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The British Driving Society

EVENTS in 2010

 MARCH

13th CLINICS and CLASES.
Yet another opportunity to take advantage
of the continuing BDS funding of training days with the second year of Clinics and
Classes.
A change of venue this time to Sands Farm EC Warnham, Nr Horsham, West
Sussex RH12 3SQ. Again we have been lucky enough to have secured the services
of probably the best all rounder (and current HOYS Champion) Minta Winn and
Mr Private Driving Gary Docking. Both residents of West Sussex and both highly
respected and more than able to praise your turnouts’ good points and give guidance
on improvements that can be made to make you safer and more productive, for
little or no cost, as well as offering their advice from many years of experience in
all disciplines.
To enter a turnout please contact Jane Brightwell on 0208 6579393.
Entrants from last year’s event all took away positive comments and I know that all of
us who attended came away with something to help us and our horses.
 

14th: CARRIAGE DRIVING FAIR.
The annual Carriage Driving Fair at  South of England Showground organised by Brockham Harness Club. If you only go to one event this year make it this one. Something for everyone to enjoy or learn from. Again local members will play a big part in the show, both exhibiting, with trade stands and performing, (rumours of Gary Docking doing two days work on the trot!!).
 
20th/21st: SCURRY WEEKEND.
Not strictly a BDS event but Jeff Osborne has his Open Weekend on these dates for anyone interested in Scurry Driving. Jeff and his merry band of fellow scurry drivers will be on hand to demonstrate and explain this fast paced sport and perhaps the chance to have a go with a pair of ponies under supervision from some of the best in this hugely fun sport.
For details please contact Jeff directly on 07771986707.
27th: BDS TREC.
Again back to Jeff Osborne’s super facilities for our second Trec. All off road Trec making use of the fantastic purpose made tracks through Jeff ’s extensive grounds. Open to all BDS members (single turnouts only), this we feel will be extremely popular and early entries are required as numbers will be limited. Please contact me for entry details. An entry fee of £5.00 will be made.
 
 
 APRIL

April 5th: ANNUAL HARNESS HORSE PARADE.
Back to South of England Showground for the annual Harness Horse Parade. Please support this event if you can as it needs numbers to keep going.

 
 
 

2009

5th      Jeff Osborne Collection.
contact Colin. 01243 776809
 

Visit to Osborne Carriage Collection 5th April 09.

 
On the warmest sunday of the year to date 30 members from as far away as Bedfordshire as well as more local were wamly welcomed to the impressive home of Jeff Osborne and his collection of carriages.
 
All of Jeff's carriages had been spotlessly cleaned and presented around the courtyard of his west sussex base. Approximately 28 carriages ranging from the finest Lawton gig to his everyday work vehicles were available for all to inspect and admire, we had luck in that local private driving producer Gary Docking was present and was able to provide detailed history and facts about the collection, Gary having been lucky enough to have driven many or know the vehicles of old and his great knowledge filled out the visit with both accuracy and wit.Jeff added comments to vehicles with there more recent history as well as information he has gleaned from his own research, Jeff is particularly proud that most of the collection are able to be used with his stable of driving horses (as well as his well known scurry ponies).
 
Jeff in his generosity had provided refreshments for all and sitting in the courtyard afterwards enjoying his hospitality and chatting to many new faces (as well as the old) we all made use of the welcome sunshine.
 
Thanks go to Jeff, his hard working headgirl Alison, Rob and the rest of the Osborne Refrigerators staff for a visit enjoyed by everyone.

Pictures from the day

 MAY

 1st      Quiz Night 

We will be holding a quiz night at The Unicorn PH Heyshott, make up a team of 4 or 5 and come along for a chat drink and a driving and topical based quiz night. Please phone Colin with your entry and your team name (silly prizes for best team name and quiz winners).

For directions go to
www.unicorn-inn-heyshott.co.uk <http://www.unicorn-inn-heyshott.co.uk/> or for those with satnav GU29 0DL or else phone Colin for directions. Please be there for an 8pm start, Food and drink will be available from the pub menu etc.

 
 JUNE 

13th       Rein Handling and Rein Backs.

At Gary Dockings Yard. An Afternoon demonstration of Rein Handling and Rein Backs. An area were very few seem to excel and some never achieve. Gary has offered to give a practical demonstration of how he teaches rein handling, both with rein machines and from the box as well as showing how he trains both equines and humans how to master a rein back to the required standard of the show ring. This will no doubt be well attended and numbers will be limited so please phone me to book a slot. A charge of £5 per person will be made on the day. Click Here to read notes

 
 

 
 

2008

Visit to the Hyatt Collection September 20th

Under a bright late summer sun 15 members gathered at the invitation of Mr James Hyatt and were privileged to be shown around his extensive collection of carriages, trade vehicles, harness, accoutrements and pictures collected over many years.

From the mail phaeton, shown this year with great success with his pair of Friesians (and Horse of the Year bound), to a hand carts and everything in between all where available for inspection and many questions and tales about each enlivened the afternoon. Most of the vehicles are in superb condition and some of the best of their types from the finest makers and most having the correct accoutrements, in period bottles for the milk float, luggage for the luggage cart etc, I don’t think anyone checked if a coffin was with the two wheel hearse (but no doubt Jim would buy one if needed) and harness to complete the turnout with the greatest attention to detail possible .

One of the vehicles which received the most interest was an immaculately restored four wheel governess cart as well as interest in a couple of recently purchased churns, which when opened for the first time, sadly didn’t reveal a stash of gold or silver.

 Thanks go from all present to the kind and most generous refreshments laid on by Jimmy and Lorraine and everyone’s glass stayed full for all of the visit.

 


SUNDAY 14th September 2008
 
BDS WEST SUSSEX AREA TREC and TREC SKILLS TRAINING DAY

On an unusually fine day for this time of the year West Sussex BDS hosted what is hoped to become an annual event, our first TREC. Kindly being judged by Linda Swain, eight high quality turnouts gathered for an informal introduction into the art and skills required by this growing discipline, Linda laid out various skills that her devious mind had developed and after a briefing on all three phases, allowed all forward to either walk the skills with some competitors taking the opportunity to harness up and practice for real, many good questions were forthcoming and Linda answered each of them adding comments and pointers for the event to come in the afternoon. 

First to go in pole position was our newest member (of about a week!) Jenny Moon, and although quite nervous she confidently led off into the presentation and then on to the 5.5km drive around, firstly a lap of our kindly loaned field (thanks to Mr D Mortimer of Aldwick), then on to a road drive in the quiet lanes of Lavant before returning and completing a lap of the field in the opposite direction, and to her surprise she was well inside the optimum time allowed. Jenny was followed off by probably our areas most experienced, notorious and well known whip, judge, council member etc etc etc Gary Docking who had bought a young dutch horse in order that they could both experience Trec conditions, this also being Gary’s first time in such a competition; all our other competitors followed on and all enjoyed the drive with no problems encountered thanks to the stewarding of our AC, AAC, family and friends. Only one turnout managed to hit the optimum time exactly.

Linda was pleased that all turnouts gave her a smart and safe presentation and all had taken the safety aspect of road driving on board with good and proper spares, headcollars and fluorescent gear. Competing in his first Trec, Jeff Osborne, best known for his scurry driving and for the last few years his support of the BDS with the Osborne championships, made a welcome appearance with his big coloured horse The Poacher which is to be aimed at light trade classes next year, both Jeff and his groom Alison saw the importance of good manners in Trec and Alison commented that she should have bought Jeff's Horse of the Year show bound hackney for a lesson. The smart pair of ponies of Elaine Thompson and Will Leslie found themselves back as single turnouts competing against each other with both performing well as is expected of these experienced whips and the honours going to Will on this occasion.

The skills phase proved to sort the men from the boys (and girls from ladies) with test ranging from simple addition (difficult for some), a one handed figure of eight and reversing out of a marked area, and it showed that those who had good basic rein handling and understanding of how a turnout can operate, performed well and it paid in the results. A local turnout of Sue Martin gave a good account of itself and was soon gaining the benefit of having taken the chance of practising the skills and picked up good marks here. Jane Parsons was another who benefitted from the chance to practice and showed good understanding of the various tasks set. Well known lady judge, Jo Halnan-Blackwell, often known for playing the fool, proved that it is all an act and upstaged everybody by showing both driving skill and panache with her coloured cob Ta Ha and her springing of the hill , and with groom Rose hanging on for dear life, had all in stitches at the end of our event. 

After some sharp mental arithmetic (thanks Anne) the results were declared and our winner was the turnout of Jo Halnan-Blackwell and Rose Grind with Jeff Osborne and Alison Tucker as runners up and Sue Martin in a well deserved third.

Thanks to all who attended and all of those who assisted Linda, Lesley and I in this event and we hope to make this an annual event and improve upon the challenges posed in our next Trec.

Event Pictures


 JUNE 
SUNDAY 1st June 2008

All members are invited to a Summer Evening Drive of approx 5 miles around the quiet and peaceful lanes of Heyshott and Graffham, leaving from Gary Dockings yard at 4.00

Return to the yard for tea, cakes and a chat with fellow members of the BDS

Contact Colin for directions and to book in
01243 776809 or C_HURD@sky.com

 MAY 
Feeding the Driving Horse for All Disciplines
and
Producing the Carriage horse


The photo shows Lorna Jowett and Catherine Rooney both from Baileys Horse Feeds, Gary Docking LHHI and West Sussex AC Colin Hurd.
 

On Friday 16th May we held a very informative talk from Lorna Jowett, Equine Nutritionist for Baileys Horse Feeds and a follow up by Gary Docking, our local LHHI, members and those yet to join all learned something from both speakers about the feed requirements of the show horse and how feeding can affect all aspects of the horses performance, it was interesting that Gary admitted that, since being sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds and advice from their staff, he is now feeding less while still maintaining the standards he demands as well as those of the owners of his horses and ponies.


   
EVENT RULES:
Remember to bring your B.D.S. membership card with you to all driving events as proof of insurance. Each turnout should carry a competent groom at all times. Juniors aged 14 and under must wear hard hats when driving and must be accompanied by an adult.