THE POACHER HARNESS CLUB

The Poacher Harness Club was originally started by a small group of friends as a private organisation in which they could participate in driving events, drives out and social events which had a distinctly "fun" ethos with less emphasis on competitive point scoring.

Although the Club has now grown beyond the original members the atmosphere is still centred around having fun with horses and ponies in a carriage driving situation.

We have proved to be a good "jumping off" point for complete novices who want to go further in the competitive world outside the scope of Poachers, but the essential core of long-term members still remain the backbone of the Club. These core members range in ability from complete novice to experienced, knowledgeable drivers and grooms who undertake their activities with zeal and pleasure.

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The Poacher Harness Club's Aims and Objectives are as follows:-

To promote the art of carriage driving, by holding events, shows, lectures, demonstrations, drives, training sessions and rallies.

To promote the safe and enjoyable use of horses, ponies and other driven animals.

The well-being of the horse shall be above the demands of breeders, trainers, riders, drivers, owners, dealers, organisers, sponsors or officials.

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Why "The Poacher" Harness Club?

There is a famous English song about a Poacher, in Lincolnshire

It goes like this.....

The Lincolnshire Poacher

When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire,
Full well I serv'd my Master for more than seven year,
Till I took up to Poaching, as you shall quickly hear;
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.

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As me and my companions were setting of a snare,
'Twas then we spied the gamekeeper, for him we did not care,
For we can wrestle and fight, my boys, and jump o'er anywhere.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.

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As me and my companions were setting four or five,
And, taking on 'em up again, we caught a hare alive,
We took the hare alive, my boys, and through the woods did steer.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.

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I threw him on my shoulder, and then we trudged home,
We took him to a neighbour's house and sold him for a crown,
We sold him for a crown, my boys, but I did not tell you where.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.

Success to ev'ry gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire,
Success to ev'ry poacher that wants to sell a hare,
Bad luck to ev'ry gamekeeper that will not sell his deer.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.

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