CDSG 2024 Camp at The Unicorn Center

CDSG Easter Camp 2024 Round up

From the moment of arrival on Thursday afternoon at the Unicorn Trust Equestrian Centre you feel welcomed for this very special weekend of carriage driving. 

Turnouts from RDA groups were unloaded and the horses set up in the superb stables. I took my Welsh Section D Alfie. 

It was at this camp last year that Alfie and I picked up our partnership and started our path to team bronze at the Para World Championships in the summer. Camp is a real confidence giver and you receive top quality training set to your individual needs. Robert Buck and Sara Howe are excellent trainers and make every session enjoyable as well as packed with progressive skills. Julie Camm and Averinna Snow very generously brought their lovely FEI Welsh driving ponies as turnouts for those who had no driving turnout to use. What a fantastic opportunity for those who had booked in!

Thursday evening was a social event with a delicious group supper followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Udi, who gave an interesting talk about rehabilitation and working with hospitals and disabled people in Israel, using horses and carriages.

Early breakfast on Friday was followed by a full timetable of driving with individual lessons on improving technique. Using the indoor arena with its viewing gallery and good acoustics meant we could all learn at once. We had two really useful driving sessions each on Friday and in the evening had a presentation on Para Team GBR at the 2023 World Championships. Saturday was cones and then obstacle driving before setting off back home. Sara was, as ever,endlessly enthusiastic and supportive with participants’ confidence growing by the minute. Robert enlightened us on the importance of suppleness and constructively equipped us with the fundamental tools on how to achieve this in each of our horses. They both excelled themselves and we are hugely grateful to them, attendees all commented on how much they had learned and how encouraged they were to take this information forward at home.

As I was a team member and dad had taken lots of photos at the event, Julie had asked me to organise the Para Team GBR PowerPoint. Although rather daunted, everyone was so responsive and interested I actually enjoyed giving it and answering questions. Being on the team for the World Championships had certainly been my experience of a lifetime and one which would not have come about without Julie and Giselle's support and Robert's training in the preceding months. My journey had all started at the Unicorn camp the year before. I would like to think that others taking part in this year's camp are also now on the way to fulfilling some of their driving dreams.

The RDA groups were busy throughout ensuring their drivers were getting the best from the opportunities.

As we discussed over the weekend it is well worth going to the RDA championships, and also the Certius championships - where they have the indoor driving format- and a separate class for novice drivers with disabilities as well for experienced open paras. 

Di Green, of the Para Equestrian Foundation, had recruited a keen group of para riders who wanted to experience the thrill of driving. What a privilege to start out with a top FEI turnout and the top trainers. It was amazing to see how quickly the Para riders picked up techniques - growing in confidence and skills. Di is following up with zoom talks and other sessions to encourage para riders into our wonderful sport and any para rider who is interested should contact her. 

Julie Camm as the organiser of the GBR Para drivers training is very supportive in welcoming newcomers as well as those who have come up through the RDA and BC clubs. She supported RDA driver Jayne Mcgarvie last year by loaning Jayne her very experienced pony Matt at key training and events, as well as for the National and World Championships. 

Finally this brilliant camp would not come about without the dedication, organisation and enthusiasm of CDSG chair, Giselle Locket. 

Camp has everything....a happy supportive atmosphere, camaraderie, excellent individualised training and good meals, all set in a top venue with amazing facilities. We all had a fabulous time!

Don't miss the CDSG  camp at the Unicorn Trust Equestrian Centre in October.

You can find the CDSG webpage here for more information and up and coming dates .