the 2022 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to take the HOYS harness horse and pony of the year title.

Showman Malcolm has been competing at HOYS for almost 40 years, but this year was the first time he’s scooped the top title.

Koning was bought from Holland as a three-year-old by Malcolm’s friend and client Mike Clark.

“I began producing him for Mike and then we nearly lost the horse to an illness, so when we nursed him back to health, Mike gave me a half share,” explained Malcolm, who has been reserve in the HOYS harness horse and pony of the year championship on more than one occasion.

Since Malcolm and Koning’s HOYS victory, Mike has given Malcolm full ownership of the Eebert seven-year-old.

“Mike said to me ‘he’s all yours’; I’m very touched as he’s a fantastic horse. He will live out his days with us,” said Malcolm, who was joined by his son, Oliver, in the ring.

Malcolm first showed at HOYS in 1986 when he took reserve in the concours d’elegance championship. He last took reserve at HOYS in 2018 driving the Welsh section D Newydd Beau.

“My wife, Nicola, has been reserve several times, too,” he added. “I can say it’s been a long road to get here!”

Malcolm confirmed that he knew Koning would be a superstar from the minute he laid eyes on him:

“He’s very special and he’s everything I could have dreamed of and more. He’s a lovely character and is very observant. In another life he could have been a circus horse. He’s beautiful to drive, too, and he instils confidence in me.

“When I took him down the centre line I took one hand off the rein and let him go. He just sat up and went. You wouldn’t believe it was his first time at HOYS.”

Koning is shown in a spindle back gig made by Thompsons. The gig has been driven in the HOYS harness horse and pony of the year final previously when kitted out with a different outfit:

“The gig had been sat in my garage for years but it fitted Koning perfectly,” Malcolm explained. “It was meant to be.

“When I was driving at HOYS everything fell into place. I looked out into the crowd and saw faces of old friends I’d shown with back in the day.”

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A gypsy cob who started life as a vanner is headed to France this week to represent Britain at the FEI combined driving World Championships for ponies (Haras Du Pin, 15-19 September).

Woodie (Elwood) was spotted pulling a wagon near Kelso and was bought off the road from his breeder, Gary Davis. He has gone on to be an unexpected success in top-level driving trials.

His new career direction began when his owner Caroline Church sent him to well-known tandem driver Carol Boswell for schooling.

He did some work as an Riding for the Disabled Association pony and then returned the following summer for some more schooling, leading him to begin his career in driving trials with Carol’s daughter Rebecca March.

“I got into a bit of a bet with Mum,” Rebecca said. “She was at the nationals with her tandem, that she competed with her ex-partner, and when he left there was a bit of a gap. I said to her ‘if you go and aim for the nationals again, Jamie [Rebecca’s husband] and I will drive next season as well and we can both try to qualify.’

“Mum had other ponies but she thought I’d have the most fun with Woodie. He is so different to anything I was used to but she was right and we have had a ball with him.”

Rachel’s grandmother Gladys Dale bred Welsh ponies and Rachel had driven them “for fun around the field” but had never competed seriously, having had more interest in riding sport horses.

She had to give them up because of work commitments but thought driving a pony “would be easier”.

“That idea soon went out the window, as just the same level of training is required!” she said.

They first realised Woodie may have the talent to go on in driving trials during their first ever lesson, which was with world four-in-hand champion Boyd Exell.

“Someone cancelled so mum said ‘could Becs come?’” Rebecca said. “Boyd drove him and said ‘he’s got an extension, you’ve got something here to work with.’”

Rebecca went on to buy Woodie and they tackled their first nationals at novice that year before starting to wonder whether it was feasible to draw up a World Championship campaign.

“We aimed to get to these worlds but never really thought it possible,” she said. “Breaking it down into years helped and my trainer [former pony fours world champion] Jan de Boer also helped hugely.”

Rebecca said that Woodie, now 14, has become a “very good marathon pony” and is also strong in the dressage.

“On the marathon he has the heart of a lion. The girl that rides him for me events to intermediate level and she says he is faster than her intermediate horse, he has a serious engine,” she said.

“You wouldn’t think he was sporty to look at him though because he has cankles as soon as he grows any hair — and his canon bones are so short and fat that we can’t use boots on him because none of them fit.”

She added that he also had fabulous paces with a “fantastic” extended trot, and because he started life as a vanner, his “discipline is unbelievable”.

“He has done a bit of everything and I think if we hadn’t driven him, whatever he would have done he would have gone to the top.”

Rebecca said that her aim for their World Driving Championships debut, where they compete as individuals in the single pony, would be to finish in the top half of the field.

“The trick is keeping the consistency in all three phases. We usually get two out of three but at international level you need three out of three,” she said.

“It’s going to be our first time abroad because of Covid, so it’s a bit nerve-racking but a lot of other people are in a similar position as so many couldn’t go to the test event either.”

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A rescued colt who had a “sorry start” in life has become a national champion driving pony aged 16.

Yogi and teammate Devon won the tandem class at the British Carriagedriving national championships on 1 September with rehomer Liz Harcombe.

Yogi was taken into the care of World Horse Welfare’s Hill Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre as a two-year-old after he and his field-mate were bought by someone with “very little knowledge” of their background who contacted the charity for advice.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Both ponies were unhandled, entire and being kept in an over-grazed paddock next to a field of mares. The owner eventually agreed that it was in the ponies’ best interests to be signed over to the charity.

“Yogi was extremely nervous of any human contact on arrival but with consistent, patient handling from his groom, his confidence began to develop. In time Yogi was ready for rehoming as a youngster to continue his handling and education on the ground.”

The spokesman said Yogi was rehomed by Amy Last and his potential “swiftly became apparent” .

“Amy started his training as a driving pony and quickly realised he had some real talent,” he said.

“Driving two ponies became extremely time-consuming for Amy so she asked her friend Liz Harcombe if she would be interested in helping to bring on Yogi’s schooling and drive him at competitions from 2008.”

The spokesman said when Yogi was 10 Liz decided to try him as a tandem leader to his young teammate Devon to give him time to develop in strength and confidence.

“Since then the team have gone from strength to strength taking part in countless displays and competing in driving trials all over the country,” he said.

“The 2019 national championships was Yogi and Devon’s first three-day event and it’s safe to say both ponies rose to the challenge magnificently.”

The spokesman added that Yogi may have had a “sorry start” in life but he has not let it stop him.

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Liz said Yogi and Devon put in an “amazing” performance on the final day of the competition.

“I couldn’t ask more of them; they tried their socks off and coped so well with the atmosphere and a bit of pressure from me to get it right. There were huge smiles in the lap of honour, a pile of ribbons and a tear or two from me.

“I doubt the ponies care too much about the rosettes, trophy and national title but they loved the chance to buck and kick and roll when we got home like nothing had happened. Who would have thought that a little nervous unwanted two-year-old could be national champion at 16 and still have years left. Yogi is truly my pony of a lifetime.”

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An “ordinary” pony, who was successful in carriage driving before turning his talents to showjumping and racked up top three placings in more than 92% of his classes, has bowed out on a high aged 22.

Sue Hendry from Aberdeenshire bought 14.2hh cob Tomahawk as a four-year-old for carriage driving after she gave up riding.

Sue, an accredited British Eventing (BE) coach, told H&H: “I had really bad hips and I took up carriage driving, but the horse I had at the time wasn’t working out. I was looking for another one so I bought Tom to drive.

“He’d done a bit of basic driving so we did a bit more and started to compete. At the end of 2002, I emigrated to Australia and took him with me. Our first competition there was at the Olympic venue in Sydney.

“We were there about a year then came back and continued driving competitively. We did some international classes and were later long-listed for the British carriage driving team as a single pony which was really exciting.”

Follow hip replacement surgery in 2008, Sue decided to see if she could ride again.

“Tom hadn’t done a lot under saddle but he’d done a bit. He could always jump – that I didn’t have to teach him,” said Sue.“I took him cross-country and he was very good, he was used to water from carriage driving and things like that.

“I started doing BE in 2009 for two and a half years and he won his very last event, the BE100 at Scone Palace Horse Trials in April 2011.”

Sue underwent a second hip replacement and began showjumping with Tom as her job as a coach made having the time to event difficult. Sue said Tom’s ability to make “ridiculous” turns helped by his previous driving career made him a strong contender against horses in British Showjumping (BS) classes.

“We did 135 BS classes and won 60% of them, and were in the top three in over 92% of them. He is just amazing in his ability, he always made the horse strides – he just managed. He has the heart of a lion,” said Sue.

Sue retired Tom on 22 February at a BS competition at Cabin Equestrian Centre in Aberdeenshire where he won his class.

“He has been so generous and tried so hard – that’s why I retired him, he was still winning. He’s 22 and doesn’t owe me anything so I decided he would go out on a win and that would be it,” said Sue.

“He is the true definition of extraordinary because he’s just an ordinary chap. He’s the nicest person and so easy. He deserves recognition for being so adaptable, he’s a little wee fluffy, cobby creature.”

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Sue plans to hack Tom, but said the “jury is out” on whether she’ll get another horse to compete.

“Everyone is asking if I have retired too. I love to win and have been a very competitive rider for a very long time but Tom is so special, I don’t think there is ever anyone that could follow him,” she said.

“Tom was just fabulous all the time. I don’t think there’s one competition or one moment that stands out because he never ever let me down. I don’t want to let him down now, I want him to live into his 30s and we’ll keep hacking out as long as he can.”

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From the wagons and carriages of TV period dramas to the exhilaration of competitive scurry driving, there’s something very compelling about carriage driving. The discipline involves vehicles being pulled by a either single horse, a pair (two horses, side-by-side), a tandem (two horses, one behind the other) or four-in-hand (four horses in two pairs). While you’ll need either a lot of experience or a lot of expert help to break your own horse(s) to harness, many driving societies run ‘taster days’ when you can find out for yourself how it feels to hold the reins.

Jo Broadbent (pictured) of Fenix carriage and driving centre is a former open single horse British national champion and started driving around 25 years ago.

“I was involved with horses from a young age and had regular riding lessons as a child before becoming involved with driving by helping a friend who needed a passenger,” she says. “I soon became hooked on the driving rather than the riding and would spend all of my spare time helping and learning about the sport. I absolutely love it. Every day you learn something new, the challenges are endless and the sense of achievement with competitive driving can be huge, especially when you and your team are focused and on form.”

If you’re already a rider, then you have a head start when it comes to trying driving. Angela Flanagan has represented Britain at the World Carriage Driving Championships with both singles and pairs, and is currently a member of the British Carriage Driving Council.

“In my experience as a coach, those who have ridden tend to find the transition to driving easier than a non-rider, as they have a basic understanding of rein handling and also understand how the horse or pony is likely to react to certain situations,” she says.

Jo adds: “In my opinion, the bond you have with a driving horse is just as strong as with a riding horse. The only connection with your driving equine is your voice and the rein. Riders can take their seat for granted sometimes and underestimate the connection and feel you have through it. As drivers we have to have the confidence and trust without that connection. Driving horses, especially team/tandem leaders are a long way from the driver so a mutual trust and respect is essential.”

If you’re keen to try driving, both Jo and Angela recommend trying a taster session first, then a course of several lessons to learn safe practice.

“If you get hooked, then your coach or trainer will be able to advise how best to proceed from there,” says Jo. “Breaking or buying your own driving horse or pony and investing in equipment for driving can be expensive, so take your time and get advice. Remember that cheap harness and bargain internet buy carriages are almost always a false economy, and can even be dangerous. Good quality second-hand equipment can be an economical way to get started but again, but do get advice on correct fit and suitability. There are starter kits out there, but take your time to decide which type of driving you want to get involved with before buying kit that might not be suitable for what you want to do. If you don’t want to own your own turnout, regular lessons with a driving centre’s turnout can be very rewarding without the cost of owning.

“The beauty of driving is that there are lots of ways of being involved without the cost and ties of owning — for example, back stepping or grooming can be great fun and rewarding. There are plenty of drivers looking for help, and joining a local British Driving Society area or driving trials group will be a good way of meeting drivers and learning about what’s involved.”

“All of our British Carriage Driving clubs run their own training clinics, some of which are specifically for beginners,” adds Angela. “It’s always a good idea to go along to a club event to watch and learn about the discipline and meet and get to know people. Driving is a very sociable activity and you’ll soon find yourself getting involved.

To find details of events in your area, visit the British Carriage Driving website or search for carriage driving club Facebook pages in your local area. British Carriage Driving are planning to run a nationwide series of taster days in 2019, keep an eye on the website for details.

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What an amazing success! Anna Grayston has won the first ever gold medal for British carriage driving at the World Championships in Breda, Holland.

To achieve a gold medal with a pair reflects her skill and the high level of training she has achieved with her ponies, but then there’s not much Anna doesn’t know about successfully driving ponies.

She is unique in having been national champion with a single pony, pony pair, pony tandem and pony team.

For many drivers there is something especially exciting about the prospect of driving a pair. For a start it is easily the most horsepower you can achieve with just a single rein in each hand. Then there is the challenge, and satisfaction, of getting the horses or ponies working happily in synchronisation.

Anna believes the secret to success when considering ponies is: “Temperament, temperament, temperament! Good natural rhythm and stride, and for a pair the same work ethic as their partner.”

Then there is the need for consistent handling and carefully structured training. Anna’s big bay ponies are beautifully schooled.

Anna has weekly training sessions with Barry Marshall who she describes as: “A fantastic mentor, coach and friend. Barry was an FEI ridden dressage judge to World Championship level and chef d’equipe to the British Dressage team at the Barcelona Olympics. He has taught me so much!”

Training with a coach is really helpful at whatever level you are driving and possibly makes more difference more quickly for grassroots drivers even if it is only occasional. You are given focus and helpful exercises for the key areas to work on to improve both driver and equine. Anna herself is a Level 3 coach who enjoys working with all abilities and ages.

If you are competing, a good dressage result sets you up well for the rest of the competition. Anna’s performance had her leading the world class field for a long time. She was eventually pipped into second by just 0.51 pens.

It is worth remembering how good schooling also pays off handsomely in the marathon and cones where a responsive, well balanced horse can manoeuvre more tightly and cleanly, saving on time and other penalties. When driving a pair there is always the additional skill required to keep both animals working as one.

Like many national and international drivers Anna swaps a marathon specialist pony into the pair for this phase whose enthusiasm, acceleration and staying power will lift the performance of the other. This is even more important when the course is not only demanding technically but when the ground conditions are heavy.

The thick mud at Breda sapped the energy from the horses and made the courses very slippery.

Anna said: “The obstacles were rutted and deep where everyone was driving very similar routes. This problem was made worrse for us as we went second to last in the pony pairs and after all of the singles had already gone too. Most of the obstacles were like driving in trenches so it was really important to keep a good even rhythm and smooth lines. Any stopping and starting was very tiring for the ponies.”

It was thrilling for Anna to gain speed over the obstacles with no errors and come out with a score that put her at the top of the leaderboard with just the cones to go.

Fortunes change very quickly in the final phase and intense concentration is required. Taking tired ponies into the final phase is a special challenge for multiples.

The slippery course and many turn backs at Breda made the cones especially technically demanding and Anna credits her ponies for rising to the occasion: “With the cones running in reverse order and going into the arena last put us under immense pressure and the atmosphere was electric. The course drove much harder than it had walked seven hours earlier but my ponies were brilliant throughout and all of our hard work and training paid off. Thank goodness my ponies are so experienced as I think they got me round the course!”

Anna’s well deserved gold medal is the result of her dedication over many years of training and shows that with the right approach dreams can come true. It is an inspiration for our top drivers in their future World Championships but also for all drivers. It is wonderful to achieve your goal even if it is a more modest one.

For many drivers Anna’s high profile win has awakened the desire to drive a pony pair and I will report on an exciting new venture into pairs driving next month.

Emily

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After all of our exciting plans to take the national circuit by storm I’ve had a very quiet couple of months recovering from our tip up at Keysoe.

At least Alfie was OK and our back specialist was amazed when he checked him over that nothing had been pulled. My backstepper and I weren’t so fortunate and are still nursing our injuries.

Although I’m still meant to be on crutches I have been determined to get back into driving and took Alfie to my second British Young Drivers (BYD) training session with Boyd Exell at the end of May. As this is subsidised as part of the Advanced Young Drivers squad, I really couldn’t afford to lose my place.

We worked on dressage, obstacles and cones at the equestrian centre at Onley and I managed to join in for the majority of it. Obviously the biggest thing for me was to regain my confidence driving the obstacles and Boyd was definitely pushing me on from the start urging me to go for it at full gallop!

After a steady drive through we were soon cantering forward confidently and really covering the ground. Boyd urged me to keep the power on through the turns and allow Alfie to keep on moving forwards and not keep checking him back. Alfie was, as ever, smooth and responsive and I was very proud of him.

I hadn’t been able to drive Alfie at any trials type competitions since Keysoe and it felt great to be working properly together again, even though I suffered for it big time afterwards as bracing in the carriage requires a lot of pressure through the legs — especially with the manoeuvres at speed we practised with Boyd. In fact on the second day I had to sit out the obstacle driving and just drove the cones. I have the same problem at home as our hills are so steep there is a lot of strain on my injured leg when driving so a friend has kindly taken Alfie for ridden fitness sessions and he has enjoyed being under saddle again.

This time last year a university friend rode him in some British Dressage (BD) competitions and qualified for the Welsh Championships. This time around he has been doing interval training and enjoying hacking out up and down our hills where he is seeing the mountainous scenery from a new blinkerless perspective!

A worthwhile trip

The season was well underway without having driven in any outdoor HDT competitions, let alone qualifiers, so I entered Sandringham, as this was where we were scheduled to have further training from Boyd actually at the event. It is also one of the flatter marathons which would help me and of course Alfie, who had been working under saddle rather than pulling the carriage.

The day before the dressage Boyd worked us hard practising our test and was very complimentary. What a fantastic boost that gave us! There were a few hiccups on the day. The lamp brackets were nowhere to be found thus throwing away precious marks for presentation and due to a timing blip Boyd was still coaching other BYDs when he was due to be going through the warm-up with Alfie and I. But I tried to focus on calm preparation and building on what we had discussed the day before. In fact, Boyd arrived in time to watch my test so I benefitted from a debrief instead. When the scores were announced I was thrilled to find I was in second place, less than a penalty behind the leader.

Dad has been a lifesaver and got hold of a small quadbike for me to take to events so I can get about more easily, and my doctor has sent in a request that I be allowed to drive the obstacles rather than physically hobble around.

We had a course walk with Boyd which provided good insights into possible routes. I was prepared to take Alfie very steadily, aware that he might find the distance and eight obstacles hard going. I

hoped to take him around all three phases but was resigned to adjusting to what I could cope with too and if this meant pulling out of the marathon part way through then so be it!

It was wonderful to have experienced backstepper Vicky Irwin on board who had volunteered to partner us at Sandringham. It was one of the rare occasions when I had someone at a national who could confirm routes in the obstacles, which took a lot of pressure off as Alfie wasn’t hanging around!

I was so pleased with his attitude as he really listened while being very keen. I like to choose a flowing smooth option and in hindsight should have kept to my original route in some obstacles where the route Boyd recommended was tight — more suitable for the shorter coupled ponies than my long lad. Otherwise Alfie’s times were very good with second place in four of the obstacles.

The open pony was a big, strong class with eight experienced entries and it was beyond my wildest hopes to be going into the final phase just one ball away from second place.

Going in reverse order it was apparent that people were struggling to make the time on the technical course and nobody had gone clear. It was all to play for and Alfie flew round the course for me, easily making the time but sadly we tapped one ball. Would this be enough to go up to second overall? Yes! Although we each had three penalties for a knocked ball, time penalties were incurred and in fact we won the cones phase!

What a great outcome, as we also secured our qualifier to take part in the National HDT Championships at Cirencester in September. Happy days!

Emily

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Alfie, aka Beechwood Bracken, is my handsome hunk of 14.2hh Welsh Section D who I use for the national driving trials.

He has had a quiet season this year as I am still on crutches following our unfortunate tip up at Keysoe indoor finals, however I am keen to compete at Sandringham national HDT at the end of June, and determined to do what I can to further his education.

Alfie is considered to be a marathon phase specialist and is a powerful responsive pony who thoroughly enjoys cantering around obstacles and galloping through water. He has a flamboyant “I’m up for it! What are we waiting for?” attitude so it requires time and skill to settle him to dressage and quieter pursuits!

I decided that the peaceful BDS area Show on the Gower peninsular would be the perfect day out to get him used to working among other turnouts in a confined area. Only too often at events he has settled to a beautiful rhythm in dressage but become excited by the proximity of another turnout leading to the inevitable dreaded comment “tension shown.”

The added bonus of this jaunt would be the opportunity to try out the four-wheeler carriage we had just bought to take my mum out on pleasure drives. With this we could enjoy grassroots classes. Mum, who has a bad knee, is thrilled that at last I have a carriage she can easily climb aboard and the two generous passenger seats at the back are perfect for my parents. I can also have someone more agile up on the dual drivers seat. This means the carriage is perfect for teaching as the learner can sit alongside, with dual reins if needed.

Usually I show in private driving classes with my section C so it was a bit of a scramble to find the more relaxed outfits suitable for exercise class showing – these hadn’t been used for a number of years and were buried deep in the wardrobes!

It’s always great fun thinking about what to wear and as the carriage has lovely deep blue shafts and wheels blue was going to be a strong contender in colour choice. Minor crises – such as finding only the jacket for dad who would be my groom and having to ferret out dark twill trousers, then discovering that the panama hat had been squashed and was sadly in need of TLC – are inevitable. The hat was duly repaired but then blew off as soon as the carriage got moving at the showground. Luckily there was a much smaller one that had been left by friends along with gloves and a driving apron.

This means that somewhere at home dad’s gloves along with his entire private driving outfit are safe in a plastic box! I will need to turn the place upside down to find it in time for next weekend when it is the Three Counties Show where I am private driving with Mr J on Saturday and then sports driving with him on Sunday.

The day of the show in Gower we were all up by 6am to feed ponies and check the last few things were on the lorry. Our fingers were crossed that Alfie would load easily, and when it came to it it actually wasn’t too bad on the “Alfie scale of lorry loading reluctance!” We were on our way!

Sat navs are truly amazing at getting you into tight spots with their so called best routes and having to detour to miss the low bridge to then spend a happy hour touring the housing estates of Swansea and testing their speed humps! Dad at the wheel was not amused and had his own suggestions about the chosen route which can’t be printed! This meant we arrived as the exercise class was finishing but this now meant we had plenty of time to set ourselves up for Alfie’s new experience. Time too to settle him in the carriage and make minor fitting adjustments.

It was such a useful afternoon – as I knew he would get excited (and rather full of himself!). He was also bemused by the whole showing procedure, in particular having to stand in a line up while turnouts drove under his nose. This was a challenge that he rose to as the afternoon proceeded. He was second in the novice horse class and so qualified for the grassroots championships where I can truly say I was thrilled to win reserve champion.

Keen for more practice we entered the concours d’elegance class where we came third behind the two immaculate private driving turnouts. We also came second in the registered Welsh private driving class.

Mum got her first drive on her new carriage and sat in the back with dad making it a very special family occasion. We enjoyed a fabulous picnic and homemade chocolate cupcakes while watching the private driving classes and chatted to our driving friends. It was a lovely day out and really illustrates that driving has much to offer families and the whole age range: my 70-year-old friend with her novice mare was over the moon after winning all her classes and the grassroots championship while three young juniors delighted judge Mrs Boucher with their enthusiasm, focus and skills.

What’s more a few more outings like this will go a long way to sorting out Alfie’s arrogance and superiority issues. I was thrilled with the progress he made. Happy days!

Emily

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Trehewyd Brenin Arthur — one of the most successful private driving ponies of the past decade — has been put down after collapsing at home on Monday (20 April).

The 18-year-old Welsh section C won the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) harness championship on three occasions with owner Nigel Fuller, taking the title in 2006, 2007 (pictured below) and 2010.

Well-regarded for his easy temperament, exemplary looks and eye-catching extensions, the gelding was prolifically successful in the show ring, securing many major driving titles including the British Driving Society Annual at Smiths Lawn. He was also partnered to numerous young driver successes by Nigel’s niece Oakley and pupil Angus Rowe before switching to driving trials two years ago.

“He was a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” said Nigel, who bought the pony as a six-year-old after spotting him being exercised on local roads. “He was a really special person who did it all so effortlessly. He went on to prove it was possible to do two disciplines successfully.”

After retiring from the show ring, the drive was handed over to Minta Winn, who took the pony on to a new career at the age of 16. Last year he took his first advanced pony win in the national driving trial at Lowther.

“After his marathon at Lowther I could’ve stopped driving right then and there because I had the best drive of my life,” said Minta. “He was looking fantastic and he loved the job.”

Following a run of form, British team selection had been firmly in their sights this season.

“We competed at the weekend and he was just awesome. I thought ‘we’ve cracked it, bring on the worlds’ [championships],” said Minta. “On Monday morning he came out a bit stiff, which you’d expect in an 18-year-old, so I turned him out for a bit in the sunshine and kept an eye on him.

“I thought he didn’t look happy so I went to bring him in, he came round the corner and his back legs gave way,” she explained. “We called the vet and when he did an internal it looked like everything had flipped over and wasn’t where it should be. We got him relaxed and rehydrated him but he collapsed again and we decided it was best to put him down.”

She added: “It took a long time to get into his inner circle but when you were in you were there. He drew everybody in, everybody knew him and wanted to watch him.”

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I was thrilled to be one of the British Young Drivers (BYD) who were shortlisted for the first weekend’s session of training with World Champion Boyd Exell.

We had the most amazing weekend at the Unicorn Equestrian Centre, Stow on the World. It’s true to say that Boyd brought out the best in the BYDs!

Each session was tailored to suit the individual drivers and their horses. This was my first time with Welsh Section D Alfie and immediately Boyd was suggesting ways to improve his way of going.

Bitting is a key factor for Boyd and after some experimentation we found a bit that made a huge difference to Alfie, allowing him to soften but still go forward.

The young drivers are a friendly and generous group and I was able to find our dream bit thanks to Rosanna (a fellow BYD) lending me the specialised bit she uses with her World silver medal Welsh D Bailey. Needless to say I have now ordered one and can’t wait for it to arrive from Germany!

It was a busy, action packed weekend with our initial individual sessions followed by a cones session.

Boyd’s aim was for us to be forward, regular and rhythmic. To encourage us to focus on the skill aspect of cones driving we swapped over turnouts and could try an unknown horse on the course. This was interesting and worthwhile. It also gave me the opportunity to observe Alfie being driven which is always enlightening. In other sessions my kind volunteer BYD backstepper Alice Stables had a short turn driving so I could watch from the ground while Boyd gave commentary.

Everyone benefitted from being able to watch all the lessons Boyd taught over the weekend.

The evening involved group work designing obstacles which we got to drive around the next day. I was thrilled with how Alfie took up the contact and responded to Boyd’s suggestions for encouraging him to go forward while making the turns. I was amazed that we were only two seconds adrift of the fastest time out of all the BYDs!

Disaster strikes

I have had a lot of success with Alfie in outdoor national trials, but after our training feel very confident in the tighter indoor spaces and so I took him to the indoor championships at Keysoe instead of my lovely Welsh Section C Mr J.

I was delighted with his performance and his willing, focussed attitude. I was especially pleased with his paces which for the first seven movements gained eights. Eight was the highest mark that was awarded for paces at the championships so to get a long run of them was wonderful! He also showed just how nimble and responsive he is in the cones and obstacles.

However our championship hopes were not to be; we were lying in a close third position heading into the final phase, but unfortunately we tipped up in obstacle one so our competition ended there. It’s sadly just one of those things. Alfie was flying and luckily was absolutely fine. We were rather battered, though relieved we were wearing our body protectors. Clare, my kind backstepper sadly broke her arm and we both hurt our left legs (a matching pair now both getting frustrated on box rest!). Despite all this, Clare’s daughter Melita bravely carried on and finished in fourth in a very competitive junior class.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kindness, support and offers of help. We even received even offers of driving the lorry home after my dad twisted his knee doing his Colin Jackson impression hurdling the partition. Driving really is a lovely, friendly sport and everyone’s kindness really is very much appreciated!

As I want to compete Alfie nationally in the outdoor trials, indoor work is useful technical preparation prior to building up greater stamina and fitness. After interrupted training due to my university commitments, I hope to focus on driving this year and am setting high goals to improve on past performances and achieve consistently good scores in all three phases. Despite our setback, I’m determined to get back to it as soon as possible.

A flash new addition

Excellent equipment is so invaluable and as well as my German bit, I am thrilled with the support my horses have from Equilbrium Products, who supply massage equipment and breathable boots. These give me the confidence to push on over the courses knowing the horses are receiving great protection from injury and sprains. I am very grateful for their sponsorship.

I now have my wonderful new carriage, the three phase Revolution, which was designed by talented engineer and generous sponsor Simon Willis to fit my 14.2hh Alfie as well as my 13hh Welsh Section C. It is amazing at holding the ground at speed with very little sideways slip on even the tightest turns and its innovative design allows the horse to maximise its forward momentum. It drives like a dream and I cannot wait to get going on the outdoor marathon courses with such an awesome vehicle. With this carriage, my new bit and all the extra schooling tips I hope this will be my best year yet of competition!

The British Young Drivers organisation is outstanding in the opportunities it gives to young drivers. Thanks to sponsorship by British Carriagedriving, Baileys Horse Feeds, The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and generous individuals, we have training that most of us could not otherwise afford at the annual Easter camps and summer camps, our National Young Driver Championships and now the Boyd Excel Talent Programme.

The training progression is built in to take young drivers to the very top of their sport against the adults nationally and internationally. I can’t wait for the next training sessions and the competition circuit this year!

Emily

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Carriage driving as a sport offers tremendous training opportunities for young participants.

Those interested in traditional driving are supported by initiatives run by the British Driving Society (BDS) and for those keen on driving trials and sports driving, British Carriagedriving welcomes all youngsters into BYDS ( British Young Drivers).

As a young driver who competes equally with both organisations, I would thoroughly recommend participating in as much training as you can — you will find both organisations provide amazing value.

The activities offered include residential camps with excellent training and, coming up shortly is one no young driver will want to miss — the well established and popular Easter camp held at the Unicorn Trust, near Stow on the Wold.

It’s worth noting you can benefit from BYD training up to the age of 30 — although most are aged under 25. Due to the popularity and success of BYD training camps, many young drivers now compete in driving trials nationally and internationally.

Of course, others are just starting out and developing skills at club level with the greatest support and encouragement.

Everyone enjoys amazing facilities — the use of the outdoor and huge indoor arena where training sessions are run by top national coaches. The horses have first class accommodation in the immaculate stables, while the young drivers and their back-up crews are pampered with cooked meals.

As well as driving sessions, there are discussions and driving talks on key aspects of horse care, sports psychology and preparing for competition.

Camp is very friendly and a great way to meet up with young drivers from all over the country. There is even a “buddy system” where a young driver volunteers to share their turnout — thus enabling someone to drive even if they don’t have a horse of their own.

Youngsters who are not yet driving, but are keen to find out what it’s all about are welcome and pay a lower “on-foot” rate.

Camp training is subsidised heavily by Baileys Horse Feeds, which keeps costs as low as possible, while membership to BYDS is free. BYDS has a further camp during the summer holidays — normally at Ashfields Driving Centre with its wonderful national outdoor facilities and marathon obstacle course including a big water obstacle (pictured below).

Exciting training opportunities

This year there are further exciting developments within BYDS with the Boyd Exell talent programme, offering training for advanced young drivers. I have been lucky enough to be invited to take my pony to the first training weekend at The Unicorn Trust. I am incredibly excited about this and the prospect of coaching from the world indoor and outdoor champion. This will definitely be the subject of one of my next blogs!

The driving groups are always looking for ways to encourage youngsters into their sport. This year for the first time at a national driving trial organised by British Carriagedriving, there will be a special class for young drivers who have not competed above novice level at a regional or national driving trial.

The spring event at Catton Park (8-10 May) will give the less experienced BYDS the opportunity to compete on the national course alongside the adult competitors for the cones, but with a different dressage test and only section B of the marathon. The steep hill obstacle is omitted for all competitors as it is early in the season.

The young driver class competition will run as a two-day event with dressage and marathon on Saturday and cones on Sunday for all. There is a very special discounted rate for them and special commemorative rosettes to all competing in the class, with the 12-14 age group earning extra recognition.

Drivers like myself, taking part in the national class, will be very happy to help the young drivers with course walking and settling into the big event. It’s a great initiative and will hopefully be well supported to encourage other organisers to run similar classes.

Plenty up for grabs

The BDS also has national schemes in place to support young drivers up to the age of 18. Osborne qualifiers for young drivers in two age categories (10-14 years and 15-18 years) offer young drivers keen on showing the opportunity to compete in either exercise or traditional vehicles and qualify for the national championships in designated young driver classes.

Shows are also encouraged to put on junior classes and to award best junior rosettes in open classes. The society also provides a smart rosette for the best junior driver at any affiliated show, whether a local or county level outing.

BDS schemes run annually to reward youngsters for taking part in the full range of driving activities and the National Brian Sims Award provides generous bursaries for those who are exceptional in their traditional driving skills and knowledge.

Membership of the BDS is amazing value at just £15 a year.

Training is offered within the individual BDS areas as well as at national BDS camps for the regions — Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

As the newly appointed BDS commissioner for young drivers, I am very keen to develop the network for young drivers within the organisation — especially with regard to regular training opportunities and to ensure these are well publicised. There are some exciting developments in the pipeline.

Adult drivers can be forgiven for envying the youngsters with all these fabulous opportunities!

For the young at heart, but less young in body, there are also excellent training and camps available — a future blog will look into these.

Emily

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There has been quite a bit of discussion on carriage driving forums lately about the difficulties driving horses face in freeing up their movement when pulling a carriage.

Much of this discussion focuses on dressage, and in particular collected trot, but it highlights a common problem. A harness horse necessarily has the drag factor of a carriage impeding its forward action and its movement can be further restricted by the harness.

Since the horse pushes against the collar in order to pull the carriage it is clearly very important that this is fitted correctly and gives a good bearing surface to allow for the weight of the vehicle and — especially when considering the quality of the horse’s movement — that the shoulder can move freely.

There are excellent articles on the effect of the line of draught so that is not my intended focus — though it plays an important part in how balanced the horse is and its subsequent way of going.

Harness is a fascinating subject that fills entire books so this blog merely touches on aspects which can then be more fully referenced by an interested reader.

As the collar plays such a key role it is very useful to be aware of the different collar options for the harness horse. It can seem a bewildering choice for the newcomer to driving. Collars fall into two main types — full collars and breast collars with many variations of each.

Full collars

A correctly fitted full collar allows the greatest freedom of movement as there is no restriction across the chest or shoulder. It is also the most efficient way to pull heavy weights and is used for coaching horses, and specialised versions are favoured as draft horse collars. Full collars are widely seen in the show ring in private driving classes where extravagant movement, as well as traditional harness, is favoured. These are often of an elegant, swept back design and made of black patent with gleaming brass hames.

For country vehicles a brown harness and collar are considered correct. Full collars and traditional harness are often favoured for the dressage phase of FEI horse driving trials.

However it is crucial that these fit correct to avoid pinching or rocking and rubbing.

Breast collars are more popular for driving as they can easily be adjusted to fit the changing shape of the horse over the season and also to fit different horses.

As with full collars it is essential not to obstruct the windpipe or the horse will struggle to breathe when in draught. Breast collars are much easier to put on the horse, whereas a full collar presents a small opening and is put over the horse’s head with the widest point over the eyes and then must be carefully turned once on the neck.

Breastcollars

The disadvantage of the breast collar is that it is a weight pulling strap across the horse’s chest which puts pressure on this key area. Breast collars are therefore used for lighter carriages such as exercise vehicles and modern four-wheelers. Chest straps should be soft or well padded.

A wide chest strap spreads weight and eases pressure, but can push on the windpipe or sit too low to be comfortable over the shoulder. Where the breast collar passes in the line of draught to the traces it can impede the shoulder movement and leg action. The traces of a breastcollar harness must be attached to a swingletree on the carriage that will move with the horse’s action or very quickly the friction of the harness moving across the horse’s skin builds up soreness. A breast collar fitted too low will cause great restriction of movement.

Other collars available

Due to the conformation of certain breeds and certain horses it can be very difficult to get a breast collar fit that allows unrestricted breathing yet sits above the point of shoulder to allow free movement. This has led to the development of shaped breast collars such as empathy collars (pictured) which are very popular in horse driving trials.

On the most up-to-date designs the trace buckle fits on a ring which allows the traces to slope down to the low swingletrees of modern sports carriages without forcing the collar up at the front. The design is cut high over the shoulder to ease restriction of this key area. On older designs it is important to make sure the more rigid line of draught does not force the top edge of the collar into the chest.

Another popular collar widely seen in horse driving trials and distance driving is the brollar (pictured above and top) or eurocollar. There are many variants and styles have greatly improved over the years to minimise heat retention.

Correctly fitted, the Brollar lies neatly round the horse’s neck and shoulders and combines all of the positive aspects of both harness types. The cut out in the area of the shoulder joint ensures a very comfortable position on the horse with maximum shoulder movement. It also maximises pulling power and for this reason my Welsh section C finds this collar very helpful for hill work, especially across country in the marathon phase.

As with any part of a harness it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to ensure a good correct fit and cleanliness to avoid fiction and soreness.

Old sweat as well as dirt should be cleaned off the inner surfaces. Draft collars are usually lined with wool or serge to absorb sweat which should be thoroughly dried and brushed.

Leather linings should be cleaned appropriately. The joy of modern materials is they are light, robust and easy to clean. Most synthetic harness can simply be thoroughly hosed of.

There are excellent guides and books on harness fitting and more information on the fascinating subject of horse collars. Advice from a qualified harness fitter or instructor is readily available if you wish to check the set up you are currently using.

Emily

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One of Britain’s top horse four-in-hand driver Georgina Hunt (pictured) is to quit the sport after almost 30 years competing horse and pony teams.

The 45-year-old pharmacist cited financial reasons as a primary factor, but said there were “a lot of layers” to the decision.

“Sponsorship might have been a way forward, but it is difficult to attract sponsors to driving in Britain as there is not much to offer them,” she said. “We’ve had a bit of a breakdown of the circuit with the loss of some dates.”

Following a concerted two-year campaign for this year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG), at which she finished 24th with her team of black Gelderlanders, she admitted that frustrations over what was achievable for British-based drivers had also played a part.

“I thought I knew what it took to improve by the 5pen necessary to become world class, but there were a lot of barriers, from the quality of horses, time required for training and the competition scene in Britain,” she said. “It was out of my league as an amateur and I got as far as I could, but I couldn’t see myself breaking into the top echelon.”

Georgina started driving a pony team in 1986, and was a seven-time national champion and three-time European champion before switching to horses in 2000. She has been the best-performing British horse fours driver on the national circuit in recent seasons, frequently finishing in the runner-up spot behind world champion, Australian Boyd Exell.

Most of her team will now be sold off, with one of her six horses having already gone to a new home.

“I don’t think I’ll give up entirely. I’ve already been out indoors with a single,” she added. “I might also just be a Pony Club mum for a few years.”

As well as a loss for the British squad, her retirement will also be a loss to the national circuit, which has already witnessed the departure of Boyd Exell this year to a new base in Holland.

Boyd’s move places him in the heart of the continental circuit, where competition is stronger and better supported than in the UK. It’s anticipated that a selection of UK competitors may now base themselves with him for at least part of the season.

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Small ponies make wonderful carriage driving partners and are very popular for this purpose. It is the ideal way to keep a much loved outgrown pony happily working in the family as once broken to harness it can comfortably pull adults as well as children.

This means the whole family can enjoy the pony, going out in various combinations of ages and enjoying a wide range of activities.

The Shetland pony is understandably popular as it is so strong for its diminutive size and so hardy.

My first driving pony was a 9hh Shetland called Sherry (pictured top) and she was very happy pulling me and my father or another adult. I had a tremendous amount of fun with her and we especially enjoyed cones driving.

Being so small she was extremely nimble and could turn on a sixpence. She would canter the whole course with obvious enjoyment. Likewise, in obstacles Sherry would keep up her momentum throughout and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

We even qualified for the National Indoor Driving Trial Championships in our first year of trying.

Small ponies have become so popular that there are now special classes at the finals for ponies under 11hh which can be driven by just one person so they can enjoy all three phases without getting unduly tired.

The carriages

Specialist carriage makers such as Sycamore Carriages build two and four wheeled carriages which have the correct axle width of 125cm for indoor and club level driving trials, yet the vehicles are also smart enough for showing in pleasure and exercise classes.

Hillam vehicles are also ideal for the stronger small ponies and I used one with Sherry which is still in excellent condition. I have used it to break in and exercise Welsh section A and B ponies and a friend has driven her 13hh pony in it for pleasure and showing.

The Hillam easy access design makes it very suitable for a disabled driver or passenger. It can be supplied with pneumatic tyres which are ideal for soft surfaces like sand or field work or steel carriage wheels of traditional appearance.

At the upper end of the price range, Bennington manufacture elegant well engineered small carriages and also make fun bugs (a four-wheeler — pictured left). For pleasure driving and for novice drivers this carriage also has the advantage that it can’t jack-knife.

Amanda Saville uses these very successfully with her speedy small ponies for the disabled drivers she coaches and a special pole option enables driving pairs as well as single small ponies.

Getting competitive

Without doubt one of the great thrills of driving small ponies is to drive a pair. Doubling up increases the pulling power hugely so a small pony pair can take on more strenuous activities than a single — such as long hilly drives, outdoor marathon courses and longer beach drives.

For years people have enjoyed the thrill of scurry driving — the speedy pairs of small ponies are exhilarating to watch as well as to drive.

The Scurry and Trials group have introduced a special category for very small ponies — singles as well as pairs — enabling the tiniest of ponies to compete on more equal terms against ponies of 11hh and over. With all these new competition classes and incentives, there has never been a better time to be a small pony driver!

There are many advantages to small ponies — they are cheaper to keep with appetites in proportion to their size and native breeds are very hardy as well as good-doers.

Good equipment is widely available with Shetland and mini harnesses on the market

from excellent makers such as Zilco. The equipment is scaled down so it takes up less space — which is a real advantage when transporting pony and carriage as both can fit in a standard double horse trailer — making a small turnout a real option for a riding family hoping to break their outgrown small pony to harness.

Owners of small ponies will never be short of helpers as people generally feel very comfortable around them. They are a very manageable size and even a pair instils confidence. At events a group quickly gathers round a small pony turnout as they definitely have the appeal factor for all ages!

Emily

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As this is my first blog for Horse & Hound I’d better introduce myself. My name is Emily Ham. I am 22 years old and have always been passionate about horses.

From the age of 2 ponies have been the centre of my life and a growing herd at home of outgrowns and veterans testifies to a happy childhood and misspent youth enjoying Pony Club, Riding Club and carriage driving.

What I love about carriage driving is how I can still enjoy ponies who are too small for me to ride. In fact, outgrown Pony Club ponies excel at the sport of driving trials. This is the fast-paced driving equivalent of eventing and provides a real adrenalin buzz.

Driven dressage can look extremely elegant at national and international events where presentation vehicles and best harness are used. Drivers, grooms and horses are immaculately turned out. It requires skill to drive the carriage accurately with the horses working correctly at the different paces — which includes canter at advanced level.

The excitement of the speed and power of hurtling on your 4 wheels behind your horse on the marathon across country, with up to 8 gated obstacles to drive, often with water, is indescribable. This phase is very popular with spectators, especially when the pairs and teams thread their way skilfully between trees and posts and thunder out through the finish gate.

The final phase of cones is the test of precision as you complete a driven course between pairs of cones with only centimetres to spare either side of the wheels… 1 rub and down falls a ball to rack up 5 penalty points! It is very easy to pick up time-faults too.

The Pony World Championships is taking place at Pau in France this week, with Team GB represented by 2 teams, 2 pairs and 2 single pony turnouts. Ideally I would be there supporting the team, but university commitments have kept me here in Wales.

Sadly these amazing World Championship events are not really televised, but if there’s a chance to watch any I will be glued to my TV! I think driving trials should be an Olympic Sport and it is now being marketed as British Carriagedriving or BC, in line with British Dressage (BD), British Showjumping (BS) and British Eventing (BE). When you look at recent “sports” that have been added to the Games, I feel we should have a strong case!

The parent body has an excellent record of supporting young drivers like myself through their young drivers programme, which offers top quality training at twice yearly camps. I am also extremely lucky to have James Broome as my trainer at home in Wales.

I’m lucky to have been selected for all the international events that the young drivers have competed in — representing Wales at the Junior World Trophy in Austria in 2008 and Hungary in 2010, as well as the Channel Cup in 2009. In 2012 the young drivers went to the World Trophy in Austria as Team GB instead of as separate nations and they won the gold trophy — many using their retrained Pony Club ponies.

I was one of the older drivers at the event taking part in the inaugural FEI European Youth Championships with my lovely Welsh section C cob Crossfield Glory, aka Mr J. He is a very talented driving pony and extremely versatile. We have developed a very special partnership over the 6 years we have been together, enjoying successes not only in national and international driving trials, but also driven Trec, scurry, show demos, attelage and all the categories of driven showing, as well as pure pleasure driving.

When Horse & Hound rate carriage driving as one of the top 36 horsey things to try before you die, I totally agree! There is so much to enjoy and I would really recommend you give it a go.

If you are interested in finding out more about my carriage driving and ponies there are photographs and video clips on my Facebook page: Emily Ham British Carriage Driver.

Emily

Report from Pony World Championships in H&H magazine (14 November issue)

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The sport of carriage driving in Britain has had a makeover — including a new name — to align it with the other major equestrian disciplines.

The organisation, previously called the British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA), will now be known as British Carriagedriving (BC).

The new company name comes with a new image, a new logo and a new website.

BC chairman, Jock McFarlane, said: “I hope the re-brand will reflect the modernisation of our sport, and that it will be attractive to those coming into carriage driving.

“My ultimate goal is that all competitive carriage drivers will want to be members of BC because we offer them a sport that is fun and one that has a long-term future.”

The organisation’s redesigned website, www.britishcarriagedriving.co.uk, went live on Monday (8 April

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The British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) national championships are moving from Windsor to Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club at Great Canfield, Essex.

BHDTA chairman Jock McFarlane said the event had been “financially unsustainable” in recent years.

The move is for 2013 only, Mr McFarlane said in a statement, adding that Ashfields manager Wilf Bowman-Ripley would personally bear the financial risk of the competition.

Ashfields, on 500 acres, is a BHDTA national and affiliated club competition venue, with facilities for around 80 competitors and horses at each event.

The championships will take place in September.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (28 March 2013)

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The wet weather has devastated the British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) calendar this month with all of its July fixtures being cancelled.

Goodwood (21-22 July), Allerton Park (21-22 July) and St Fort (27-29 July) are all casualties.

And the Midlands Driving Trials Group (MDTG) event at Widmerpool (4-5 August) is being postponed until 1-2 September.

The Wiltshire British Driving Society (BDS) summer show, which was due to take place last weekend, has been moved to 19 August.

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Former British four-in-hand gold medallist Jack Collinson died on 11 January aged 83.

Jack was a founder member of the British Horse Driving Trials Association.

With George Bowman and Col John Miller, he formed the British team who won gold at the 1974 World Four-in-Hand Championships in Switzerland.

Before driving trials were held in the UK, Jack and George went to shows all over the north-west, mostly driving multiples, and even drove a team of 13 at a local fixture.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H(9 February 2012)

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Older people looking to improve their fitness are being urged to try the fast and furious sport of carriage driving.

And no previous experience of horses is required.

As part of Sport England’s Olympics legacy programme – aimed at getting more people into sport – the British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) has been given £30,000 to introduce 200 older people to carriage driving.

Half of the money came from a sponsor, the rest in the form of a grant from Sport England.

Chris Hillman of the BHDTA said: “Very few sports cater for the more mature adult.

Driving horses is perfect as it requires no physical fitness to start the sport,” he added.

Participants will be sought from the south-east, Midlands, east of England and north-east through an advertising campaign in local media.

They will be taught by accredited coaches, such as Minta Winn.”Driving has tremendous physical benefits,” she told H&H.

“Although you are sitting down, you are keeping your hand-eye coordination working. You can also go in at lots of different levels, depending on your fitness.”

She cites her pupil Carol Heading as a great advertisement for the sport.

Miss Heading, 65, took up carriage driving five years ago after working for a number of years on the Red Cross ambulance at Farleigh House Carriage Driving Trials “watching and wishing I could do it”.

She is now preparing for her first competition.

Miss Heading told H&H: “I have been hooked since the first time. It’s the bond with the animal and the fact that I can improve – and learning dressage tests has done wonders for my memory.

“I really look forward to the next lesson and don’t mind driving miles to get there.”

To apply for driving lessons, email bhdta@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk or tel: 0845 6432116.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (20 October, 2011)

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Holker Hall driving trials in Cumbria will not be running next year.

The British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) event, to be held on 5-7 August, is the 10th national-level competition to close since 2000.

BHDTA competitions committee chairman Ian Gilbert said: “It was a commercial decision by the estate – the trials themselves went well this year, but the country fair it runs in conjunction with did not make enough money.”

The BHDTA has confirmed to H&H that a venue has been lined up to replace it.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (29 September, 2011)

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Former chairman of the British Horse Driving Trials Association, Lord Onslow died on May 14, aged 73, following a serious illness.

Michael, Seventh Earl of Onslow, was a keen competitor and popular figure on the driving circuit, originally driving a pony tandem before progressing to a four-in-hand palomino pony team.

He was BHDTA chairman from 2005-2008.

Alongside driving in his blue and yellow colours he hunted with the Fernie, riding Hallo Dandy, the winner of the 1984 Grand National, for a while.

A colourful figure in the House of Lords, he was known for his eccentric dress and views.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (26 May, 2011)

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Midlands Driving Trials Group (MDTG) has announced a new British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) national competition to be held at Arena UK in Lincolnshire on 15-17 April 2011.

The Arena UK event will be good news for the BHDTA, which has become more used to losing than gaining shows.

Nine competitions have been lost since 2000 although Farleigh and Normanhurst hope to return for 2011.

“The BHDTA lost their driving competitions at both Lowther Horse Driving Trials and the Brighton Horse Trials,” said Wendy Peckham of MDTG.

Several groups have expressed an interest in taking part, including the British Driving Society, the Scurry Drivers Association and the Hackney Society.

The MDTG is looking for sponsors. Tradestand holders are being offered free space around the dressage and cones arena.

For more information visit www.mdtg.co.uk.

Potential sponsors should call 01539 824339 or email marketing@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk. Traders should call 07730 572381.

This article was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound, 16 December 2010

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Horse driving trials will undergo a complete restructure in a bid to encourage competitors to progress further in the sport.

The overhaul follows a questionnaire sent out to all British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) members (news, 8 May).

Previously, there were two levels of event — club and national. From next season there will be four — club, approved club, regional and national events.

Peter Bennett , who sits on the BHDTA’s competitions committee, said: “Having four levels of event gives competitors a wider choice.”

Events must follow new criteria — including design of obstacles, how the event is publicised, level of judge and warm-up facilities — in order to be granted particular status.

The level of event will also dictate qualifiers on offer.

Mr Bennett added: “A lot of club events were offering the same facilities as nationals for lesser entry fees. We needed to ensure national events offered something different and ran to a certain standard to encourage people to attend.”

In the first year, events will choose which category they fall into; after this, they will be monitored by the BHDTA.

Four-in-hand driver Dick Lane told H&H the BHDTA was “moving in the right direction” by listening to its members.

“Although you can’t please everyone, the BHDTA seems to be doing its best,” he said. “I think there needed to be a level [of event] below nationals to encourage club drivers.”

Read this story in full in the current issue of Horse & Hound (30 October, ’08)

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The British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) is consulting members following a row over the shortening in format of national events.

The BHDTA website forum has been awash with complaints from competitors that all 10 British national events will this year run three-section rather than five-section marathons. Event organisers must decide whether to take out the fast-trot section and the second walk.

Horse tandem driver Pat Cooper said: “Nationals were always five sections, club events were always three.

“Reducing the sections just puts more emphasis on dressage and driving trials is about the whole scenario — obedience, stamina, speed, precision — by reducing the marathons, you are losing the stamina element.”

Horse four-in-hand driver and former European pony teams champion Georgina Frith is concerned the BHDTA is not listening to its members.

She said: “Why should people pay three times more for a competition that can be of better quality at club level?”

In 2007, three national events were scheduled to run five-section marathons, but bad weather and foot-and-mouth restrictions resulted in them running the shorter format. This year, no five-section marathons have been scheduled.

BHDTA and Hopetoun driving trials committee member Ian Gilbert explained: “I like driving a five-section marathon but organisers have to find eight extra stewards, a second vet and a judge.”

He said a questionnaire has been sent to BHDTA members.

But International Equestrian Federation (FEI) technical delegate Phillip Bateman said that even if the membership proves in favour of five-section marathons, organisers cannot be forced to run them.

“Since 2000, all world championships have run three-section marathons, due to lack of space and the change in type of horse,” he said. “As people have moved towards finer types, it is getting more difficult to get them up to the standard of fitness required for a five-section marathon.”

But Georgina Frith warned: “If you’re not offering people a product they want, they will vote with their feet.”

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Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, has been nominated for the Queen’s Award by the British Horse Driving Trials Association

Prince Philip is retiring at the age of 85/86 from competitive carriage driving, a sport which he himself practically invented and whose rules he originally wrote.

In 1980 he was part of a very successful British international team which won the gold medal at the World Championships. He has brought to our sport credit and renown; he has been an example to all other competitors of sporting attitude as well as being highly competitive himself. These attributes will surely continue without interruption until his sad and inevitable retirement.

It is not often that a new sport is invented but it is surely unique that the inventor of a physical sport can continue to compete at international level until 85!

It was Prince Philip’s enthusiasm, although not originally his idea, that ensured that driving became a part of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) in 1979. He is very supportive of all the RDA’s driving activities and has often visited RDA centres around the country.

Prince Philip was a very active and influential president of the FEI for around 20 years.

He has also had a significant involvement with the Pony Club and founded the Prince Philip Cup for Pony Club mounted games.

In addition to all this, he has been involved with a huge number of breed societies and other organisations, and is a top class polo player.

Back to the list of BHS Queen’s Award nominees

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA) has denied allegations of foul play over the selection of competitors for the FEI World Combined Pony Championships in July.

Following the announcement that Sue Denney, the highest-placed British driver at the last World Championships in 2005 and the winner of three selection events, had not been selected, messages expressing disbelief were posted by members of the public on the H&H (www.horseandhound.co.uk) and BHDTA websites.

One read: “I think we all know Sue Denney should be going…it’s a sham by the selection committee”. Another said: “This must be a political decision, as with her track record Sue was Britain’s best hope of bringing back a medal”.

When contacted by H&H, Ms Denney said: “I’m absolutely devastated and have considered giving up driving. The new selection committee is putting more emphasis on dressage than the marathon and cones phases, which is unfair.”

Ms Denney said she suspected team trainer Robert Buck had influenced the judges.

“Robert’s speciality is dressage and he is the personal trainer to Julie [Camm, one of those who was selected],” she said, also citing a possible conflict of interest where two members of the selection panel were judges at the national championships, where Sue was placed eighth after the dressage phase.

Ms Denney felt she had been “marked down while others were marked up”.

Mr Buck admitted to H&H that he had, in confidence, given an opinion to the selection panel, but he stressed: “My input was a small one and the selectors were free to discount any information I gave them.

“In my opinion, Sue’s dressage is not reliable,” he added.

BHDTA spokesman Sally Moreton downplayed the suggestion of foul play, saying: “This is just a case of sour grapes. There’s always going to be someone who gets left out. There’s no conflict of interest in being both a judge and a selector.”

Team chef d’equipe and selector Jill Hollah told H&H: “The driving world is so small that judges can end up wearing more than one hat. But it is nonsense that anyone marked Sue down.”

She added: “The selection panel is very conscientious. Many people don’t really understand the scoring system — we were looking at a combination of skills.

“We went to a lot of trouble to ensure Robert had nothing to do with the singles.”

For more driving news and reports, including the announcement of team members for the World Pony Championships, turn to p104 in the current issue of Horse & Hound (21 June, ’07)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now