Powys Carriage Driving Group

Powys Carriage Driving group are thrilled to be the organisers of the Mid Wales Area for the Indoor Horse Driving Trials. The series of winter three phase driving trials will allow competitors to qualify from Novice Pony , Novice Horse , Open Pony, Open Horse, Multiples , Small Pony and Junior and Veteran drivers.

Our six events run one a month at Llwynon Saddlery , near Trecastle.

The dates are :

Sunday 16 October ,Sunday 6 November ,Sunday  4 Dec 2011 and Sunday 15 January , Sunday 19th February and Sunday 18th March 2012.

REPORT OF OUR FIRST EVENT 16th OCTOBER

This was the first IHDT UK event for the Mid Wales area and all the categories were represented.

The Open Class was keenly competitive but Emily Ham with her Welsh stallion Jack kept the lead in all three phases with especially fast and flowing obstacles rounds to finish by a good margin on the best score of the day. The cones course was challenging but Emily proved it could be driven within the time – earning 12 penalties for being too fast! Only a couple of points separated the three in the cones and Open Horse veteran Gwyn Rees and son Jonathan were neck and neck. Jonathan’s obstacles were faster but an error of course kept the final score close with dad beaten by only 8 pens.

The Novice class was won by a delighted Sue Johnson with her horse - shire cross cob Toby. Sue’s daughter Becca achieved an outstanding debut as a newly certified backstepper - having attended Barabara Nadin’s excellent course in September. In what must be a record she also backstepped in the obstacles for the winning Open Pony and Open Horse – notching up a trio of firsts! The winning Novice pony was Jacqui Bevan’s lovely coloured cob Jack. Jacqui is inspired to upgrade to a competition four wheeler for greater manoeuvrability and as someone used to speed from harness racing she will definitely be one to watch !

Jacqui’s daughter Rachel was the star of the event driving her Shetland Ted. Ted certainly seemed to enjoy coming out of retirement and Rachel who was 9 last week drove him extremely well in all three phases. She pipped her mum’s score in dressage ,was the best score of the cones outside of the Open class, and drove the obstacles confidently. She also long reined Ted in a Little and Large fun challenge against Becca with big Toby.

Club competitor Pat Dutson is more usually accompanied by carriage Dalmatian Cato but he was watching today as she completed the three phases with bay mare Ceri. Liz Powell and Bob Short sharing Samson opted to miss the obstacles as Bob is also a much valued steward and was needed to man a stopwatch!

Finally Fleur and Claire Snow brought their lovely pair of Welsh ponies for the multiples class. Junior driver Fleur is driving them H/C in order to preserve her novice status ,however she impressed in all three phases with her confident and skilful driving. She was also a very supportive backstepper for her mum who chased closely in the dressage and cones but found remembering the obstacles more challenging .

Powys Carriage Driving Group are thrilled to be part of the IHDT UK and would like to thank Hay and Brecon Farmers and also Big Penguin Rosettes for their sponsorship of the rosettes for the indoor series 2011, and also British dressage judge Sandra Fisher for her great encouragement and support. Thanks also to Sue for sharing her delicious birthday cake with us all and stewards Andrew , Bob and Hammy for helping the day run smoothly.

A GREAT day – hope to see you at our next one on 6th November at the Saddlery.