What a fantastic day we had at Dummer Down Farm for our Gateway Competition on 19th July 2026! We welcomed a wonderful variety of turnouts, from tiny Shetlands to magnificent Clydesdales, it was a real pleasure to see such a diverse range of horses and ponies enjoying the day.

We started with compulsory shapes where Jessica Wood produced the best test of the day with an outstanding score of 17! Then it was on to the cones, where we saw some fabulous rounds, including several double clears. It was lovely to hear so many positive comments about the course, with competitors enjoying its smooth, flowing design.

After a well-earned sandwich break, we had the obstacle walk, where our newcomers had plenty of help and encouragement from the more experienced drivers before tackling the obstacles. Judging by the smiles, they certainly enjoyed the challenge!

“I just wanted to say a very big thank you again to you and all the team for making yesterday such an enjoyable event. Everyone made us feel so welcome as newcomers. It is a beautiful venue and we had great fun with Alfie. Plenty to practice at home now.” Sarah & Jess

As if that wasn’t enough, the day finished with a superb pleasure drive around the beautiful tracks of Dummer Down Farm, which certainly didn’t disappoint.

The day concluded with our prize giving, where competitors received fabulous rosettes and goodie bags to celebrate their achievements.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported the event, and an extra special thank you to our wonderfully cheerful volunteers. You were all absolutely amazing and played a huge part in making the day such a success.

Bev Huntington – SCDC Chairman

“I have to say I really enjoyed yesterday. I know the weather played a part, but it was so relaxed, we had time to chat to people including the lady with the Shetland who was at her first driving event. Nice to see so many different types of turnout.” Jo Sore