Conference noted::equitation

2034.0. "Carriage Driving - Shelton Farm" by CHEFS::PERKINSP (How high can you fly with broken wings) Mon May 20 1996 10:54

    There doesn't appear to be much information or topics on carriage
    driving, so lets start one.  Not to be confused with heavy harness
    horses or harness racing.
    
    I currently work (at weekends) at Shelton Farm, Carriage Driving Centre,
    in Tidmarsh, nr Pangbourne, running the yard. 
    
    We currently have 8 horses/ponies: black Friesian Horse pair, dark bay
    Welsh Section C pony pair, grey Welsh Section A, chestnut New Forest
    pony, chestnut Shetland pony (belonging to the RDA) and a bay Clydesdale 
    x Cob.  All of which are driving ponies and are turned out in various 
    combinations - singles, pairs, tandems (one infront of the other), 
    unicorns (pair with a single out front) and teams...we've not made it 
    past a four combination....yet.
    
    In addition to providing carriage driving lessons for complete novice
    to beyond competition standard (dressage, cones and marathon), we also
    provide both a Wedding and Funeral Service.  (when we're not competing
    ourselves)
    
    Dressage:	Very similar to horse and rider, except the arena is 
    		four times the size and the driver can give vocal commands
    		to the horse/horses.  The script must be memorised and 
    		includes collected, working and extended trots, and walk
    		paces through serpentines, circles and deviations.
    
    Cones:	Precision driving. 
    
    Marathon:	15 mile cross country course with approx 10 hazard sections 
    		at varying intervals.  Much like doing a cross country
    		course where the jumps are gathered in groups of six.  The
    		hazzards include bridges, water, trees and gates which make
    		up a series of obstacles do go through, around, under and
    		over.  The obstacles within the hazard must be driven in
    		order.  
    
    
    Flip