We had an amazing weekend at Newby Hall with the North Eastern Driving Club.
We moved up to the Intermediate level this year so everything is harder and faster.
Hades Hill Perry did us proud coming not only 3rd in our class and winning the Internediate marathon class BUT to top it all she came 3rd overall in the marathon in all classes against a field of over 50 horses and ponies (some of them National champions).
In fact we were only 0.15 between us and second place. A really amazing achievement for a 13;1 hand veteran Fell pony.
Huge thanks to Ruby Gray for really clear and helpful backstepping. It might not look fast but believe me when youre up on that carriage everything comes up at real speed!
This is us in obstacle 4 about 10km into the marathon.
Here's a little moment from our 3 day Haweswater trek last week. There are so many beautiful places we visit with stunning views but the wind in the long grass on Mosedale common was one of my favourite moments on this trek.
We will be running a limited number of pack pony treks around Haweswater in 2025 so if you're thinking of joining us then get in touch for a chat about which trek would suit you best.
I have said time and time again that once you gain the trust of a Fell pony it will do almost anything you ask. Sometimes crossing a small beck can be a challenge if theres a step down and up again the other side. It can be even trickier for a pony carrying fully loaded boxes so if it's going to be a struggle we take the boxes off to cross. This is 7 year old Hades Hill Little Prince jumping accross while the others look on from above.
📸Jo Parsons
Out for a drive with Robert Bowman
I had a fantastic day yesterday with one of the master horsemen Robert Bowman out for a drive with his team and then long reigning his horses. Robert is a true gentleman and has a lovely gentle way with his horses. Time very well spent! 🐴🐴🐴🐴
I haven’t been able to get to the 2 year old geldings for 3 days as the roads were all blocked. They don’t seem to have taken any harm and we’re a bit non-pleased by the hay I'd brought with me and choosing to dig beneath the snow for the green grass instead!
British Juniors Training Camp
Hi there!
It’s been a while since we contacted you to thank you for help. As I write this message I am at Moreton Morrell College in Warwickshire on a weekend training camp with the British Young Drivers team. The 2 day training sessions with Tara Wilkinson (Pony Pairs Carriage Driving World Champion 2017) and Frank Campbell has been amazing, working on all aspects of competition Carriage driving and I have come away having learned much and improved the way I control my horse and direct her around obstacles (getting the horse on the right lines comes before speed!)
This training wouldn’t have been possible without your support. With your help we have raised an amazing £4,995 which means we are well on our way to being able to attend the necessary events to be considered for selection to the European Championships in 2024. I am now working towards the next British juniors training camp will be at Easter.
Thank you again
Flo
The view from the saddle as Teddy joins the herd again
The 4 brothers meet as geldings for the first time. 6 year old Hades Hill Little Prince, 5 year old Hades Hill Little Pearl (Teddy) and 2 year olds Hades Hill Mountain Mist and Hades Hill Wonker.
Prince and Teddy are going well as a pair and already part of my 4-in-hand team which will eventually include the 2 year olds to make a team of brothers
(join up at 1 min 21 sec)
Ponies at the watering hole
We're just back from an amazing couple of days with 5 ponies, 6 guests and 2 dogs on the last wildcamnp of the summer for us. This is us on a stretch of an old pack horse route. Plenty more photos to come.
p.s. we're still running day treks until winter sets in
On all our treks there are bits of old pack horse routes that are either too steep or too narrow to lead a pony on a halter, it's better to just let them make their way up on their own steam. This is on the Old Corpse Road heading up from Swindale Head up to Riosgill Common, 4 ponies doing theoir own thing. I love it when a pony knows it's job better than us humans!
This is why we do it.
I have said this time and time again over the last 2 years...
If there's any way to have more fun with a horse than this - I'd like you to show me how.
This is us at the Junior Championships last weekend. Going through the water at the 3rd obstacle, about 8Km into the marathon phase and only the second time in the water for Perry.
Sound ON!
If you can make even the smallest donation it would really help us reach our goal to help Flo get to the European Championships. Thanks again to everyone who has so generously donated.
Please like and share this post to help me reach as wide an audience as possible.
Find out more here
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Get-Flo-to-the-European-Championships
Managed to get some chill time in the sun with some of the ponies this morning (me lying down with hand held camera)
Look what arrived in the post from the Netherlands!
A whopping 8 pages in Seasons Magazine!
Thanks to Anna Rubingh who wrote the article and took the photos on our Mosedale 3 day trek last year
The last couple of weeks we've been out with Geronimo in preparation for the Fell Pony Society Stallion Show at Dalemain on Saturday 13th May. Hope to see some of you there. Come and say hello!
Yesterday we made the most of the warm sunshine and took Dawn and John on the Windermere day trek as a birthday treat for Dawn. Here's what John.had to say...
"What a fabulous day with Tom, Lucky and Pansy.
A lovely trek through some of The Lake District woodland, with wonderful views over the fells and pastures.
Tom’s passion for the Fell breed is clear, along with his knowledge of the history and use of the Fell Ponies as pack animals that sustained the Cumbrian landscape.
Lunch by a tarn, a rustic picnic in the glorious sunshine was just the ticket.
Many thanks Tom, you helped to make some wonderful memories today which was also a superb birthday treat."
It was a real pleasure to meet you both and spend the day with you walking our ponies!
We were so lucky to find some sunshine yesterday in amongst the weeks of rain we've had. We took out Fil and Tierney with Pansy and Lucky who had the biggest smiles on their faces all day long!
Just a family group out for an afternoon jog
This is proving to be the best line-up for the team we've had. We had to take out Hades Hill Perry because although she is the best little driving pony we've ever bred and also the boss, it turns out that she's no team player.
So to take the lead comes matriarch Hades Hill Lucky Pearl as the left leader, with daughter Hades Hill Pansy (9) the right leader.
The wheelers are Lucky Pearls' sons 5 year old Hades Hill Little Pearl (on the left) and 6 year old Hades Hill Little Prince on the right.
