Oops! Didn’t address your question about the singletree, etc. I’ll have to take a look about the spring system. The singletree is attached by a leather strap; there are no chains from the singletree to axle.
It’s an antique reproduction of a Brewster pony park gate gig. I’ll have to get some more pics for you…I took a bunch the other day as we have it for sale.
Sorry guys, i feel like my 4 year old, “but Why?” Seems he comes by this honestly from me. I have always had this incessant need to know the whole truth. I have a habit of cross-referencing info as to not blindly follow and look like a … dork.
Still not getting an answer on the red as a base color no-no. Wouldn’t care except I just got from the salvage store a very nice dark, dark, dark red and black plaid jacket that I thought, “that would look good with my natural road cart and bright bay mare.”
Should I reconsider?
I have to figure out how to post pics on here of these various turnouts i am wrestling with. Anyone else interested in a Turnout Critique Thread?
That would be a good subject matter for a thread.
I can have a rummage through all my old photos and get some scanned to my computer in readiness.
Burgandy red was always a very traditional colour here. Quite a nice one to go with a black horse I think.
I’m not sure that anyone can advise you whether to reconsider without seeing it. But also because showing is so subjective it’s really hard to say that something is right or wrong. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder.
The main thing you HAVE to do when showing is know your judge.
hope they don’t mind me posting this, but about 3/4 of the way down the page, on the right, there is a link to some very enlightening write ups on turn out http://www.vermontel.net/~greenall/home.html
(enlightening to those of us who need all the help we can get)
Eh Yeh…go to John Greenall’s clinic on Turnout, find his opinion on Turnout, dress to please him, and if you are not driving a “metal” two wheeled carriage you will “pin” in the class. I find him to be very biased on anything not wood! Wonder why?
There ya go. Know your judge even what parts of the country they may come from.
Now, all this show-chatter is for the ADS pleasure shows in the United States. Our local shows, yes, you should show as if you were going to the ADS show…but better to show local for the experience, and not let the fact that you haven’t found just the right hat or jacket yet stop you from showing . Clean that harness, and groom that horse, and get all your spares together and show. Get your experience driving and work up to the big shows.
#$%# I can’t even show at Walnut Hill VSE just because I drive a mini-mule. Famous John Henry is there as Kathleen says, only “in the specialty class: commercial”, I think he should have the option to show pleasure. So, there is unfairness in life everywhere…go for what makes you happy and be damned the rest of the stuff!!!
I believe at all sports there is a “Standard” as in breeding animals, or poultry, there is a book of Standards. This is what you shoot for. Don’t try to bring the Standards down, work at bringing yourself up to the Standard.
I have got to get off this soap box, very sorry…
I love Pleasure driving and show Pleasure Classes.
I thought aprons were only to be worn by the driver. Never the passenger. JG’s articles state just the opposite, that everyone should wear aprons, or the passenger(s) can wear a lap robe.
Is this another UK USA difference?
Passengers wear aprons, grooms do not. Passengers stay in the carriage, grooms get out to head.
Drivers wear aprons and passengers should use lap travel rugs.
I posted on that earlier.
Exception is coaching when there’s sometimes a full “apron” which is really an apron on the driver with a sort of extension bit so it goes right across the driver and passenger on the box seat.
There was quite a lot in that article that over here would be very wrong… sorry I mean DORKY
I haven’t figured out how to post pix. My country gig is natural wood. I don’t dress as formally as with a painted vehicle. My hat may be straw in the summer, a long sleeve shirt instead of a jacket, some print on the shirt or small quiet plaid in the apron. In the fall or early spring, more casual jackets, felt hats. I wear about the same stuff if I am doing dressage in my marathon vehcile in a CDE as what I wear with my country gig for pleasure shows.
Thanks so much to you all for your advice. This definately helps.
Have devoured all of Greenall’s article on line. Now what? Whoopdeedo you talk of a book of standards. That’s exactly what Im looking for with regards to turnout. Maybe ADS should write more specific standards.
So Thomas, Im dieing here. What does JG say that conflicts with UK tradition?
Im going to start a photo thread, pricestory, get that pic posted. Im dieing to see it!
Carriage Associatin of America www.caaonline.com
CAA Guide Ladies’ Turnouts #6
Author: edited by Tom Ryder
CAA Turnout and Appointments Series - Ladies’ Turnouts
Number 6 in a series of booklets
Item #502 Price: $5.00
Also five other books on specific carriage types and turnouts. All inexpensive booklets and quite helpful
Best turnout advice is to think in terms of interview clothes you used to wear (now that for some anything goes). Most importantly it has to fit and allow you the arm and shoulder movement to drive. Best outfits you can put on and forget they are there, they fit to work in and look good no matter what angle or what you are doing. Typically you will have to compromise and do the best you can.
Men have it a bit easier with suit or pants & sport coat, tie and hat.
Women have more choices and more issues that come with them, skirt or slacks, blouse or jacket, etc. Again, best to be a little more formal or conservative. One judge complaint I’ve heard though is overly formal dress for marathon or country turnouts
Personally I don’t care for the funeral look and would add enough color in the blouse/shirt man’s tie, trim on the hat, etc to add some pop. In hotter climates, lighter colors can make sense as can blouses rather than jackets. Red coats or nicely toned pastels have been worn by several lady drivers successfully, but you better be really good to live up to the attention you will get.
Come up with a look you like, drive the pony/horse and take loads of pictures from all angles then study them with a friend you will listen to. Is the jacket comfortable to drive in or does it bunch or pull? Are you constantly twitching at something, hunching, adjusting your position - it doesn’t fit. Looking out from under the hat brim or find you are changing head position too keep hat from blowing off - too much brim or doesn’t fit right.
Now look to see if anything jumps out at you. If the first thing you notice is not the horse and your eye keeps returning to that whatever, you need to change that out of your outfit. Some examples we’ve seen that didn’t work
at World Championships a lady driver with VERY light colored gauntlet gloves - honestly all you saw were the white gloves floating around the ring, hardly noticed the bay team, dark carriage etc.
Overdone ladies hats
with smallish hat with veil that dropped over face. Veil was light colored and was not securely fixed under her chin. It was a breezy day. Picture lady with pink hat and veil standing straight up over her head
a 1.5 to 2 ft scarf floating out behind the driver
or the many overloaded hats we fondly term exploding chicken hats
Just some ideas to start
Thanks Drive NJ - I already have the series of those too. My hubby calls me an INFO-maniac.
Two looks I see, not often but still, are these.
The blouse-y silk shirt with the scarf bowtied around your neck - HATE IT.
Shirt or jacket with a scart layed over the shoulders and tied in front, almost like a poncho. What? I saw one of these win at Walnut Hill in a huge class of Meadowbrook/roadcart turnouts single pony i think. Yuck!
any thoughts?
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
