Carriage Driving For Disabled Adults In Dorset

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Margaret Newell Memorial Horse Show




SUNDAY 5TH AUGUST 2007 we are planning a "Fun Day" for families, friends, helpers and disabled riders and drivers of the East Holton Driving and Riding Centre in memory of a great lady "Margaret Newell."

For the last ten years Margaret organised the East Holton horse show on the first Sunday in August, so it is a fitting tribute to have this little show.
I'd just ask everyone to pray for a dry day!!
John tells me that in those ten years it only rained once, and that only lasted for ten minutes, so let's hope that record continues!!

Last week the farmer mowed the long grass , and we have set out a dressage arena and a cones course for some of our riders and drivers to display their skills. It is non-competitive and all we hope is that everyone has some fun.

The morning will start at 10.00 with driving and riding to be followed by a barbecue in the yard. During the lunch break Dave and his band will provide live music; there will a chance to mingle and there will be small fund-raising items like a raffle, and one or two ideas to appear on the day.

A small ceremony will be had to mark Martin's sponsoring Marmite and a plaque will be attached to Marmite's stable.

Some time after lunch Margaret's ashes will be taken down to the bird hide to be scattered there by John and the family and friends.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Pippa - R.I.P

It is with great sadness for me to pass on the news that Pippa died very suddenly on the weekend from a massive haemorrhage in her liver due to a tumour. It was totally unexpected and I'm sure she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Holton Lee Magic


View looking south west from Little Mead in early July.

Okay, so there's a bit of Ragwort; but the wonderful hues that these fine Fescues, flowering now, add to the meadows are quite breath-taking. I don't think this photo does justice to the true colours of the early morning view that I enjoyed today. A large number of Sika deer had vacated the area a little earlier as we approached with our wheelbarrows to collect the previous night's horse pooh. The deer are quite shy at this time of the year, especially where the group have their fawns in tow.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Martin Adopts Marmite


Martin takes the reins to drive Marmite with Denise teaching him.

Martin gets the attention of The Daily Echo, our local newspaper. This is a magnificent gesture by a willing volunteer who was invited to meet the Prime Minister in No. 10 Downing Street (see blog in December - A Day With Martin Hiscocks In London).

Martin is a popular member of our group who cheerfully helps in all sorts of ways, from sweeping out stables, grooming the horses (his favourite, need I say, is Marmite!), cleaning harness and general tasks that help the smooth running of the yard. He's a real rock!

Adopting or sponsoring a horse is a wonderful way to help a group like ours. Martin knows that the money from his savings is helping to feed and keep his mate Marmite.

Whenever there is spare slot in the driving or riding schedule he gets the chance of a ride in the carriage drawn by Marmite or a ride on a riding day. Since he works at the stables four days a week he can take advantage of these opportunities, and he loves it.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Pippa

Pippa greets Chrissie.


Regular visitors to the Ash Tree Stables will be familiar with my beloved lifelong best friend and constant companion...Pippa.

It has been a difficult week with the fickle weather making driving uncertain. One or two people set out from home in the dry after a dry morning only to find the rain set in or a torrential localised downpour on their arrival.

It has been suggested to me that I introduce and tell you something about Pippa.

In 1996 I acquired Pippa as a 6 week old pup to train up to take over the farm duties of another loving friend and faithful working Collie, Jan, who was coming to the end of her working life at 12 years old.

At that time, on the farm on the northern edge of Swanage we had a flock of 500 ewes and a dairy herd of some 90 Friesian cows and their followers, so there was plenty of work for a working dog. I trained Pippa to work both sheep and cattle and my job was made a little easier as she was able to learn some of her skills from Jan, who was also blessed with a very similar gentle nature, especially with children. We had four grandchildren as regular visitors to our home on the farm, and we also held frequent schools visits.

It was a sad day when we left the farm in November 2001 and moved to an urban environment in Poole, but Pippa has adapted well to the change. The opportunity for me to bring Pippa to Holton Lee has been a blessing for us both as she has always been with me all her life, and Pippa has endeared herself many. In fact I believe she is now recognised as a valuable member of the team!

Dogs are not encouraged in the yard around horses for reasons of safety, but Pippa has proved herself not to be a hazard and both Pippa and I are grateful for the approval of Wally, the Group Organiser/yard manager for this special dispensation, as safety in the yard is of prime importance.

Pippa has become a familiar character in the yard and a number of our regular drivers look forward to being greeted by Pippa who is always game for a bit of fuss & love! Chrissie, in a wheelchair, comes on a Wednesday and if Pippa is not there to greet her she will ask where she is. Sometimes, if I have been out on a drive, she will be tied up as she is not allowed to follow the horses on a drive for safety reasons. (I'm sure she'd love the role of carriage dog even though the spots aren't quite right!)

For those who don't know about carriage dogs, Dalmatians were trained to run along with horse and carriages in the mid 1800s, and became known as carriage dogs. Their job was to guard from other dogs which would chase the carriage and frighten the horses. Fire departments also used dalmatians to guard their carriages and the Dalmatian became mascot of the fire service.
The Tyrodal Carriage Dogs is an interesting website.

Martin, who has a learning difficulty and helps in the yard four days a week, was very wary of Pippa when he first met her, and we respect that (not everyone likes dogs), but I noticed recently as Martin was going out of the yard for his taxi home, that he actually turned round and went out of his way to stroke her and say goodbye!
Animals are wonderful therapists.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

My New Role As AB Whip


Down by the Manhattan hide. What price can you put on this scenery!!
Some of the wild ponies that graze freely on the heath and down to the reed beds on the edge of Lytchett Bay.

It is nearly two months since Denise and I passed the AB Whip test.
My confidence has grown and I am really enjoying my new role, but I find it is one thing to be a competent driver, quite another to teach disabled drivers and helping them to achieve whatever goals they are capable of. However, with regular driving 3 or 4 days each week I am finding that part much easier and very enjoyable.

Some of our disabled men and women are very competent drivers and enjoy the satisfaction of a skillful drive on the narrow tracks through the woods, negotiating the course of cones, or executing some of the disciplines of a dressage test in the dressage arena. For others less able to take the reins it is just sheer pleasure for them to be taken out for a drive over bumpy tracks in the open air.

The rewards of an AB Whip are many. Just to have the opportunity and privilege of driving round this beautiful piece of Dorset is fabulous!
As for me, I feel a great sense of personal achievement in learning a new skill and making so many new friends.
Sharing the obvious pleasure and delight of the people who come to drive is also an enormous reward, and just being part of a happy team of volunteers all doing something we enjoy, adds such quality to the days we spend at the Ash Tree Stables.

The life of a volunteer at the East Holton Driving Centre is pretty darned good!!