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…….Ooops! Things don’t always go to plan!

 

     

 

Does my bum look big … ?

(The editor had full permission to print this photo!)

Somebody was lucky!

We would like to ask members of the public to report anything suspicious to our non-emergency number 0845 090 1234

so that an incident can be created and any enquiries can be followed up, or

contact Melanie Campbell on the number below:

PC 695 Melanie Campbell

Horsewatch Co-ordinator at Gloucestershire Constabulary Gloucester South Police Station - (Quedgeley)

Email: Melanie.campbell@gloucestershirepolice.uk

Phone: 0845 090 1234 ext 4182

 

 

FREE TRAINING
We are holding a classroom based free training session for drivers and their back steppers looking at the rules and techniques for winning in driving trials.  Areas covered will be:

• Back stepper and driver team work
• Course walk for cones and obstacles.

The training will take place at The David Broome Event Centre on the 5th February at 0900hrs.  This is before the IHDTA competition that will take place in the afternoon.

 

 

Our Stewards

 

The Life of Leo

I was born in Somerset but apparently I was the wrong colour so I was sent to market. This was very scary for a young lad. I moved house a couple of times before ending up in Gloucestershire. I was quite poorly and unhappy as my feet and teeth were neglect-ed and I was full of worms. I was also sharing a field with some big girls that bashed me up regularly. Luckily Ainslie and James came and bought me (I think they just felt sorry for me really!) and took me home. Coincidentally, I now live just twenty miles from where I was born.

They realised that I needed to see a vet, a farrier and a dentist and between them they soon sorted out all my problems. They introduced me to Woody, who can be a little domineering but nowhere near as bad as those girls!

When I became fitter and stronger Ainslie, James and Woody taught me how to pull a cart which is brilliant fun. We have a varied schedule. If we're lucky we go to the beach and we love it there. Sometimes we go to friends' (we have loads of friends) homes and drive out with them or they come to us and we can show them some of our beautiful countryside. Occasionally, we get special tasks like taking pretty girls to prom concerts or delivering Father Christmas to the school. Now and again we go to Sainsbury's to shop. This is a good way to try to reduce our carbon hoof print!

Sometimes we get ridden and taken to gymkhanas. These are tremendous fun and we always win loads of rosettes. But what we enjoy most of all is coming to Cricklands, especially now we have a new job as a tandem team. I have to be really brave and obedient and quite patient when Ainslie tangles us up, but it really is the best job in the world and we all enjoy it immensely.

We all know that we are educationally disadvantaged but as our sole objective is to have fun I think we probably over achieve!

Para equestrian training event at Stow on the Wold
No! Disability won't stop me enjoying myself!!!

So I've got MS. (Multiple Sclerosis).

I could give up and become a couch potato and spend the rest of my life moaning about what is wrong with me, or I could carry on enjoying life. Not a difficult choice really. I carried on riding as long as I could but my poor balance and many falls made me make the decision to give this up. I was not going to give up horses altogether though so I learnt to carriage drive instead.

I have been having great fun over the past two years doing all sorts of events such as showing, doing BDS rally drives, Trecs and driving trials. The term "Jack of all trades master of none" comes to mind! Last month I went along to watch the juniors and para equestrian championships at Henbury Hall with Emily Hamm. Although it was a very wet weekend I thoroughly enjoyed it and I was left in awe of the competitors and their ability to compete alongside able bodied. What other sport can you find this happening?

I met up with Margaret Brockie and she told me the next training event was taking place in the first weekend in October at the Unicorn Centre in Stow on the Wold. From that moment I decided I needed to attend to try and learn how to bring Toby and myself on in this sport. I arrived on the Friday night and settled Toby in to his stable. (It was very plush). My accommodation was not so posh but at least I found a use for the pop up tent that had leaked like a sieve at Henbury Hall. I set it up inside Toby's trailer so it was very cosy. I then met up with everyone else who was there for the weekend and we all enjoyed a fish & chip supper together.

Someone had obviously had a word with him upstairs about the weather as we were blessed with the most glorious sunshine all weekend. (Obviously making up for the weather at the National Championships).

The individual lessons we had with Sarah Howe or Rachel Stevens where brilliant. My Toby can be very lazy and has quite a few bad habits that I have not been able to correct, but Rachel soon taught me how to sort him out and to sort my bad habits out as well. "No washing lines for reins!" Difficult when you have little feeling in your hands but when you see other drivers with more severe things wrong with them it puts things in perspective and you just get on and do it.

After a great lunch of Gazpacho and sandwiches we continued with another lesson in the afternoon. It was tiring for me, but Rachel and
Sarah must have been shattered as it was a full day of teaching for them in intense heat. It was great being able to watch everyone else's lessons as you can learn so much from this

.
Saturday night started off with yet another great meal produced by Fran. We had beef bourguignon followed by bread and butter pudding all washed down with lashings of Cava that I had taken along. Sarah entertained us with the tales of the trials and tribulations of Team GB's trip to Slovenia for the World Championships. From the logistics of getting there, to cats stowing away on James Broome's lorry. It was fascinating to hear what it is like to compete at such a high level and representing your country. How proud all the competitors must have been.
After a good night's sleep I went to check out Toby and found that he had managed to keep his stable clean by pooing in to his water bucket, how bizarre!!!!

Following another scrumptious breakfast it was time to do some more training around cones and obstacles. Nick and his wonderful coloured cob had never done anything like this before as he had only done show-ing. However, he was soon hooked and driving as if he had been doing trials for years. Ann who is partially sighted and had been driving her single pony all weekend said she wanted to have a go at driving
tandem!!! She got on board and her hubby wanted to take the reins off her, but this was not going to be. Ann took up the reins and drove
Amazingly. It was a fantastic weekend of fun and learning. I have made many new friends of both the two legged and four legged variety. Not just horses but dog's as well as some of the drivers had canine partners to help them.

I am so glad I went and can thoroughly recommend this group for supporting and teaching anyone with any disability.

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