Page 302 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
of us are privileged to have. As they say: ‘all good things must come to an end’, but our memories will be with us always. The Indoor Riding School (IRS) at the DAC has been a central point within the ASE. Many past and present instructors have taught, ridden, even picked-up and brushed-off the odd student in it. Many may even remember (or some might try to forget!) having a boogie at the good old equine parties, if only the walls could talk! It has been home to many pigeons, which have now had to up sticks and relocate, but where to? Who knows, or cares?
The old riding school has been with us since the first half of the 20th century and has been an integral part of the ASE. Students, instructors and competitors have been through its doors including RAVC, WRAC, The King’s Troop RHA, HCMR, Household Division, RAF and Royal Navy. Many horses have trodden its surface – the young, the old and the bold, but no more. The facilities that the DAC provides have now moved into the 21st Century, with the new IRS and the new all-weather surface in the outdoor Ménage.
It was on a quiet Sunday that the old riding school was used for the last time and the doors finally closed. The demolition team then moved in to erect the fencing to secure the site ahead of the bringing down of the faithful, well-used structure. However, as one member of the equine team put it: “Around the corner there was something new and shiny for us to play with, the new indoor riding school.” Building started in September 2007. On day one, the trucks rolled in and the workmen’s caravans were parked-up prior to the digging. “As expected, there were hiccups along the way,” said the team member, “but nothing that we could not overcome, as we knew it was going to be worth it in the end.37
After 14th January 2008, when the new doors opened and twelve horses and riders filed in, the IRS saw AMEC Nos 61 and 62, Competitors, HCMR Courses, Royal Tournament Jumping, training of potential DAC horses and various other activities. The IRS provided the ASE with a much awaited and improved facility, which allowed the equine team to carry-out a wide variety of equitation skills and events. Its 29.5 x 60 metre surface provided an area for students to learn, horses to be trained and competitors to compete. For anyone walking up or down Remount Road, the new IRS was hard to miss, and the old IRS a mere memory.
As the staff member continued in the article: “The thrills and spills have already begun, all of us at the ASE are looking forward to future
events and activities that will take place and the passing-on of stories that, one day, will become someone else’s memories.”
Moving ahead
There was another end to a relationship on 1st March 2010 when the PFI and the DAC parted company – leaving the taxpayer to endure more punishment as the MoD extricated itself from the failed contract. The future for the DAC was going to be much brighter under the MoD than under the PFI partnership which had shown failings, most notably, the appalling state of the kennels at Melton. This at the need at the time to house military dogs in surrounding civilian establish- ments with all the interference to training and logistical burden that entailed.
After a turbulent twelve months or more, twenty-four kennel Assistants and their Line Manager, Mr Paul Hill, finally went back to being employed by the DAC. After eight years, they went back to their old employers without actually leaving! The transition, which was very smooth, involved a new Line manager, Flt Lt Harriet Lowe RAPP, and in overall control was Major Chris Ham RAVC, with whom everyone had worked previously. Canine Charge Hand, Paul Hill, in his article ‘Back in the open arms of the DAC again’ (Chiron Calling spring 2011) commented: “It seemed strange that he (Major Ham) was here when the Private Company came in, and he also came back to the DAC when the company were leaving, maybe that was one reason why he came back? I believe that after such a turbulent twelve months, it was nice to see the open arms of everyone at the Joint Service Dog Training School as we work alongside each other again, as it seemed very much ‘us and them’ under the previous regime. One of the first things the staff felt was that they were appreciated for the hard work that they do. So, after only two months back with the DAC things seem to be going well, and I have no doubt, it will continue.”38
After nearly two years of anticipation (although reading previous chapters, the wait must have appeared much longer), all three phases of the new kennel build with the DAC were completed and finally occupied. The new kennels were a huge leap forward from what had previously existed. The new complex allowed the training wing to accommodate over 300 MWDs. The kennels complexes were heated/aircon self-con- tained modules with their own storerooms and
37 Chiron Calling Winter dated 2009/Spring 2010.
38 Chiron calling Spring 2011 ‘Back in the open arms of the DAC again’ by Mr Paul Hill Canine Charge Hand.
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