HARNESS HOLIDAY FEATURE Carriage courses ‘a La Voute’ A
t La Voute Life, our aim is to off er a personal introduction to the basics of
carriage driving, with a fun and educational approach limited to two clients per week. We moved to the Charente, south-west
France in 2004, having bought a small farm, and aſt er several years of renovating we opened our gite business in 2006. We also off er a horse drawn wedding carriage service as well as carriage rides; we even had a call one day to take some children for a drive, surprisingly they were Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children! Having been involved with carriage driving
for over 20 years, competing in the UK and having been trained by well known British team drivers, one being the UKcc Level 2 coach, Jo Rennison who successfully competed with my pony, Mere, for fi ve years. Following the construction of our sand school and some obstacles around our farmland last year, we are now off ering residential carriage driving courses. Our introductory course is designed for
complete novice drivers or those wishing to see if carriage driving is a suitable sport for them
and covers all aspects of horse management, harnessing and of course driving. T is is mixed with a fl avour of living in France, you will also sample the local cuisine, wine, markets and the wonderful countryside. We are involved with our local attelage
club and have successfully competed in driving trials, Endurance driving and driven Le Trec over the past six years. Fortunately we have won several club events and fi nished third in the Poitou-Charentes regional fi nal in 2010. I am now happy to pass on my experience
and knowledge and help to encourage new people into our fantastic sport of carriage driving. We have been involved in the tourist
industry for several years and off er quality accommodation and friendly hospitality, combined with home produced or locally sourced ingredients in all the meals provided as well of course the wine from a local vineyard!
Fenix Carriage Driving Centre I
write to tell you about the excellent hospitality, advice and training given to
us by Mark and Jo Broadbent on our recent visit to Fenix Carriages. When we arrived, we had a very warm welcome from Jo Broadbent and were shown the stables for our two Welsh Section Cs, which we wanted to be put together as a pair. What a lovely, organised yard. We parked up the lorry, in which we would
be staying for our two-week busman’s holiday. T e same day we arrived, Mark drove the ponies individually to assess how they would behave, so we could plan their training schedule. T at night Mark and Jo took us to a great
local pub for a meal, which was a lovely welcome to our stay; the food was excellent. In the fi rst week we drove the ponies as
singles in the mornings. Our ponies have diff erent attitudes to life: Sparky, Laurtom Gold Spark, a 15-year-old gelding, is experienced in indoor trials – having won the open pony championship in Jersey in 2011. He also excels in outdoor trials, having had many wins. He is very fast and sharp and has lots of nervous energy.
• If you would like any more information, please look at our website:
www.lavoutelife.com or email:
paula@lavoutelife.com, or call us on 00.33.(0)5.45.61.72.23. We look forward to welcoming you to our home here in France. John and Paula Liddon.
Anna, Glyncoch Miss Anna, is a fi ve year-
old mare. She has only been driving for a year, has done some novice indoor trials, indoor/ outdoor and a little showing. She has a more laid back approach to life, taking most things in her stride. Mark advised us how to help get the best
out of our ponies – by driving them separately – encouraging Anna more forward into her work. Sparky: working him slow, steady and relaxed, to improve their compatibility as a pair. He also showed us how to fi t the pairs harness correctly. In the aſt ernoon Mark drove them each
in turn with his pony, Topper, a Fell, who is only a youngster and has not been long in a pair himself. He is such a good mannered and steadfast pony, helping to teach ours the ropes. It was amazing watching Mark at work
with the ponies and the results he was getting. T ey took to being with Topper quite well, and by the end of the week, both were going along nicely with him. T e second week we worked them single in
the mornings for the fi rst few days. Mark then drove them as pair in the aſt ernoon. T e fi rst time together they were a little uneven and unsure, but with a few minor alterations to the reins set up they soon settled. Mark drove them around his fi elds and down the lanes, which are excellent for training with many hills and spectacular views – great to get them fi t and used to working together properly. By the end of the week Mark had me
driving them around the fi elds, down the lanes and main road, through the cones course and through a couple of the six fantastic permanent obstacles he has on site. By the end
42 Carriage Driving
of our stay I felt comfortable and confi dent, having had great encouragement, training and support from Mark. T e facilities are excellent at Fenix
Carriages. Mark is so professional and such a great ambassador for the sport; he takes great pride in encouraging and teaching the art of carriage driving, from single, novice, pairs, tandem to teams; covering all aspects – dressage, cones, obstacles; whatever you want to do. T e quality of the vehicles and carriages he
makes on site are to the very highest standards and fi nish. Using his experience to make and renovate some excellent carriages, and coaches - old and new - can be seen in his carriage house on site. While Jo Broadbent will be one to watch with her up and coming young team of Welsh Section C ponies. It was a great experience; I just felt I had to
let other drivers know about Fenix Carriages and the lovely people – Mark and Jo Broadbent.
Julie Chalker and Deen Bownes, Jersey January 2012
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