Carl in search of double at carriage driving showpiece
A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has qualified for the world’s largest competition for para-horse carriage driving.
Carl Ward, 41, who lives at Pant-yCendy Hall in Abernant, competes against other carriage drivers from across the country at the Riding for the Disabled National Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucester on Friday. The championships see more than 500 competitors take part each year and has been the springboard for many para-equestrians.
Carl, who has learning difficulties and cerebral palsy, has been carriage driving since the age of 23 and competed in local events before qualifying for the RDA Championships for the first time in 2018. Having won the novice carriage driving class in last year’s championships, he now hopes to repeat his success in the intermediate class with his horse Badger.
The intermediate final will see him take on the three carriage driving disciplines of dressage, obstacles and cone driving.
He said: “The championships make me proud of myself and I am so pleased to be going.
“I feel good when I drive, and it keeps me fit and active. I have been practising a lot and I hope I win, but I don’t mind if someone is better than me as I always have fun doing it.”