Interesting Driving Class at Lexington Jr League Horse Show

[Tiffani_B]

For those of you not familiar with the Lexington Jr. League horse show, it’s one of the oldest Saddlebred shows on record. It’s held at the Red Mile race track in Lexington.

In browsing through the official photographer’s website (because I don’t have the fortune of actually attending :(), I discovered a class called Concourse D’Elegance, something I’ve never heard of. So I clicked to view the photos and HOLY COW!

http://www.howardschatzberg.com/dspProofs.asp?width=1059&show=2010%20Lexington%20Jr%20League%20Show\JULY%2008%2C%20THURSDAY%20-%20EVENING\202%20-%20Concourse%20D'Elegance

There are some incredible carriages on display, and the horse pulling the lion is none other than the 2007 World’s Grand Champion 5-Gaited horse Casey’s Final Countdown. :eek: Born and bred in South Africa and now calling California home, he is owned by Michele Macfarlane who is driving the four pintos pulling the stunning circus wagon. This horse is one of the best examples of Saddlebred versatility - he has been featured in the ASHA magazine with Michele riding through the surf along the Pacific, pulling fancy carriages, and of course winning his world title.

The class held immediately afterwards was the 4-In Hand Coaching. Some more beautiful rigs and lovely turnout…

http://www.howardschatzberg.com/dspProofs.asp?width=1059&show=2010%20Lexington%20Jr%20League%20Show\JULY%2008%2C%20THURSDAY%20-%20EVENING\203%20-%20Coaching%20-%20Four%20In%20Hand

Boy I wish I were there!!!

[shakeytails]

I did attend! I got there just as the class was starting- I’ve never seen anything like it- Amazing! Actually the class immediately following was a 2 year old fine harness class- I wonder what those babies thought when they saw the calliope???

The four in hand was later in the night- I was hoping to see Michelle back with the 4 spotted ASBs pulling a coach, but no luck…

[Tiffani_B]

I was going off of Howie’s site, where he had the 4 In Hand listed right after the Councourse D’Elegance. Regardless, two amazing classes! Wish I could have seen them in person.

[Tiffani_B]

Also, Michele is one of the people who will be exhibiting Saddlebreds at the WEG. I imagine her presentation will be something along the lines of what was shown at Jr League!

[49_er]

Questions…In the first set of photos, who was the gentleman driving the pair with the passenger in red? If Michelle was driving the 4 up of pintos, who was driving the single with the cat for a seat? Who was driving the 3 abreast of minis? In the second set of photos, is that Wendy Ying driving the 4 of Freisians? (Looked like she had a purple shade of hat and Wendy is partial to that color)

Thanks…just curious.

[Tiffani_B]

I’ll try to find out - I’m not sure!

[SmartAlex]

Tif, on Christy Parker’s FB she has a photo where someone identified Africa’s driver (on the cat) as Dena… which would be Dena Tanner Lopez. Not sure if that is her name now or if I’m perhaps behind the times.

[goodhors]

Thanks for the photo site. Not what I would expect to see in a Concors class, but GORGEOUS turnouts to view. Certainly they all went to extreme measures to be appropriate to the vehicles, with superb results. Had to be exciting to watch, each so different and spectacular in itself. What lucky viewers to see such an excellent presentation of vehicles and horses. Sure glad I didn’t have to choose a “best” among them!!

[ASB_Stars]

That is Dena…and that stud looks like he has a pretty interesting hold on her. Driving bit- and she has those reins wrapped around her hands- Yowza!

[Tiffani_B]

Unlike a normal carriage or buggy, that lion has no back rest or place to brace your feet. I wouldn’t want to be driving an “exuberant” show horse in one LOL!

[D_BaldStockings]

I’ve never seen a concours with a circus theme before; very different!

(Usually when I’ve seen the seen the class its been at night with antique gay 90’s carriages complete with lights, footmen, etc.)

That gilt lion looks suspiciously like the standing carousel tiger with modifications. Lions seem to always have manes in evidence.

http://www.agilitynut.com/05/4/pullen5.jpg

Fascinating!

[hitchinmygetalong]

[QUOTE=49’er;4969991]
Questions…In the first set of photos, who was the gentleman driving the pair with the passenger in red? If Michelle was driving the 4 up of pintos, who was driving the single with the cat for a seat? Who was driving the 3 abreast of minis? In the second set of photos, is that Wendy Ying driving the 4 of Freisians? (Looked like she had a purple shade of hat and Wendy is partial to that color)

Thanks…just curious.[/QUOTE]

Are you talking about the four in the coaching class? If so, that was Michelle McFarlane (sp?). Debbie Banfield (manager of the Gayla Driving Center) was seated next to her. What a gorgeous turnout that was!

[CydRae]

The person driving the minis is Ashley Hallock. We use to ride together (same show circuit and a short time with the same trainer) eons ago in Nebraska. She is often seen in Michelle’s photos.
~Cydney

[olehossgal]

I am on dial-up, so haven’t tried to see the video, but sounds like you are describing the several vehicles that Michele and her entourage exhibited in the ‘lead in’ to the Rose Parade, an event featuring the equestrian entrants in the Parade, each doing whatever they do(instead of simply proceeding down the route of the Parade, which is about all they are allowed to do during the Parade itself) in the day or so before it, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. It was actually shown on TV, a several hour event(don’t recall the channel…perhaps RFD-TV?)–but I heard about it and watched it this year, and it was pretty interesting(except when there was too much shameless self-promotion of the sponsor’s groups taking place while there was an event actually going on, but not able to be seen,in the background! GRRR!)

Michele’s group was quite impressive, that’s for sure!!

Margo(AKA olehossgal), in NM

[mares_tails]

Carriage Class entries

202 - Concours D’Elegance Exhibition
Entries that placed:
Entry Place Horse Driver
768 1 TEAM MICHELLE MACFARLANE, San Diego, CA
184 2 Remi & Shanks MISDEE WRIGLEY MILLER, HILLCROFT FARM, Paris, KY
693 3 pair CHARLES POPPE, Cincinnati, OH

203 - Coaching Four In Hand
Entries that placed:
Entry Place Horse Driver
306 1 Team MARILYN MACFARLANE
185 2 Mickie, Janet Je, Vincent, Van Gogh JAMES MILLER, HILLCROFT FARM

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=Tiffani B;4970290]
Unlike a normal carriage or buggy, that lion has no back rest or place to brace your feet. I wouldn’t want to be driving an “exuberant” show horse in one LOL![/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly! You would have to have thighs (and nerves) of steel. Not many people could pull that off and look so calm and cool. My hats off to her!

[Thomas_1]

Yuck! That’s VERY different from the Concours d’Elegance that I’m familiar with.

That’s definitely flashy AND trashy!

Nice coaching classes though.

[Tiffani_B]

@Thomas_1;4976176

Yuck! That’s VERY different from the Concours d’Elegance that I’m familiar with.

That’s definitely flashy AND trashy!

I believe it had a circus theme.

You are unnecessarily rude. I was looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I’m disappointed that was all you chose to elucidate on.

[ASB_Stars]

Psssssttttt…Tiffani…it is after five at the bog…:lol:

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4976176]
That’s VERY different from the Concours d’Elegance that I’m familiar with.[/QUOTE]

Well if it’s different, it must be bad. Loosen up. We know how to have fun over here. She uses those for parades and such, and since the rig needed to be in Lexington for WEG, she was just treating everyone to the spectacle.

Stars… I knew it had to be five o’clock somewhere