GB Pod Training Dates
New dates have been added to the training schedule: 11th/12th June and 6th/7th July. Both training events will take place at Symington, Biggar kindly hosted by Owen and Janet Pilling. For more details see the training dates page and this post.
Hopetoun website now live!!
It’s great to be able to announce that the Hopetoun event has its very own website. There’s lot of information about the event, carriage driving in general, how you can get involved, links to enter the event and much more. Take a look now at hopetoun.scda.co.uk. Many thanks to Callum Dougan for his work in designing and building the website!
Dunbog Event 21st April – Cancelled
Message from the organizers at Dunbog:
A further assessment has been made of the Dunbog ground conditions, the weather forecasts and the views of the Oakden family. It is quite clear we have to cancel the event for this year due to flooded ground.
Refunds of entry money will be made in due course, we are sorry for the disappointment but this is completely outwith anyone’s control
Events postponed due to Storm Kathleen
Due to the storm conditions expected this weekend, we’ve had to take the tough decision to postpone both the Junior Training day at Pitscandly, and the training day at Auchenreoch. News of the replacement dates will be posted as soon as we have them.
Progression from Novice to Open
Quick reminder that the rules for 2024 can be found in this post. You can also find a link to this on the reference page.
Hopetoun painting day
Thanks to everyone who came along to Hopetoun on Saturday to paint the obstacles, the boxes that will be part of one of the obstacles in May, and the posts around the arena. The weather held (mostly) and the job was done by mid-afternoon. Thank you again!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Hopetoun event. More infomation about this event is now available on the Hopetoun website: hopetoun.scda.co.uk
Strathallan event 28th/29th September 2024
Details of this new event are now on the website events page, where you can download the schedule, along with schedules for all of this season’s other events.
Reminder about entry closing dates…
Please note that the SCDA committee has asked event organisers to take a firm approach to closing dates this year to try to eradicate the last-minute culture we have seen becoming an increasing issue.
We thank you for making sure that you enter all events this season before the closing date. To avoid disappointment, please enter as soon as you are able – one event this year has already been oversubscribed and entries were turned away before the closing date!
Our Points League is kindly sponsored by Gee Gee Rugwash. Please support the businesses who support our sport. Ian is happy to collect rugs at each event and return them to you at the following one.
SCDA/BDS Clinic at Pitscandly
Sunday 7th April
POSTPONED DUE TO STORM KATHLEEN – REPLACEMENT DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED ASAP.
SCDA/BDS are running a training clinic aimed at Young Drivers, Novices and Newcomers with their own turnout, which will include an individual morning session and a shared afternoon session (cones/obstacle).
Venue: Indoor Arena, Pitscandly, Forfar DD8 3NZ.
Coaches – Carol Boswell and Yvonne Anderson (see this page for more details)
Organiser – Jayne McGarvie (with Bex March/Eileen Cornish supporting)
Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
We now have an Instagram account!! (thanks to Sanchia). We’d love pictures or video clips of you and your turnouts – here’s the link…
https://www.instagram.com/scottish_carriage_driving_scda/
AGM
Thanks to everyone who turned out to our Helpers’ Lunch and AGM. Our guest speaker Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, gave a fascinating talk covering a wide range of topics, but with focus on Social Licencing and the public perception of horse sports in general. We also heard from Lucy Barclay-Carr from HorseScotland (SCDA is now a member of HorseScotland), and met Chairman John Burns. We’re looking forward to working closely with HorseScotland and we’ll be highlighting some of the exciting work being undertaken by them, by World Horse Welfare and their partners.
In the meantime, for more information about Roly, please see this link to his bio on the WHW site: https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/about-us/our-people/staff
Chairman Graeme MacArthur, in his review of 2023, highlighted the “what3words” he would use to summarize last year: “Successful”, “Transitional” and “Encouraging”. He gave an upbeat assessment of the 2023 season and we’re looking forward to another exciting and successful season in 2024. He thanked Eileen for producing the Omnibus and OPG for its support in designing and producing it. (he also pointed out that the what3words location success.transition.encourage is just off the coast of Hawaii – but that doesn’t mean that next year’s AGM will be held there!!!)
One point that Graeme mentioned in respect of the coming events season: most events this year will have a zero-tolerance policy towards late entries. Late entries cause nightmares for organizers and officials – so please respect the closing dates for entries. They are shown on the events page, in the Omnibus, and reminders will be posted on Facebook.
On that subject, note that the closing date for the Strathorn event (which will be held on 2nd March 2024) is Monday 19th Feb.
The minutes of the AGM will be published shortly and will be uploaded to the reference page.
SCDA Membership 2024
The updated membership page is now available. It contains all the details about the benefits of SCDA membership, the 2024 membership fees and a link to the online form or downloadable application form. Please use the menu option above or click on this link.
Website updates
We draw your attention to this post (Disclaimer of Liability), you can find it listed in the Recent Posts and also in the main reference section.
SCDA Welfare Liaison
Equestrian sport (in all its various forms) is coming under ever-increasing scrutiny from the public and, most notably, animal rights protestors. The SCDA Directors have therefore created a specific Welfare Liaison role on the Committee, to inform and assist our members on the emerging concerns and actions that may be required from this complex area of Equine Welfare.
I am delighted to inform you that Sanchia May has volunteered to take up this role as part of her (many!) existing activities on the SCDA Committee. Please join me in thanking Sanchia for taking on this important new role.
Graeme MacArthur
SCDA Chairman
Website updates
SCDA has adopted the British Equestrian Safeguarding Policy. This policy is available on the website under the “Other Pages” menu option, on the reference page and also can accessed via this link. It is important that all members of SCDA read, understand and implement the key principles of safeguarding as set out in the BEF policy and should apply that policy itself as far as they can.
News archive
Previous stories have now been archived, but are still available online. Click the link here and you’ll be able to read news from the past couple of years.