User:Celia Gilbert

Celia Gilbert (joined committee 2011)


If you had said to me 5 years ago I would have 2 Dalmatians, a Collie, a Caravan and a Horse and Carriage I would have said you must be joking!! But that's where I am now in my 50th year. From naive enthusiasm and certainly no equestrian experience I am now the membership secretary for the BCDS.

I live in Rye East Sussex with Paul, 2 spotties Poppy and Harley and Maddie our Collie, all three are rescues and individually have their own challenges. Our menagerie also includes 2 goats, a rabbit, 3 cats and at present Blakeney, a senior veteran Shetland on loan to me from Alison Burgess.

It all started when I was asked to join a Dalmatian display team in 2009, whilst completing my Good Citizens test at obedience classes with Poppy. I was delighted to be asked, but realised it wasn't for Poppy's great obedience skills, but for the fact that Dalmatians are not that common. At this point I met Anne Dickens, for whom I have to say changed both my own and Poppy's life. We joined the Dashing Dalmatians display team and from there began Carriage dog training with Anne and her 2 ponies, Parker and Polo. The discipline in training changed Poppy's behaviour almost overnight, she finally had a true purpose in life and certainly had a great instinct for carriage work.

I was then introduced to the BCDS and met Alison Burgess and Chris Cleland. Alison has been a great mentor and friend supporting both dogs in their training and my own progress from carriage Dog Handler to Groom and now Driver. Chris and Mike have become good friends and we blame them for the ever increasing size of our caravan and equipment, besides their great knowledge of the Dalmatian breed.

Paul and I attended the South East Regional trials and our first National trials with Poppy, where she achieved her Bronze Carriage dog certificate and I was invited to join the committee. We bought a caravan and since then have never looked back.

My partner Paul has previously competed at horse driving trials at National level and had 2 Dalmatians that ran with the carriage.... He attends most events with me and can usually be found out on the course or taking photographs of the event. You can see more of Paul's pictures here

We rescued Harley in 2011 from Ceredigion Animal Rescue in West Wales, he is another troubled soul who has been passed from pillar to post. I am in the process of bringing him on as a Carriage Dog as I believe this is his true vocation in life and certainly brings out the best in him. I also began to learn how to carriage drive, my enthusiasm grows daily, it truly does become addictive.

I work full time and was nervous about buying a pony, I often groom for Alison Burgess and she offered to let me have Blakeney on loan, 'a try before you buy!' It was a great idea and I can honestly say that it has taught me basic horsemanship skills, from feeding to clipping and has given me the confidence to know I could manage my own pony easily on a daily basis.

Another really influential friend that I have met is Maura Reade, who lives in Southern Ireland and with whom I have competed in the Nationals for over 3 years. I can honestly say that her sense of fun and 'joie de vivre' has led to a great friendship, and we regularly get together on 'Skype' or the phone for a good horsey/ doggy natter. Maura has sold me her pony Widget, as I have always said if she was to sell him to consider me.... and he joined our family in December 2012.

Well that's enough about me, if anyone local would like to come out for training with me I would be delighted to help, my 2 dallies have been hard work and still are, but I know the Carriage dog work helps them focus and have a true purpose.

Celia Gilbert