Two New AB Whips

Wednesday this week was D-Day for two potential AB whips, Denise & myself.
Two SW area examiners for the RDA, accompanied by two trainee examiners/inspectors arrived at Ash Tree Stables in the afternoon and for 3 hours we were seriously grilled in everything to do with horse care, harness and harnessing up to the driving, accident procedures and much more.

However, the top class tuition that we have received from our Group Organiser, Wally Pitt, over the preceeding months stood us in good stead and we both qualified as AB whips to everyone's delight, not least our own!
At last, the 6 or 7 drives that we do each day for disabled drivers can be shared between three of us instead of Wally having to do all of them himself.

It was a weary but jubilant party that retired to the St Peter's Finger pub for a celebratory drink and a meal after we had cleared up and fed the horses their evening hay ration. Wally had done 6 drives before lunch!

It is a sad fact that there are only four RDA carriage driving centres in the whole of the SW area. It makes one realise just how very fortunate we are here to be a part of Holton Lee with the area to keep four horses on site and to have access to fields and tracks through woods and heathland. One could not wish for a better venue.

We do need more volunteers to share the wonderful experience of just helping out, making new friends or learning new skills in this bit of paradise in Dorset!