Friars Hill stables are keeping themselves busy over these winter months with its variety of choices.

The members of Friars Hill Stables Pony Club were treated to a display by Prison Officer Drugs Dog Handler Simon Abbott and his dogs Diesel, a Black Labrador and Jasper, a Springer Spaniel from Full Sutton Prison near York.

The members are currently working towards their 'Working Dogs' Achievement Badge and the opportunity rose for Simon to visit the stables and talk about his work within the Prison Service. He started by explaining that both his dogs are rescue dogs and how they have been individually and specifically trained before passing their final assessments and becoming fully licensed drug sniffer dogs. He also told the children that not all dogs make it as it is a very intense course and some fail.

After talking more about his work in the Prison, Diesel who is a passive dog that searches for drugs on people, whether it be visitors or staff was introduced. After a demonstration involving some of the children he found some dummy drugs and was rewarded with his ball. The minute Jasper came into the room he immediately sensed there were dummy drugs very nearby.

He is an active dog that searches the larger areas within the Prison as well as cells. It didn't take him long to show Simon the sign that he had found something and he too got his ball as a reward. The children were amazed at the speed in which both dogs worked and how fast they found the dummy drugs. At the end of the session the children had the chance to ask Simon questions about the dogs and they were allowed to make a fuss of Jasper!

The Friars Hill dressage competition last Sunday also saw a full sheet of competitors, with Holly Shepherson and Longslade Dancing Firebird achieve two second places in both her tests and Kerry Miller riding Sapphire gaining a first and third place in her two tests.

Results as follows

Intro A – 1 Kerry Miller & Sapphire, 2 Nell Murray & Jimmy, 3 Ellie Grayson & Murphy, 4 Fiona Shepherd & Hector, 5 Paula Appleby & Eclipse, 6 Melody Mattinson & Henderson.

Prelim 18 – 1 Anna Nightingale & Marciano, 2 Julie Johnson & Galaxy, 3 Kerry Miller & Sapphire, 4 Fiona hill & Grey, 5 Emma Dyson & Soloman, 6 Fiona Hardman & Robert.

Pony Club novice test – 1 Eliz Cook & Boss Tweed, 2 Holly Shepherdson & Longslade Dancing Firebird, 3 Jo Bumby & Victor, 4 Emma Dyson & Soloman, 5 Fiona Hardman & Robert, 6 Liz Cammish & Hilton.

Novice 34 – 1 Jess Thurlow & Blaze, 2 Holly Shepherdson & Longslade Dancing Firebird, 3 Rebecca Champion & Lottie, 4 Ceri Owens & Clyde, 5 Eliz Cook & Boss Tweed, 6 Fran Mason & Ronnie.