Carriage Driving Come and Try Day -
Strongfield Stud, Southbrook August 2013
Report
On the 3 August 2013, Warwick & District Carriage Driving Club held a Carriage Driving Come and Try Day at Strongfield Stud, Southbrook. This day was in response to a membership drive initiative in conjunction with the Department of Sport and Recreation through the Get in the Game program.
The day was well structured and catered for non drivers of all ages and covered all disciplines of carriage driving. Ten club members were on the ground assisting attendees, ensuring the day ran smoothly. President, Kurt Dillmann, opened the day with an introductory welcome and run down of the program followed by an inspection and explanation of the 12 carriages on static display. Members Greg Bowdler and Bruce Tucker gave a demonstration on how to harness a horse. Attendees then broke into groups lead by club members and harnessed up horses and experienced ‘the back step’ as a groom. Two 100m x 40m dressage arenas, a small cones course and a gated MO were available for members to demonstrate to their passengers some of the facets of carriage driving. By mid morning there were 42 attendees on the grounds involved in the carriage driving experience. Some people had travelled over 3 hours from Bribie Island on the east coast and two hours from Goondiwindi in the south to take part in the day. Many others came from Lockyer Valley and The Downs.
Over lunch there were further talks by club members and a demonstration by Greg Bowdler on rein holding. Linda Doulin provided a beautiful display of useful carriage driving books from her collection and journals for everyone’s perusal.
After lunch, eight people signed up for one activity memberships to ‘have a go’ at carriage driving. Horses and ponies were made available for this experience and attendees were able to try little and big horses either in a closed yard or outside in a larger arena depending on their confidence levels and experience with horses.
So far the club has secured two new family memberships and two single memberships as a result of this initiative. At least four others are intending to sign up for the 2013 / 14 year.
The weather was beautiful and the feedback received from people who came along has been positive and congratulatory. Plans are underway for another similar day to showcase this wonderful sport and promote carriage driving in Queensland.
Sincere thanks are extended to all Warwick Club members who assisted on the day and made the experience a huge success for all concerned. Well done.
Karyn Dillmann
The day was well structured and catered for non drivers of all ages and covered all disciplines of carriage driving. Ten club members were on the ground assisting attendees, ensuring the day ran smoothly. President, Kurt Dillmann, opened the day with an introductory welcome and run down of the program followed by an inspection and explanation of the 12 carriages on static display. Members Greg Bowdler and Bruce Tucker gave a demonstration on how to harness a horse. Attendees then broke into groups lead by club members and harnessed up horses and experienced ‘the back step’ as a groom. Two 100m x 40m dressage arenas, a small cones course and a gated MO were available for members to demonstrate to their passengers some of the facets of carriage driving. By mid morning there were 42 attendees on the grounds involved in the carriage driving experience. Some people had travelled over 3 hours from Bribie Island on the east coast and two hours from Goondiwindi in the south to take part in the day. Many others came from Lockyer Valley and The Downs.
Over lunch there were further talks by club members and a demonstration by Greg Bowdler on rein holding. Linda Doulin provided a beautiful display of useful carriage driving books from her collection and journals for everyone’s perusal.
After lunch, eight people signed up for one activity memberships to ‘have a go’ at carriage driving. Horses and ponies were made available for this experience and attendees were able to try little and big horses either in a closed yard or outside in a larger arena depending on their confidence levels and experience with horses.
So far the club has secured two new family memberships and two single memberships as a result of this initiative. At least four others are intending to sign up for the 2013 / 14 year.
The weather was beautiful and the feedback received from people who came along has been positive and congratulatory. Plans are underway for another similar day to showcase this wonderful sport and promote carriage driving in Queensland.
Sincere thanks are extended to all Warwick Club members who assisted on the day and made the experience a huge success for all concerned. Well done.
Karyn Dillmann
Photos
Photography by Neale Martin and Melanie Dillmann
