My equine hobby started  as a pony mad teenager, who managed to persuade my parents to buy me a pony, I competed various different activities mostly around the Pony Club (New Forest) Branch, including Camp at Salisbury Racecourse, various local shows but sadly my equine hobby was ended after a number of accidents which meant I had no confidence with ponies.

Move forward a number of years I ended up living at a house that had a donkey called Marmaduke (Victor Meldrew character)as part of the contents, this started my new hobby of donkey ownership, this led to showing them in hand, breeding, taking a bride to church, being on Countryfile and eventually the hobby of carriage driving where  I’ve broken to harness my 2 large donkeys Rikita & Sarah.  these have  competed in the show ring – Private Drive and Trade Classes (single turnout) and in Indoor Driving Trials as a Pair.

In recent years the donkeys have broken various records as they  have competed  at what is regarded as  pony or horse only events;

 

2020 Highlights:

Main highlight ive expanded my business by purchasing Carriagelink (www.carriagelink.com), this established business is a marketplace for products associated to carriage driving  i.e. carriages, harness, horses/ponies/donkeys. Why not take a look at the website?

Sadly this year due to the pandemic, no shows to compete at, meaning time to break Monsieur Gilbert (Lady Sarah’s 4 year old gelding) to harness & see if he has the same calm outlook as his mum  (Lady Sarah) & Aunty (Lady Riki)!

2019 Highlights:

New Forest & Hampshire County Show – 1st time in the shows history that a donkey enters in the HOYS Qualifier Class for Private Drive Vehicles, in which we came 6th  (Under 13.2hh)

Gillingham & Shaftsbury Show – Winner Private Drive Under 13.2, then Reserve Carriage Driving Champion (Champion was a lovely Morgan Horse)

Royal County of Berkshire Show (Newbury) – 1st time a donkey has been allowed to enter a Private Driving Class, we were placed 4th out of 5 with great comments from the Judge.

2018 Highlights:

Royal Windsor Horse Show – 1st time in the shows history that a donkey is allowed to enter the Light Trade Class

Finalist in the 2018 Carriage Driving Awards

Wins 3rd BDS Leaf Spring Award for competing at 10 events with a Restored Butchers Cart

2017 Highlights:

2017 – BDS Leaf Spring Award Winner (1st Donkey Competitor to win 2 awards – 1st one in 2014) Completed 10 events in a Trade Vehicle (Restored Butchers Cart)

2017 – Worshipful Company of Cartmakers 500th Anniversary Parade in London, Rikita took part in this Parade to celebrate that donkeys were originally used in work in the City of London.

2017 – Osborne Light Trade Qualification – Rikita gained this (1st time a donkey has qualified with a Light Trade Vehicle), we then competed in the Osborne Light Trade Semi Final at BDS Addington. Rikita also won the Donkey & Mule Class at BDS Addington.

During 2015, my 2 driving mares: Rikita & Sarah (being pure bred French Cotentin donkeys) spent 3 months on holiday in France living with a handsome Jack called Moustik du Suret, after being scanned (showing they were both in foal) they returned home, sadly Rikita lost her foal at some stage of her pregnancy, but her sister Sarah produced a delightful Colt foal, later named Monsieur Gilbert. He completed 2 shows in 2015 (New Forest Show & Romsey Show) where he seemed to enjoy the experience. For the next 3 years Gilbert will be shown in hand & eventually he will be broken to harness.

November 2014 – BDS Leaf Spring Award Winner (1st Donkey competitor to win this award) 10 BDS organised events completed using the same turnout Rikita Du Bocage in the 1911 Norfolk Cart.

June 2014 – Hickstead Derby Meeting – Trade Vehicle Class, Rikita Du Bocage 1st donkey allowed to enter this class

September 2014 – BDS Addington, World & Rare Breeds Class, Rikita Du Bocage 1st donkey allowed to enter this class

January 2014 – Indoor Driving Trials (held at Sparsholt EC) 1st time a pair of donkeys competed

June 2014 – Hickstead Derby Meeting – Trade Vehicle Class, Rikita Du Bocage 1st donkey allowed to enter this class

September 2014 – BDS Addington, World & Rare Breeds Class, Rikita Du Bocage 1st donkey allowed to enter this class

 

We can offer a variety of donkey and small pony training, including;

* Donkey/ small pony Handling

*  In Hand Showing

* Long Reining your donkey and small pony

* Chain Harrowing your donkey

Look at our separate pages Donkey Training & Donkey Driving for more details.

Located in Hampshire with excellent road/rail and air links.