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JANUARY 2012 Saturday


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16Hazel Fisher with Da19rtmoor Hill Pony, Sta22r With Sally Taylor


17 18 20 21


azel and her feisty little Dartmoor Hill pony, Star epitomise the spirit of indoor driving trials, where fi erce competition and striving aſt er success hold equal


aſt er Precision & Paces, and even though we lost the lead aſt er the fi rst two obstacles she gave it her all in the fi nal two to come through.” Hazel came to driving through necessity,


sway with camaraderie, enjoyment and good fun. Regulars in the south-west region, Hazel and Star have been strong contenders in the small pony class over the last two years. At the fi nals in 2010 they stormed through the obstacles to come up to second place from further down the order, while at last year’s fi nals, quick times through the last two obstacles had them overtaking the leader to take fi rst place. Hazel, incidentally, was also the winner of the small pony pairs class at the 2009 fi nals – the fi rst year small ponies were given their own specifi c class. “We never thought to go to the fi nals,” Hazel


says. “But when they put on the classes for small ponies we thought we should go and support it.” Doing better than they had expected, Colin [Hazel’s partner] won the singles and Hazel won the pairs. Hazel continues, “T e next year I had thought


it was Star who was in with a real chance, but, as it turned out, we just couldn’t quite catch up the winner. At last year’s fi nals we were in the lead


January 2012


she says. Her partner, Colin Cornwell, was a successful scurry driver and Hazel was the one to exercise his ponies while he was away working. “I had ridden for years, although there was a time I gave it up and went motor racing – rally and grass track driving – for my sins,” she laughs. “My daughters brought me back into horses as they had ponies when they were young so we did all the Pony Club activities, so we were always busy.” It was some 10 years ago that Hazel began


driving and Star came into her life at about the same time. “I feel it has taken me nearly 10 years to get the best out of her and we’ve certainly had our ups and downs! She’s not the easiest pony to drive, but she truly owes me nothing and will be with me for ever.” In the early days of her driving, Hazel had


a few lessons with Mark Broadbent who also helped her to put her pair of Shetlands – Samson and Delilah with whom she won the 2009 fi nals.– together. “T en we used to house-sit at Forest Farm


CalendarJanuary H


15 New Year’s Day


and Pippa Jarman and Debbie Butler helped me too,” she says. “More recently Barbara Nadin has trained me – I feel she really helped put the edge on our performance, yet somehow I still think of myself as a beginner.” T e year that Hazel won the small pony pairs,


Colin’s successful pony in the small pony single class was Chelsea Bun, a Shetland cross which, last year they lent to David and Denise Browne for their grandchildren to drive. However, David drove her through the season and took second place at the fi nals in novice pony. “We had tried her in a pair with Star,” says


Hazel. “However, it was two headstrong girls together and it just didn’t work. T e Brownes own her now and I shall really enjoy watching the children progress with her.” Star was 18-years-old at last year’s fi nals


and Hazel thought it would be her fi nal year. However, she has come back into work and Hazel and Colin are taking it in turns to drive her and the pair. “She is better if she is working,” says Hazel. “It helps to keep aches and pains at bay. However, we won’t be chasing fi rst place at the fi nals with her this year – now that we have our name on that lovely Shetland pony trophy we will just be out to enjoy ourselves.”


Carriage Driving 49


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