GEORDANS FELL PONIES

This section is dedicated to Fell friends, both Fell ponies and people who love Fell ponies.

This is Meregill Merlin owned by my very good friends Allen (aka Herb) and Lyn Rogers.  Merlin and I have competed in showing classes and at driving trials (I'm the one clinging desperately on the back, shrieking 'LEFT' or 'RIGHT'). Whilst Herb quietly ignores me and gets on with driving the pony!!!!

Merlin has been very carefully and excellently broken to ride and to harness and been allowed to mature slowly competing in ridden and in hand classes along with lots of fun country rides, hunter trials and driven showing but his heart lies in the cones and marathon stages of driving competitions.

If I'm not concentrating on the countdown to the start of the marathon section, I could quite easily be catapulted off the back as Merlin sets off at such a cracking pace I swear the cart wheels momentarily leave the ground!!!!

We have had much success in driving. I say we, Herb drives the pony extremely well but it is about teamwork.  We both walk or cycle the course, discuss times and distances and when we get to the obstacles (usually around six per competition) we throw all possible routes, short cuts etc at each other and then make a decision and write it down.  Back at the lorry, having eaten and drunk compulsory wine! I sit and work out how far we have to go in the minimum and maximum times we are allowed and then work out where the hazards are in relation to the distances, where we can ease up and give Merlin an easier pace and where we have to be at each distance marker in relation to our time. 

Basically I stand on the back and advise Herb how we are doing on time, whether we should pick up the pace or can ease off a little.



Anyone thinking of starting to drive should really seriously have a go, it is the most fun I've ever had with a horse and the driving world is such a fun place with lovely people from all walks of life. 



Merlin leading the South Downs Harness Club social drive around Hayling Island