HARRY ONE IN A MILLION (2010)
Harry, or Craignant Satellite to give him his official name, was purchased at six months old from the Welsh Cob sales at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells; he had come straight off the hills of Oswestry.  Immediately he came into the sales ring we were struck by a good-looking red bay colt with two white socks and the action to match.

Our motivation for going to the sales had only been to look around and loosely see if we could find a horse similar to our Billy, another welsh cob, already owned by us that we fancied running as a pair.  We went to the show with little intention to buy anything as we had not even taken any transport with us. Never mind, we had just bought a foal.

Harry proved to be very straightforward to work with on his groundwork and he was broken to drive as a four year old.  He has over many years taken part in BDS events, local rallies, BDS Training Days and has excelled in the show Ring in many parts of the country.

He has been a big influence on Georgia Smith, a young lady who started driving him when she was only eleven years old.  He has over the years literally taken her to the top with her competing at the BDS ShowTowerlands in the 2 wheeled Exercise Class.  She won the 15-17years Junior Whip Championship at her first attempt.

Harry was one of our founder driving horses that we use on a regular basis all year round at the Springbridge Carriage Driving for the Disabled Group, joining his other team members, Yorkie,Sam,Ekko,Jack,Gollie,Apache and Rosie.

Our group has thrived year on year, thanks to these key members (Harry’s friends)and the volunteers

Harry is incredibly patient with all these Disabled Whips and, in particular, Mick Ward who is physically disabled gained a great deal of confidence with him. Mick competed in an RDA class at Chatsworth House and won – even though the Red Arrows decided to do a fly past over the ring whilst he was doing his individual show.  Mick also competed very successfully with him at the BDS Show Windsor 2009.

More recently, we took Harry and his friend Yorkie to participate in the annual RDA driving holiday week at Escrick Park.  Some of the ponies booked to attend had unfortunately succumbed to grass sickness.

Last year at the beginning of October we took Harry to Towerlands as he had previously qualified at a County Show to compete in the 4 Wheeled Exercise Class.  He went on to win  the Towerlands Championship in his class out of fourteen turnouts who had come from all parts of the country. We were now required to stay and prepare for the Champion of Champions at 8pm that evening in the main arena. He now had to compete against all those placed 1^st and 2^nd in all of the day’s other exercise classes.

In the Collecting Room he was really looking good and, once he entered the show Ring, we could feel that he was going well even in the most intimidating of arenas.  After what seemed hours (the judges really struggled to agree on the Champion of Champions) he was awarded Reserve Champion.  What a trooper!  He’d been on the lorry at 5.30am that morning for the journey down,and there he was at 9pm in front of thousands of spectators, behaving like the absolute gentleman that he was.

Without doubt, all the other Champions in that finale were show horses and ponies – that’s what they do, and that is their job.  No-one watching was to know that Harry, in perfect showing condition with all the fitness and presence required, had completed his usual RDA duties on the Wednesday and Thursday of that week.

Harry is now 18 years old and we are so proud of our boy that, last year, we visited the same stud (Selattyn Stud -Mr &Mrs B Hughes) and bought another colt foal (Selattyn Dancing Flash).  We have chosen the breeding, expecting and hoping to get a similar temperament and style as Harry. I am glad to say that Flash is now 18 months old and are hopes are all going to plan and he is a real gent in every way.

“Flash” is now handling beautifully from the ground and has already been introduced to some of our disabled clients.

Harry will continue to do what he does best both his RDA and his showing jobs for as long as he can, at least whilst Flash is learning the ropes,he is the future.

Linda Cotterill & JaneStretton

Springbridge Carriage Driving Centre &

Springbridge Carriage Driving for the Disabled Group