Wight Equine Driving Society
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JUNE 2009
Tilly’s Day Out
Hi my name is Tilly and I am a New Forest Pony and just four years old my owner’s name is Gail and my friends are Sue and Jenny. Gail decided it was time for me to venture into a new world and socialise among other ponies and horses, so that’s what we did on the Sunday 5th July – we went to a Fun Day.
The morning started as normal with my feed regime, then Sue came round and myself and my friend Bud along with Gail went for a long ride through the lanes and on the beach. When we returned from our ride Bud went back into the paddock but, hey I thought to myself, something strange happening here I have been left on the concrete, then something else occurred a horse trailer suddenly appeared at the bottom of the drive, oh no, I thought, I really do not want to go into that horse trailer, Gail reassured me that we were going to have fun and that I would be back into my paddock this afternoon, so okay lets go for it, down the drive, front hooves on the ramp, HALT, no way am I going to fit into that small space, Jenny held some really luscious hay in front on me, I stretched my neck as far as it would go, flip, still cant reach it oh well will have to put back hooves onto the ramp as well, bother, they’ve got me now, okay I whinnied I’m going in, the ramp went up and then we were off, I tried calling to my friend Bud but he didn’t answer so I got on with munching my hay.
We travelled for about 45mins and then the car and trailer stopped and the back and front ramps came down, all looked fine Gail Jenny and Sue were still with me and I could see a big green field, I was untied and led down the ramp, I came out a little fast, but that was okay I will do better next time I am sure. I looked around cautiously then all of a sudden it hit me I know where I am I have been here before, Oh no WORK I shouted inwardly I thought this was going to be fun. Out came the saddle and bridle and I was tacked up, Sue mounted and we were off round the field being sociable to all the other horses and ponies that had come, this was funny their ‘riders’ were sitting in funny contraptions, oh I remember I think they are called carriages, not so scary, we got to the gate, what on earth is that scary thing on the floor, I know, it’s the reflection of the gate, phew that’s cool. We stood at the top of the slope where we were told we have to go down, carriages came past and we slotted between them and all proceeded to go down to the lower field – I went past my friends from when I stayed with Julie and called out to say hallo. We went into the field and Sue rode me round all the different obstacles – this was fun.
Gail and Jenny arrived with my harness saddle and bridle came off and harness went on, I wondered what was going to happen but I was excited at watching all the other horses and ponies racing up and down with their grooms jumping off and on the carriages and doing different tasks, then it came to us, we walked as Gail was holding the reins and walking with me Jenny was our groom and we went round quite happy, mind you I was naughty at the table and didn’t want to stand but Gail raised her voice so I thought ‘better behave’ or I won’t come again, we did this twice and then we stood and watched the others having races, I wish I could have joined in but one day I will be out there too. We walked back with the others to the lorries and I was tied up next to a pony called Hamlet we munched on our hay while our humans all sat and ate their lunch, Gail thought for a first trip out that we should finish and I was exhausted with the days events, so we said good bye to Ellie, Mr Bo, Ruby, Leo, Hamlet, and my old friends who live at Julie’s and off we went home. Thank you so much for letting me come and say hallo I had a really good time and hope to see you all again soon.
Love Tilly and her humans.
Driving on the beach at Ryde, November 2009
Well! What a difference twenty four hours makes. On Saturday we had the highest gale force winds for three years- hundred miles an hour recorded off the Needles. Who would believe that our drive would go ahead on Ryde beach on Sunday. Woke up on Sunday morning wondering what the weather was going to bring us. Seven o' clock and the skies were very overcast with very dark clouds on the horizon, but slowly the skies cleared as the day progressed. Jill picked me up and down to get Ellie – who bless her – thought she was turned out for the day. Quickly caught her before she could think what was happening and up into the box. Big woe as we reached the Esplanade as the tide looked high, but after parking and harnessing up it finally it looked as if it was going to recede in time for our drive on the beach to Dell Café for lunch. We were about half way to Dell Café and looked back to see Robert with his pair –Ruby and Bo, Tracy driving Lizzie, Elaine driving Lady and Margaret driving her pair of Shetland's who had driven from Margaret's yard in Havenstreet.. After a half an hour lunch break we all took off cantering along the beach, The sun was shining, no wind and all the ponies, whips, grooms and passengers thoroughly enjoying the moment. The rest of the drive left the beach to drive back to Havenstreet but as we had parked in the car park Ellie Jill and I headed back up the beach for another canter though the sea. Whilst we were having lunch three riders were swimming their horses and for one mad moment I was transferred back to my youth, and thought I could do that. By the time we got back to the lorry I had regained my sanity and said perhaps next year.
A quick thank you to Simon and Carolyn for helping us to unload and loading the carriage and to all who came to support us.
Sue Tyler
Trip to Shanklin Chine by Margaret Honeybourne
Last Spring the club had a cream tea and a guided tour by Richard of Shanklin Chine. Sylvie and myself took the opportunity and had a great cream tea and a chat to other members. We were then shown round by Richard and the visit was greatly enhanced by his knowledge. The Chine has been in the same family for over 300 years and the lady who owns it really takes care to see that it is maintained in a traditional way. It is like being in another world as you can not see the outside world and are surrounded by ferns and leafy plants that are a delight to see. The chine is home to a rare patch of moss and this is protected and is documented. Trees sometimes fall down from the steep sides of the chine and a couple of years ago a huge tree fell down across the bridge and into the chine itself. The trunk of this is still there to be seen and is massive. Water constantly runs down from the top of the chine and on out to sea. In the war there was an oil line running out through the chine the code name for this was PLUTO and parts of this can still be seen. Well behaved dogs on leads are allowed in the chine and in all it was a very pleasant experience. Richard loves his work there and this was reflected by his enthusiasm. When I had my art and craft shop in Brading I used to paint local places of interest to sell in the shop and here is a copy of a painting I did of Shanklin Chine in around 1987 it is in the spring with the light coming through the trees on a lovely sunny day and shows the waterfall from the top of the chine and the hut at the top entrance.
