Carriage Driving for the Duke of Edinburgh

This is some information that the British Driving Society sent me....

Reference your recent enquiry, all our examination syllabus are published in a booklet which you can obtain from the BDS office by post at a cost of £1.75, including postage. You may also like a book list. Our representative on Jersey arranges for instructors to visit Jersey for tuition and test days from time to time but we do not have any qualified instructors living in Jersey. She may be able to advise you, so you should contact Mrs. Phyllis Gouedart, Les Cotils, Mount Cochon, St. Lawrence, tel: 01534 21151, for local information.

If you are able to visit England, several driving instructors hold summer camps for our junior members, where learning more about driving is the main objective. We have a Commissioner for Junior Members who has helped others to gain their Duke of Edinburgh Awards by including driving and if you would like to seek her advice, contact Mrs. Caroline Dale-Leech, telephone 01629 733583.

To order your examination syllabus or other driving literature, please contact me at the BDS office, 27 Dugard Place, Barford, Warwick CV35 8DX, Tel. 01926 624420.

Jenny Dillon, Executive Secretary, British Driving Society

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Young People in the Driving Seat

It is very easy to link His Royal Highness The Prince Philip's name to Carriage Driving and most of us have done at one time or another. However, how does one associate Carriage Driving with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award?

Reading through the pages of the Award Handbook, from basket making to octopushing and origami to paragliding, one wonders where carriage driving fits in, but through the four sections of the Award Scheme, Service, Expeditions Skills and Physical Recreation a whole sea of opportunities to take up activities exists and one of them is Carriage Driving.

Since 1956, more than two million young people from more than fifty nations world-wide have taken part in either the Bronze, Silver or Gold level of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The Award is a programme of leisure time activities offering a personal challenge to endeavour and achieve, to serve others, acquire new skills and experience adventure. It is non-competitive, based on participants' individual improvement and achievement, reflecting personal choice initiative and perseverance and must be undertaken outside school or works time and in a participant's own leisure time.

Carriage Driving has recently been formally linked to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award through the British Driving Society. It is an approved activity in the Physical Recreation Section which is based on a points scoring system. At Bronze, participants need to obtain a minimum of 24 points, at Silver a minimum of 30 and at Gold 36. The first twelve points are built up through a time commitment, two points per hour (one per half hour) and not more than two points to count per week The remainder of points must be built up through the attainment of a Governing Body standard and continued participation.

For British Driving Society qualifications the following points are awarded:

Prelim Grooms 6 points Level 1 12 points Level 11 18 points Level 111 24 points

The Award Scheme welcomes beginners as well as very experienced drivers and the aim of the Physical Recreation Section is to improve one's personal performance whilst enjoying a lasting sense of achievement and satisfaction.

As well as Carriage Driving, there is a wealth of opportunities that may be undertaken for the other Sections of the Award, for example carriage building, design or restoration or care of horses could be undertaken as a Skill and in the Service Section many young people choose to work with people with special needs through organisations such as Riding for the Disabled. For the Gold Award there is an additional requirement; the Residential Project which involves spending not less than five consecutive days (and four nights) pursuing an activity which will lead to a broadening of interest and experience - a Residential course in Carriage Driving would be an ideal Residential Project. These are just some examples of the options available.

The Award Scheme is delivered through a variety of operating units from schools and youth clubs and voluntary youth organisations to industrially based units. Young people from all walks of life have responded to its challenge and there are thousands of adult helpers' without whose skills, support and inspiration the Award Scheme could not survive or develop. If you are interested in finding out more about The Duke of Edinburgh�s Award, either as a participant or as an instructor, supervisor or adult helper, contact Award Headquarters, Gulliver House, Madeira Walk, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1EU, telephone: 01753 810743 and ask for your nearest Regional Officer or contact Caroline Dale-Leech, British Driving Society Commissioner for Junior Members, Red House Stables, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire. DD4 2ER. Tel. 01629 733583.

Horses - Handling and Care for the DoE

HORSES - HANDLING AND CARE

Participants, Instructors and Assessors should take note of the conditions as laid down in the Award Handbook. This programme is for guidance and is not to be taken as a rigid syllabus. To indicate the content appropriate to young people with varying degrees of knowledge and experience it is arranged under three different headings 'For beginners', 'For those with some knowledge', and 'For the more advanced', and participants are free to select as broad or as restricted an aspect of this skill as they wish.

INTRODUCTION

This activity should include as much practical work as possible, preferably undertaken through a group or club. Due regard should always be given to safe working practices. Participants should also show some understanding of the historical development of the training and handling of horses, their different uses in other countries and cultures, e.g. working horses, horses in sport, etc.

Participants must recognise that in keeping an animal they undertake responsibility for its well-being, both mental and physical. It is essential, therefore, that they gain sufficient knowledge to look after it properly and to ensure that it does not suffer in any way. Those taking part should care for a horse (or horses) for the whole time that the activity is followed. They should keep it in good condition, being responsible for its health and well-being. Participants should understand the general care of horses from foalhood, e.g. feeding, grooming, etc.

For Assessment: evidence of individual progress, sustained interest and a commitment of genuine leisure time should be shown over the required period. This may take the form of a written report, diary, display, talk or photographic record. Group activities are to be assessed with regard to each individual's contribution to planning, execution and completion.

For beginners

Participants starting this activity should:

1. Know the points to look for in buying a horse or pony.

2. Be able to recognise the signs of illness. Be able to treat simple ailments and accidents and know when it is necessary to send for the veterinary surgeon.

3. Understand the importance of diet, regular exercise, feeding and grooming to the well-being of the horse or pony.

4. Be aware of the social and practical limitations regarding space for stabling and exercising of animal, and keeping a horse in an urban environment.

5. Make a study of the historical development of the handling and care of horses and the various working, sporting and leisure uses to which they have been put.

For those with some knowledge

Participants should:

6. Keep careful notes during the period of caring for a horse, on health and behaviour, noting such points as any loss of appetite, shedding coat, gaining or losing weight, nervousness, lassitude or anything abnormal in its behaviour. Note possible reasons, treatment used in each case and its results.

7. Demonstrate normal procedure with regard to road safety and study the laws of the road relating to horses.

8. Understand the facilities and equipment required to care for a horse correctly and research fully the cost of maintaining a horse.

9. Be aware of the use of horse riding as a social provision such as riding schemes for the disabled people. Know the location of any such schemes which operate locally.

10. Make a study of the various breeds of wild ponies found in regions of the UK and be aware of any historical localised use, e.g. pit ponies.

For the more advanced

Participants should:

11. If possible, be entirely responsible for the health and well-being of a horse.

12. Study the various breeds of horses, their historical development and their different needs with regard to feeding, grooming, training and exercise. Understand selective breeding.

13. Study and be able to discuss and illustrate the types of stable required for:

(a) a horse

(b) a pony

(c) a large number of horses

14. Know about breeding, how to care for a mare in foal, gestation period.

15. Research the cultural use of horses in other countries, e.g. America, and be aware of the place of the horse as a working animal in other societies.

1984