Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2010 | Page 141

the rider

Island Life - June/July 2010
later discovered that Gill did a lot of
work for the disabled, and I believe
she had been steering me in the same
direction since she first saw me longreining Sasha.
I had no idea what to expect but I
must admit I was looking forward to
it, so I arrived at Osborne on a sunny
warm day in May, 2002. My groom at
the time was Christina and she was
excellent. I must admit I leaned on her
quite a bit for support. We unloaded
Sasha and the trap from my lorry and
put to - the terminology used when
harnessing a horse to a cart or carriage.
I recall that overhead helicopters were
buzzing around at treetop height on
some sort of security exercise centred
on a beach landing by marines. This
then was the first test for Sasha who
took it all in her stride, I was later to
learn that the results of this did not go
unnoticed.
We were met by Ruth Daniels, who
suggested we swapped grooms and
then driving her own horse she put me
through a series of situations. I had to
overtake her in walk and trot and then
she overtook me.
I had to meet her head on in walk
and trot and also show her how Sasha
would stand still for long periods.
After about an hour Ruth paid us a
complement and said Sasha was a
lovely horse.
A couple of days later Gill contacted

me and asked if I would like to help at
Osborne as I had passed the initial trial
and if I agreed I would then be tested
and examined by higher R.D.A. officials
from the mainland.
The test was to take place a week
later at Brickfields, and she promised I
would be helped through it! I agreed
and drove Sasha in the Bennington
to Brickfields to face two very
knowledgeable senior lady officials
from the R.D.A.
Well I somehow fumbled my way
through. I remember driving around the
lorry park, doing a series of figure of
eights at walk and trot, and then made
Sasha back up about six paces.
The examiners came over and asked
if I had intended to do that, I said ‘yes,
would you like to see it again?’ and
after walking forward a few paces I
repeated the manoeuvre to the judges’
satisfaction.
Then the two examiners took it in
turn to ride with me and fire questions
at me …..my only defence was to fire
some back showing my willingness to
learn.
Finally it was back over to the lorry
park for the last part of the test. I think
there was a problem finding props for
this test because three yard girls from
the stables at Brickfields appeared all
pushing wheelbarrows and proceeded
to career around me crashing into each
other, paying particular attention to

making a lot of noise at the rear of my
trap.
Sasha wasn’t bothered by the noise
but her thoughts must have echoed
the crowd of visitors to Brickfields who
had gathered staring in amazement
and disbelief at the seemingly lunatic
actions of the yard girls!.
Of course the test was to see if
Sasha would cope with the noise and
sight of wheelchair loading ramps
being handled around and at the rear
of her. This is because at Osborne
specially designed carriages have pull
out aluminium loading ramps for that
purpose , so it was a very important
part of the test.
I was told the test was now complete.
Later the examiners did talk to me
about my feelings working with
disabled people, but never once told
me whether I had passed, and I was too
apprehensive to ask.
Gill eventually asked on my behalf and
the curt reply was ‘of course you have’.
So I had made a commitment and a
week later I turned up at Osborne with
Sasha ready to pull an R.D.A. vehicle
and was asked to pull the four- wheeler
which takes the wheel chairs and their
carers.I was a bit nervous but very soon
a rapport was developing between me
and the people I carried. There are very
strict rules which are rigorously applied
and if you accept these then you too
are accepted.
So yes, I feel quite good
about giving time for
someone else and perhaps
consider it an honour to have
been asked.

Pocus the pony, Anne Ely
able-bodied whip, Mo
Wakeman disabled driver.

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