Pictures from Club Taster Day run by Gail & Nick Palmer at Easter Hall Park  13/05/07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Western Harness Club Taster Day:

 Easter Hall Park Riding and Carriage Driving Stables, Sunday May 13th

 

Although the rain was hammering down 50 people turned out for the Great Western Harness Clubs’ Taster Day. The event was held at Easter Hall Park Riding and Carriage Driving Stables near Petrockstow, a 183 acre site with indoor and outdoor schools as well as a cross country course and various pony & trap/ horse & carriage courses.

The day was for the experienced horse & carriage/pony & trap enthusiasts to the complete novice, like myself; I have only ever been a passenger on a pony and trap once and a horse and carriage twice, so the chance to experience and learn some more about this highly enjoyable pastime was not to be missed.

 The turnout was so good that we were split into 2 groups; one group went with Nick Palmer who explained all about the various carriages and traps, the other group were to try out driving first hand with Gail Palmer and Della Bealey, whilst Maxine Ingham demonstrated how to tack up for driving and all the variants of harness available.

 I went with the Nick Palmer group first and we were taken to the ‘new stable’ area (which was all under cover), to see for ourselves various carriages and traps. Nick gave a great talk explaining in detail the different traps and carriages he had there, as well as what they would be used for. He stressed how important it is to make sure you have the right size trap or carriage for your horse or pony as getting this wrong can be very dangerous. His delivery was informative and funny, with many a story to tell, he had the group enthralled.

Nick also gave a “hands on” demonstration of how to balance the vehicles so that the weight is not too heavy for the horse or pony. He got one person to sit on the trap and another to hold the strops, then unbalanced and rebalanced the vehicle so we could feel the weight difference. It was amazing how much it varied, when holding an unbalanced trap the weight was great and uneven, however when the vehicle was well balanced it was like holding a couple bags of sugar!

 At lunchtime everyone gathered in the large office and balcony area where we ate our packed lunches and drank lovely cups of tea and coffee that were provided by the stables and served by Chris, Jason and Georgia.

All the people were very friendly; it was great to chat to seasoned pros and eager novices alike. Some people had just ventured into this exciting pastime, others were very experienced and some had just come along today to try out for the very first time.

 After lunch the groups swapped around and I was to enjoy the hands on experience. Luckily the rain had stopped and therefore I knew that my experience was to be a dry ride! Gail Palmer had two lovely ponies called Shilling and King in a two-seater one groom trap, whilst Della had a gorgeous horse called Rum pulling a two-seater two groom carriage.

 Only 5 people at a time could go out and actually drive the vehicles, so whilst the first lot went we stayed in the indoor school where Maxine demonstrated tacking up a pony with full harness. Maxine answered questions and let people have a go themselves; she was a very knowledgeable and entertaining lady. Her demo also including looking at all the various harness options there are; she also started a very good leather versus synthetic debate!

 The people going out driving were all allowed to have a go. On Gail’s trap the first two people up decided who would ride up front and who would stand on the back as groom. Gail explained how to get onto the trap and hold the reins. Once the driver was in place she talked the ‘groom’ into position and they were off around the estate course.

 Soon it was my turn with my friend Sue. Gail explained all about how to talk to the ponies to let them get their direction from your voice as much as the reins; how to steer and pick up speed as well as how to slow down! Half way around the estates course of the day we stopped and swapped places, insuring that both of us got to experience being driver and groom.

 Della Beally took three people at a time and each had a go at driving a single horse carriage. A single horse is very different to the twin pony/horse experience as you only have one set of reigns! Della also explained how to talk to the horse to let it know it was doing what you needed of it and that you were in control and pleased with them.

Della and Gail were very professional, informative and gave a lot of encouragement, even when you struggled with the task in hand. It is a lot harder than it looks (this is the complete novice speaking here!). But with their expert guidance it was a highly enjoyable experience.

 I would recommend anyone to give driving a go as I am sure they would relish in the excitement and sense of achievement.

 Easter Hall Park Riding and Carriage Driving Stables hold many events throughout the year and are one of the few places in Devon that you can take pony/horse Driving Lessons either with your own equines or with Easter Halls’ fantastic selection of driving horses and ponies. For more information please contact direct on 01837 810350 or email gailpalmer@tiscali.com

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