Area Representatives
Scottish Chairman:Claire Armet
Ayreshire: Ann Crawford
Lothian and Borders: Clare Armet
Tayside: Jean Flint
Highland/Grampian: Mary Sivewright, Iain Thompson
Strathclyde, Central, Dumfries & Galloway: Elma Cunningham, Kendall Young
Future Events for your diary
Shows in Scotland affiliated to the DBS for 2010
Royal Highland Show - 26th June
In Hand and Driving classes
Ingliston, Edinburgh.
C/d: 7th April
Secretary: Kate Stephen, RHASS, Royal highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh. EG28 8NF
Telephone: 0131 335 6212
Scottish Donkey Show - 24th July
Lodge Park, Braco, Perthshire.
C/d
Secretary: Miss Sarah Phillips, Blairinraish, Tulliemet, Pitlochry, Perthshire. PH9 0PA
Telephone: 01796 82756 Judge:
Turriff Show - 1st August
The Showfield, Turriff.
C/d: 4th July 2010
Secretary: Mr Bruce Ferguson, Ardmiddle Mains, Turriff, Aberdeenshire. AB53 8AG
Telephone: 01888 568830 Judge:
SCOTTISH REGIONAL REPORT FOR THE AGM 2008
The Donkey Sanctuary ran 2 seminars in April which were well attended.
Elma Cunningham hosted a fun day at Yieldshields in May.
The donkeys were represented at Hopetoun Driving Trials in May by Elma with Tap O'Noth Seonaid and me with Baxter in the BDS classes.
The Royal Highland Show in June was well supported with Helen Naden's filly Gamlingay Minnie Me taking the honours and Netta Sangster's Eddieston Florentina as reserve. The classes were judged by Mrs Mary Sivewright.
The Scottish Donkey Show in July also had excellent numbers forward and a super ring. Mrs Rosemary Clarke was our judge and selected Elizabeth-Anne Kempsell's Falmeridge Bertie as her champion. Tap'O'Noth Seonaid was the reserve. Unfortunately due to limited space at the showground this year we were unable to hold the driving classes.
Jean Flint was the judge at our third championship show, Turriff. Her champion was Iain Thompson's East Lodge Ekansoo with Netta Sangster's Eddieston Stephanie as the reserve.
We were also invited to take part in the Heavy Horse Show at the National Museum of Rural Life. There was a good turnout of donkeys from far and wide. They ran both inhand and driving classes.
Most of our local shows have reported improved entries this year.
Unfortunately the BDS Scottish Show had to be cancelled due to appalling ground conditions. We held a drive out/walk plus cones at Thornton Farm near Rosewell, Midlothian to celebrate National Donkey Driving Day. We were very lucky to have one of the few sunny days this autumn.
Claire Armet Regional Delegate, Scotland
REPORT FROM SCOTLAND - AGM 2007
Iain Thompson and Mary Sivewright ran a workshop in the north east in May assisted by Jill Hamilton, the local Donkey Sanctuary Welfare Officer. It is easy to forget that it can take over 4 hours to reach central Scotland with a box, never mind the cost of the diesel, so it is great that they work so hard for the members in the north.
The weather at the Royal Highland Show was appalling. We were fortunate to finish showing before the worst of the weather but all the donkeys were a bit drookit. Liz Anne Kempsell's stallion Kirkbuddo Commando was the worthy champion with Elma Cunningham's Tap 'O' Noth Seonaid reserve. Commando was very ill a few years ago and so it was fantastic to see him return to such condition.
We'll all have to watch Liz Anne as she has a super little colt Falmeridge Bertie who was the champion at the Scottish Donkey Show. Seonaid was reserve again.
Netta Sangster's mare Eddieston Florentina was the champion at Turriff with Iain Thompson's East Lodge Ekansoo as reserve. The ground was too heavy at the British Driving Society's Scottish Show at Thirlestane, Lauder for the donkeys to put on any kind of show so they didn't get an outing. This was a great shame as it is a lovely show and we are made very welcome.
The Royal Highland Show have expressed concern over the level of entries and will be discussing the continuation of donkey classes. We have made representations to them and have also put forward a case for a driving class. There is now quite a large driving entry at the show and we have been supported in this by both the past and present chairman of BDS Scotland.
We have surveyed our Scottish members to try and determine areas of interest and the number of members who wish to participate in activities. We have received quite a good response and hope to try and catch up with as many people as possible in order that we might organise some small group events next year, tackling the areas of interest expressed. We hope that some of these members will then progress to showing.
We organised a fun day at Glamis Castle, Angus in conjunction with the Donkey Sanctuary on 22nd September. There was handling advice, activities and a walk/drive out in the grounds and past the front of the castle.
Claire Armet Regional Delegate to Council for Scotland
DBS SCOTLAND SUMMER 2007 NEWSLETTER
After such a lovely spring the good weather seems to have forsaken us. I do hope that this is a temporary situation as the fields are starting to get poached especially in the 'weight watchers' paddocks. It is surprising how such small areas seem to supply such vast tummies and fat necks. I have made a resolution this year to be tough and have pinned a picture of an African donkey in my feed room in the same way that we put pictures of beautiful slim folk on our fridges.
Flies can be a huge problem over the summer. Geldings seem to be particularly prone to fly strike on their sheaths. The flies just bite away until there is a sore and then the area can get infected. Please be careful when using barrier creams not to apply any substance that might actually enter the sheath as this can result in a nasty allergic reaction with significant swelling.
It is often better to coat the tummy in front of the sheath area and legs. I have found that making up a warm saline solution and washing down any swollen or sore area is successful and doesn't lead to an allergic reaction. If you are in any doubt at all call your vet.
We are always banging on about the need for field shelters to keep the donkeys dry but they are great in providing respite from flies too.
Iain Thompson and Mary Sivewright ran another donkey workshop on the 13th May. Unfortunately the weather wasn?t too good but it sounds as if those who attended certainly had a busy and informative day with a talk and video provided by Jill Hamilton of the Donkey Sanctuary and Questions & Answers with a local farrier and vet. Mary herself then gave a talk and demo on preparing a donkey for shows and ring etiquette. Mary has been such a successful competitor, her own or her donkeys? names must be on all the cups, so it should have been a fantastic opportunity to learn how it is done.
Kendall Young and her daughter Charlotte have been very busy driving their mule Small Person at local shows and BDS events. They have been on 2 drive outs and nearly beat all the driving trials folk at Dundonald Show where Charlotte and Small Person were only beaten by 1 second in the cones. Elma Cunningham and Tap O'Noth Seonaid have also been hitting the road with their carriage. Seonaid took part in a driving clinic in Dumfriesshire where Cynthia Haydon was teaching. This lady is a very well respected instructor and formerly a very successful driving competitor. Seonaid wasn't fazed by the horses or Mrs Haydon and showed that donkeys can be fun to drive and look the part. Elma has also been to a couple of shows this spring and like Kendall has taken on the ponies in the showing classes.
Baxter and I have had a couple more lessons with Andrew May at Biggarshiels. The competitive carriage and dressage horses have their eyes on stilts but I think that they are getting used to us. We took part in the BDS Jubilee Show at Strathallan together with Diana Milligan and Porridge (assisted by Sophie Brooks). We both had a bash at the dressage although we had to carry a groom and the grass was a bit long. I suspect our test sheets stated that ?we needed more impulsion? but unfortunately they managed to lose them. We also had great fun in the cones. Diana and Porridge did a shortened version of the treasure hunt course. Everyone was so friendly and they are talking of letting us take part with grooms dismounted in the future if the grass is long.
Baxter and I headed south last weekend to the Lambhill Donkey Show in North Yorkshire. There was a super turnout with donkeys of all shapes and sizes and from all backgrounds including the most handsome beach donkey who had come up North for his holidays and was second in the male class. Baxter was an absolute star and worked hard all day. He won the Best Condition & Turnout and then went on to win the Championship. As if this wasn?t enough he then was Reserve Champion in the driving to Debbie Street and Hapgood. We had a party at home on Monday night and I?m not sure if Baxter has sobered up yet (only joking).
We are having a party for the DBS 40th Birthday on 22nd September at Glamis Castle. We want this to be a fun day and it would be great if as many of you as possible could come along. Bring your friends and your donkeys. We are going to have a walk/drive out through the grounds and have some information stalls. This is not a show. It is just a chance for a get together in lovely surroundings with our donkeys. For more information or if you've any ideas on how to make the day special please give me a call on 01875 835 377.
If you have any events in your area please let me know for inclusion in the newsletters. If you've being doing the Active Donkey Award then give me a call so that your donk can have some glory in the next issue.
Saturday 23rd June Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NF The class is timed for the later start of 9 am. If you want to spectate the donkeys are will be in ring 6a which is below the show jumping ring in the Horse Area or from the North Gate it is just beyond the Sheep Shearing Stage. Saturday 21st July Cumberland County Show, Rickerby Park Carlisle Contact Mrs Rozario, Warcarr, Greenhead, Brampton CA8 7HY 01697 747397
REPORT FROM SCOTLAND FOR THE AGM 2006
In April, we held a memorial day at The Lowes, Dunkeld for Jean Robertson who was known up here as The Queen of the Donkeys. Jean did much work with donkey driving for the disabled. A tree was planted in her memory.
In May, Iain Thompson and Mary Sivewright ran a Donkey Day in Morayshire. Iain took his 3 donkeys and a talk was given on care and grooming. A talk and demo was also given by Mr Keith Lindridge, a retired farrier. This event proved popular and was well supported. Elma Cunningham with Tap O'Noth Seonaid and Claire Armet with Baxter attended the Lamb Hill Show. We had a marvellous time both showing and driving with Elma finishing as Reserve Driving Champion in her first outing in the cart.
In June, it was noted that entries were not so good at the Royal Highland Show this year, undoubtedly not helped by the 8am show class. However Mr & Mrs French's Country Music's Johnny Paycheck was the worthy winner. Sadly Iain Thompson's donkey Tap O'Noth Sebastian died at home on the morning of the show.
In July, Elma Cunningham's Tap O'Noth Seonaid took the honours at the Cumberland Show against strong competition. We had good entries at the Scottish Donkey Show, Braco and we held a driving class for the first time in a number of years. Helen Naden's Glendene Taboo won the Championship. Elma won the Driving Championship. Keith Show had an improved turnout in its second year with Netta Sangster winning the Championship.Turriff Show was won by Iain Thompson's East Lodge Ekansoo. It is hoped that with the increase in local DBS members that the entries for both these shows will increase next year. The smaller shows in Ayrshire had good numbers this year.
This area has also shown a healthy increase in membership.
In August, the British Driving Society's Scottish Championship Show unfortunately clashed with Rodbaston so achoice had to be made, in the event the BDS were very welcoming to Tap O'Noth Seonaid and Baxter. They have indicated that if we could increase our numbers slightly they would hold a separate donkey class. Unfortunately I think that the clash of dates will probably continue. The crowd cheered so much when Baxter entered the cones course at canter that he unfortunately had a spook. If this had not happened he would have won the competition as he cantered the whole way round clear. It was a great event for showing the wider public what donkeys can do.
In September, we ran a drive out for National Donkey Driving Day in the grounds of an old hospital in West Lothian. There were 3 donkey turnouts and a mule. We all had a fabulous time driving for just over an hour before retiring to Alison Robertson's house for an excellent lunch.
In October, we held our AGM. and Baxter and Seonaid attended the Donkey Sanctuary Day at Oatridge College which had over 50 participants. We were given the opportunity to discuss the benefits of having an active donkey and what the DBS has to offer.
Elma Cunningham/Clare Armet
