Recalling war effort of Wolds Wagoners

It had its premiere in New York this week and will open in this country in January.

The moving story of the friendship between a young farm boy, Albert, and his horse, Joey, during the First World War has become well known, thanks to the hugely successful stage version both in London and on Broadway.

When Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France, Albert enlists so that he can go to the front and find his beloved horse. The full horror of the war then unfolds.

Horses were vitally important during the First World War – eight million of them died – and so were the men who rode and looked after them.

What is not so well known outside of Yorkshire, is the story of the Wolds Wagoners, farm workers from the East Riding, who suddenly found themselves called up as soon as war broke out.

The Wolds Wagoners were unique. Their formation was the idea of Sir Mark Sykes, the 6th baronet of Sledmere, who had served in South Africa with the Green Howards.

He realised that in any future war, more wagon drivers who were already trained would be needed to carry supplies and that the wagons used on the Wolds were particularly suitable.

Here they were still using pole wagons, where the horses went either side of a central pole and they could either be driven or ridden postillion style.

The wagons could be turned easily and could carry heavy loads. Similar to Army wagons, they would be perfect for the men to train on.

He began, unofficially, to organise and train groups of drivers, paying them to demonstrate their skills at Sledmere’s annual show.

It was easy money so far as they were concerned but by 1913 the War Office had shown an interest and made the Wagoners an official, Special Reserve corps.

More than 1,000 had signed up and when the call came, in the summer of 1914, these farm workers left the harvest to go to war.

Many did not return but these horsemen of the Yorkshire Wolds were never forgotten.

Sir Mark designed a monument to the Wagoners which depicts rather graphically the story of their mobilisation and service.

It stands on the side of the road opposite Sledmere House. A film crew from the BBC’s The One Show recently visited Sledmere to make a short film about the monument which is to feature in the programme in January.

At the house there is also what must be one of the smallest museums in the country, dedicated to the Wagoners.

Every year, they hold an open day when, among other things, volunteers re-stage some of the wagon driving competitions that the farm workers prior to 1914 would have taken part in. For more information go to www.sledmerehouse.com/wagoners.

Next year’s Bramham International Horse Trials has a new sponsor.

Equi-Trek, the Holmfirth based horsebox manufacturers, have signed a one-year sponsorship deal for the event, which will take place from June 7 to 10.

They take over from previous sponsors Welcome to Yorkshire and the event next year will be just a few weeks before the Olympics get underway.

It could be the final chance to see some of our top riders in action before they head to Greenwich Park.

Equi-Trek have been supporters at Bramham for the past eight years, including sponsoring the East arena and a fence on the cross-country course. The box office will open on February 1.

East Yorkshire link to Japan’s eventing challenge at London 2012

THE show-jumping Evison family will be keeping a special eye on an event horse called Latina 43 as the London Olympics grow ever closer.

They have just sold the bay mare to the Japanese Olympic eventing team, who are based at a yard in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Latina will be ridden by Takayuki Yumira who will be aiming her for Greenwich next year.

The nine-year-old bay mare was bred in Germany and bought as a two-year-old from Holland by Rachael Evison as a possible show jumper. Rachael is based at Eastrington in East Yorkshire.

In order to gain experience, Latina was entered into the Burghley Young Event Horse competitions as both a four and a five-year-old. She qualified at Bramham both times for the final, which is held at Burghley, and finished just outside the top 10 on both occasions. She was ridden in both competitions by Matthew Boddy, the son of course builder Di Boddy.

Realising the horse’s eventing potential, Rachael decided to send her to Alex Postolowsky in 2008 until the end of 2009. They formed a successful partnership and Latina progressed to advanced level.

Following a superficial fetlock injury, caused on the ice, which was slow to heal, Latina had to miss the 2010 season. After regaining fitness, in May this year she went to top event rider Lucinda Fredericks. Their successes included seventh in the CIC eight and nine-year-old section at Blenheim and eighth in the CIC three-star at Hartpury. They finished in 16th place at the CCI three-star at Boekelo in Holland, gaining Olympic qualification. Latina was also the highest placed horse for the Australian team – for which Lucinda rides – in the team event there, winning a silver medal.

Next came the offer from the Japanese team and now the Evisons will be keeping their fingers crossed as the Olympics approach. “We wish them both well,” said Rachael.

The Horse of the Year Show and Cheltenham racecourse have got together to offer visitors a joint package. Buy a ticket for Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival on March 14 and a gold ticket for the opening day of HOYS on October 3 for a total of £70.50 and you will save £12.