| Author | Message | ||
     Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 23 Registered: 03-2007 |
Dawn, I hope you can get to the Chester Group's events. They will welcome you as if you are family! | ||
| Sandra Ormerod Member Username: Sandra Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2009 |
Hi Dawn The nearest club is Chester Horse Driving Trials Group. They are holding a training event this weekend 17th 18th April at Erddig near Wrexham. You will be made most welcome if you wish to come along and see what we do. There will be two dressage arenas, a cones course and several obstacles the can be driven. | ||
| Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 22 Registered: 03-2007 |
Hi, Dawn - welcome! If you are completely new to horse driving trials you must have an assessment before you can compete (if you have been driving in indoor affiliated driving trials then you should not need one - that's my interpretation, as a club sec.) If you haven't done so already, I suggest you phone the secretary of the hdt club nearest to you and he/she will, I'm sure, be very helpful and will recommend the best course of action for you and your pony. (You can find the assessment forms on this site, under reference, BHDTA Admin,Club paperwork, item 10 on the little Filofax thingy, "Competence assessment". Print the four items out and ask the club sec whom is recommended to do it near you. Sometimes there is a training day organised where you can go to have a lesson and be assessed.) You'll need to join the club, too! A BHDTA-affiliated club offers its members some insurance cover to drive at the club's own events. If you have not been to a hdt event, it's a good idea to go and watch before having a go yourself - even better, offer to help. This way you will learn a lot about competing and also make new friends - and perhaps find a nice mentor to help you. Sometimes the secretary may be able to find you a ride as a dressage or cones groom, if this is a suitable way forward for you. You'll need to practise flatwork with your pony for control, general obedience, flexibility, balance and rhythm (etc.) After flatwork training and learning the basics, it's much easier to drive cones and obstacles. Your pony must be four years old or more. I suggest you ask lots of questions, find a good hdt trainer near you (if you have not already got one) and come on in! We are very friendly!  | ||
| dawn smalley Member Username: Maycontainnuts Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2011 |
lookingfortrails /events to attend withmy welsh sec a pony.also wat should i be practising.x |