The Donkey Breed Society

Driving Event Calendar 2009

For information regarding the major driving events arranged for 2009. Click here

Driving is a Pleasure

Whether you want to enjoy a quiet drive around the country lanes or you aspire to success in the Show Ring, the Donkey Breed Society has a strong and active driving section, shown by the variety of turnouts and rigs in the photographs on these pages. Led by a committee of active and knowledgeable whips the enthusiastic Donkey Breed Society driving enthusiasts are willing to offer help and guidance to anyone wishing to take up the reins and enjoy this wonderful pastime.

Driving Committee Members

Alan Larner (Committee Chairman) Colchester, Essex Tel 01206 241697 alan.larner@tiscali.co.uk

Mrs Paddy Clarke Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Tel 01832 272210

Bill Tetlow Bedale, North Yorkshire Tel 01677 422034 Bill.tetlow@btconnect.com

Peter Hill South Carlton, Lincoln Tel 07812 910068 Moggy_minor_1000@hotmail.com

Anne McCaig Kent. Tel: 01892 833709

DBS TREC 31st May 2009

Stable Court, Skeynes Park, Lingfield Road, Edenbridge, TN8 5HN by kind permission of Mrs Valerie Newton

Starting at 11.00. Whilst this is a competition the aim is for everyone to have fun so we hope you will enjoy your day.

1. PRESENTATION

• Please present yourself in the barn so the Presentation Judge can inspect your harness, vehicle, driver and groom for safety and suitability for driving out, ie have you got spares, is your vehicle and clothing visible to any traffic you would normally meet on a drive.
• Please collect your Score Card from the Steward.

2. TIMED DRIVE

• After the Presentation, you will commence the Drive from the yard. The Drive Steward will time your drive, so please wait until instructed to go. Note: you must approach each ?gate? with the red marker on your right, the white on your left.. Please keep to the field margins. The route is indicated by yellow arrows. An optimum time has been calculated for the distance. If you are 5 minutes either side of this optimum time, you will receive 10 bonus marks. If you are too fast or too slow you will incur penalties. You should hand your score card to the Drive Steward on completion so your marks can be recorded.
• There are several questions en route and answers should be written on the back of your score card.
•  At the Tree Hazards, please hand your score card to the Tree Hazard Steward who will note any penalties incurred. Each error of course will incur 5 penalties.

3. DIFFICULTIES

• These will take place in the paddocks adjacent to the yard once everyone has completed the Drive. Please hand your score card to the Steward in each paddock so your marks can be recorded.

Getting Started with Driving

Leaflets on long-reining, a first step towards training your donkey for driving, and driving are available. If you do not already drive it is recommended that you have a course of lessons from a competent teacher first, so that you and you donkey are not both complete novices together. Most donkeys, being of a calm and sensible disposition, take well to driving and starting up need not be expensive.

A basic exercise cart and a set of sturdy well-fitting webbing harness costs only a few hundred pounds and forms the basis of any early aspirations. There is time later to aspire to that elegant private driving vehicle and immaculate leather harness.

Driving your donkey is great fun and the members of the driving committee actively encourage shows to hold classes for all levels of expertise, and themselves put on training days and fun events around the country.

For further information about buying driving vehicles click here

Driving Donkeys

Most donkeys are driven singly, that is one donkey driven by itself to a vehicle, but there are members who regularly drive pairs ? two donkeys driven side by side, and tandem two donkeys driven one in front of the other.

Occasionally we have had the opportunity to see a Unicorn ? three donkeys driven together, one in front as a leader and two behind side by side, and a team where four donkeys are driven together.

Even less frequently we see donkeys driven to light Trade vehicles, a delightful sight as it takes them back to their Victorian roots, and in a lighthearted moment they are even trustworthy enough to harness up to a children's sledge.

Working Donkeys

The society encourages the use of donkeys in light draft work and is actively supporting the Harness Development Agency in their work to support donkey owners in third world countries by encouraging improvement in their harness.

Cross County & Obstacle Driving

Whilst the donkey does not immediately conjure up an image of speedy competition, they love a challenge and can indeed turn up the volume when given an opportunity, as shown in this picture of Pam Moon driving Helen Naden?s stallion, Tabo, through an obstacle course one day fun driving event.

 

If you are thinking of taking up driving, you should learn to drive a single donkey having tuition from one of the many excellent tutors available (the British Driving Society can provide a list of LHHI in the UK )www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk

 Although horse-drawn vehicles and harness predate the car by hundreds of years, carriage buyers still do not enjoy the protection of basic codes of manufacture and safety common throughout the motor industry. Whilst carriages usually travel slower than cars, they are propelled by an animal, often along busy roads and transport humans without protection.

Buying a Carriage For Donkey Driving-Invest with Care!

By J Martin Johnson

When buying a carriage you should exercise some basic common sense in the choice of carriage to ensure it is completely suitable and safe for the purpose for which it will be used. It may seem romantic to buy an old carriage and "do it up" but even when done by an expert you must realise such a carriage was made for road use and not for cross country use.

As there are no laws / rules specific to carriage manufacture, nor any manufacturers association at present, you may be surprised to know that anyone can set up and purport to be a carriage manufacturer. Sadly in the last seven years alone six such "manufacturers" have sprung up, traded for a year or two and then disappeared, in most cases leaving a trail of problems, financial losses, unsafe carriages, injured animals and irate customers. Whilst we all like a bargain - think twice before buying - remember you are responsible to ensure your carriage is safe for yourself, passengers, donkey and others around you.

Buy from a reputable manufacturer, most British manufacturers have Product Liability Insurance cover and employ qualified engineers using new materials throughout with effective after sales back-up.These benefits are not necessarily available through dealers offering cheaper imported carriages. Look at the re-sale value of various manufacturers, this will soon tell you where your money is best invested.

If you are new to driving, start with a two wheeler, they are cheaper and safer in the hands of a novice. You can later graduate to a four wheeler which offers more seating and comfort but can jack-knife in inexperienced hands. You must be able to balance a two wheeler by moving the axle (wheels) so that the peoples weight is positioned to allow the shafts to float and not put a load onto the donkey's body.(A winding balance mechanism is ideal)

A moveable seat to ensure driver comfort is achieved should also be available. A wedge cushion will assist driver posture and comfort.

Make sure you can easily enter and exist the carriage safely, you may have to do this quickly or involuntarily!

The carriage should be fitted with a swingle tree to avoid collar rubs.

If you intend doing more cross-country driving or competitions involving marathons then a backstep is a must. This device enables the groom to stand behind, lowering the centre of gravity of the turnout and even move the carriage laterally to avoid obstacles. Make sure that the backstep offers a safe area for the groom, ideally with mesh front / sides to prevent feet sliding off into danger.

Most carriages are fitted with solid rubber tyres which give years of life. Pneumatic tyres used on some exercise carts are naturally prone to punctures!

A good modern carriage will be well engineered, have a high quality paint finish and in mechanical terms need minimum maintenance to give a long trouble free life, - ask the manufacturer for details.

Some carriages can fit a variety of sizes or be inexpensively changed to do so safely. Check this out before buying, it could save money later.

Don?t be afraid to ask for customer details so you can ask them directly how they like their particular carriage.

Remember, the more you look after your carriage the better price you will get when you come to re-sell or part-exchange it for another one.

As a rough guide to sizing if you are considering a second-hand purchase, the shaft height at the tugs is equivalent to 3 inches per hand for 10hh and over. Also check your donkey?s length from saddle to hind quarters to ensure sufficient room behind. Better still, don?t buy without trying the donkey in a second-hand carriage.

CAUTION it is surprising how "new friends" appear when you take up driving and often have "just what you need", or so they claim. Don't get pushed into buying a carriage or harness without the second opinion of an impartial respected driver or tutor.

Transporting your Carriage.

Most people starting in driving find transporting a donkey and carriage can present problems. This obstacle was overcome some years ago when Bellcrown Carriages designed the Worlds first dismantleable two wheel carriage. The company now has over twenty, two and four wheel models, all their two wheelers can if required be safely and simply dismantled for transport and storage.

Didn't Make it to the Annual General Meeting - So you missed the Driving Quiz?

Never mind you've missed the bottle of wine that was the prize for the first correct entry, but you can still test your driving terms knowledge here!!!!

• The best quality driving whips are made from which tree?
• A vehicle with rear entrance suitable for children?
• What must be used with a breast collar?
• Number of equines in a randem?
• Bit with four rings often seen on Trade Turnouts?
• Trace attachments on a traditional pairs vehicle?
• Breed of pony driven by HRH Duke of Edinburgh?
• Type of bit named after spa town, and used on Four in Hands?
• Rings on collar which reins pass through?
• Special tugs used ona single four wheeler?
• American four wheeler found in Oklahoma?
• Breed of dog trained to run under carriages?
• A Dennet Gig has how many springs?
• Name of stables where Royal horses are kept?
• Strap connecting collar to girth?
• Type of leather used on 'high class' harness?
• Horse drawn Victorian Taxi?
• Curved outer portion of wooden wheel?
• End fitting on tandem leader trace?
• Two wheeler country vehicle with curved sides?