Page 141 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

gave us certain misgivings. This together with the fact that everyone sat sideways made it
most uncomfortable to drive long distances.
Another two wheeled vehicle was consequently purchased from Leicester, something a
little larger, a “Rally Cart”. This one you mounted from the front and we all felt far more
comfortable, especially as driving control was facing the front, the direction of travel.

The “Rally Cart” which stayed with us for BDS outings until 1984.

It was about this time we were visiting friends in the London area and combined the trip
with a visit to Windsor Great Park to see the Annual Show of the British Driving Society.
Obviously, vehicles on display were of the highest standard and you might say the elite of
the horse driving world. All number of combinations of horses and vehicles were
represented, it was a real eye opener.

The biggest effect on our entire future life though was Dalmatian dogs at work. We rapidly
learnt that they were traditional carriage guard dogs and could travel with the horse drawn
vehicle as far as the horse would take it.
Ruth was well bitten by this idea and it was not long before our first Dalmatian, in fact the
very first dog in our marriage, arrived on the scene.

Ruth had made contact with one of the ladies who was using a Dalmatian at the Windsor
show. Mrs Marylian Watney, was obviously from a very upper class background but could
not be more helpful in her advice in training a Dalmatian to become a true carriage dog.
Her husband Sanders Watney (no relation unfortunately), a director of that famous
brewing company, was an original founder and president of the British Driving Society.

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