Kinsella to further answer your question CH is a title earned by accumulating points over time, where WGC, WCC, WC are titles earned by winning one class.
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4976176]
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.[/QUOTE]
I totally disagree with you:mad: I thought that the imagination was amazing and fashion forward…don’t be afraid to break some ground Thomas:yes: My sister and I have a horse that was bred by Michelle and also visited Michelle at her farm in San Diego and found Michelle to be wonderful in person. We even met “Chubasco”, “Sky Watch” “Buck Rogers” and about a million more in person. Most exciting, of course was her kitty “Toby” though!
Now THAT would be fun! I loved the pictures. Michelle has done more promoting of the breed than any other single entity.
Just think about what it took to get the Nagano demo off the ground, literally. Flying 6-8 horses to Japan, plus the staff, the equipment etc. etc. Money aside, the undertaking must have been immense.
I also talked to her on the phone when I bought a breeding to WGC Sky Watch she was very gracious and treated me kindly.
And I AM trashy. lol
Thanks for the info! I didn’t know if winning the WGC was enough to give a horse the CH designation.
I will definitely have to make sure I see the demo at WEG!
Well I never! It’s a storm in a tea cup!
[QUOTE=Tiffani B;4976215]
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.[/QUOTE]
You on the other hand need to know that you can’t be truly rude until you understand good manners. :winkgrin:
Trust me I do know how to do flashy and trashy. You obviously never saw the photos of my carriage with fairy lights and elves. Or the one with dracula and his brides. Had you so done then you’d have appreciated I was commenting from the perspective of totally understanding what flashy and trashy is.
Really? Are you sure?
What the British think is a humourous joke may be completely mystifying to people from other countries.
That is why I am seriously thinking of creating a section for everyone who does find British jokes humourous (or even humorous).
But you don’t have to be British to view this section.
What is the opposite of woe? Gee-up!
Q: What’s the difference between Americans and yogurt? A: If you leave yogurt alone for 200 years, it’ll grow a culture.
Anyway you just honk your horn if you love a quiet life.
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4979731]
What the British think is a humourous joke may be completely mystifying to people from other countries.
That is why I am seriously thinking of creating a section for everyone who does find British jokes humourous (or even humorous). [/QUOTE]
I do find British humor humorous. I love all those Monty Python, Benny Hill, cross dressing, bawdy nuts. Flashy and trashy though they may be. In fact, my name is BRITA, which means “From Britain”
I’m considering creating a section for everyone who understands Americans and the fact that the Circus was a huge part of our culture. Diverse it may be, but CULTURE it is and it is a melting pot culture which accepts influence from every continent and island on the globe, not just the oft stuffy Anglo-Saxon islands. And yes it involved pagentry, gilt cats, caliopes and fun.
Fortunately, I not only understand good manners, I practice them. 
Michele also has a traditional Brighton coaching rig that she has competed in Concours classes out here. Going back through photos, that must have been 2005 or previous, so I can’t link you to any of those. However, this gallery:
http://www.photosbydebbie.com/galleryartistic.htm
shows Michele’s horses off beautifully. With the exception of two photos there, every one is of her horses - most taken for her highly prized calendars. All of the carriages, stages, sleighs, fire engines, etc. are part of the Scripps collection and are antiques. As an FYI, the circus collection is new, and built by Joel Brown in Kentucky.
When she used to host the Winterfest horse show at her place in San Diego, they brought out the entire collection and surrounded the arena with them. You could sit on any of the carriages, sleighs, etc. and watch the horse show.
Michele is many things, but trash is not amongst them. And yes, she is the closing act of the opening ceremonies for WEG. That will feature far more than just the three seen in the photos that Tiffani posted. There will be zebras, emus, and assorted other “acts.” Michele has basically given up all showing this year in order to take her circus act on tour around the country in preparation for WEG (and has formed an entertainment corporation along with it).
[QUOTE=CA ASB;4980052]
Michele has basically given up all showing this year in order to take her circus act on tour around the country in preparation for WEG (and has formed an entertainment corporation along with it).[/QUOTE]
Neat, I didn’t know that. Harken’s back to the old traveling wild west and circus acts of old.
My husband actually remembers going down to the rail road tracks and watching the circus unload, and parade through town.
I have great admiration for Michelle and think this turnout was really fun and spectacular.
But it isn’t really a Concours entry, more of a trade entry or ‘special entry’, but not Concours.
Probably the entry was in that class because there wasn’t another appropriate class for it.
While Concours is about putting on your best and theoretically a really well turned out cart should be eligible as much as a well turned out pair or four, there is a reason many shows started dividing the class into single, and multiple. And I think you’d have to agree that the following are not something you’d expect in a concours class. So while the entry is cool and apparently won the class, I have to agree with Thomas, I wouldn’t have expected it in that class.
http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/Parade/images/2009parade8.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3632623438_1dfe7ec6d0.jpg
http://blog.carnivalneworleans.com/wp-content/uploads/budweiser-clydesdales.jpg
http://windsorreunion.com/images/tub%20parade.jpg
http://www.gildedage.org/images/event/square/GildedAgeWeekend.jpg
While all would be fun to see and would add to the show, they are not appropriate for Concours.
FWIW, Circuses originated in Europe, not the US and if you check out the Circus Museum or Circus paradeyou will find a large number of really wild vehicles of European origin. I don’t think you can say Circuses are an American thing.
[QUOTE=Drive NJ;4980389]
FWIW, Circuses originated in Europe, not the US and if you check out the Circus Museum or Circus paradeyou will find a large number of really wild vehicles of European origin. I don’t think you can say Circuses are an American thing.[/QUOTE]
Didn’t say they were any more American than Apple Pie is. But they are a part of our culture since we are the Melting Pot.
Back in the horse show hey day, they used to have a “Fancy Dress” class which generally entailed a 2 or 4 wheeled vehicle and the fanciest dress, ruffles, top hats you could find. The swan carriage and three abreast minis would have fit right in. 
concours du cirque
[QUOTE=Drive NJ;4980389]
But it isn’t really a Concours entry, more of a trade entry or ‘special entry’, but not Concours. [/QUOTE]
Interesting that you would say that – the show prize list (p34 of 52) had a Commercial/Trade Class listed for the time slot that ended up being called Concours D’Elegance-Exhibition.
.
Oh my gosh, we saw that class. It was just awesome. If any of you watched the Rose Bowl parade last winter, she drove this entry there too. I really wanted to award the other competitors (Misdee Wrigley and Charlie Poppe) awards for keeping their horses/ponies under the lid while that calliope was playing; they looked, but they behaved. And I am so excited that McFarlane will be in the opening ceremonies for WEG! What a wonderful way to conclude the festivities.
Her entry may have been due to combining classes. There was some confusion on the Jr League website about whether the class would be concours or trade. It was listed as both in different places. So maybe they decided to combine with the few entries? Anyway, I’m glad we saw it. I knew that horse pulling the lion had to be “somebody” - he was just breath-taking.
Combined classes - That would explain it then.
As I said - very nice entry
Adding congrats to other entries for dealing with Calliope
Smart Alex - Totally agree and think the whole entry could well have fit into the Fancy Dress or exhibition or trade class
[QUOTE=Ginger;4980506]
There was some confusion on the Jr League website about whether the class would be concours or trade. It was listed as both in different places. So maybe they decided to combine with the few entries? [/QUOTE]
I found it listed in the Country Pleasure Western division 
(pg 26) and under Coaching and Exhibition (pg 34)
On Pg 26 it’s listed as Concourse D’Elegance-Trade and on Pg 34 it’s listed as Commercial/Trade, both with the same class number (202) and each with seperate requirements, so yes, that’s confusing but it also says to call the Secretary with your proposal.
Not to “dis” Misdee Wrigley Wright or the other exhibitors who routinely put forth the effort to exhibit coaches one iota, but I think it was fun to add the Commercial/Trade element. Of course, it also wouldn’t have hurt to put on a seperate exhibition so as not to detract from the traditional coaches.
as i understand it the councours d’elegance generally means turning out or appearance to the very very highest standards but will say thats my opnion nothing more nothing less
I think that’s what Thomas was trying to say.
I really love when they add Commercial/trade. Adds a lot to the day
OK so you wanted some informed and considered comments.
Circus: Amercian culture??!! Get on! You’re having a laugh! The circus started in Rome and Egypt forever ago! But I presume you meant the modern circus though.
In fact the modern circus and horses are intrinsically linked. The modern circus was established at the London Hippodrome in the 18th century. Philip Astley is accredited with starting with exhibitions of horse riding and he also did tricks on horseback. He then introduced a clown high wire tumbler. There was also variety theatre. Sometimes, wild animals, such as lions and elephants.
Then a compariate of Astley, Charles Hughes, also a horse man, was responsible for the start of Circus in Russia. He took an equestrian display to the court of Catherine the great in 1790. It proved very popular but it was not until 1873 that the fist Russian Circus company was formed in St. Petersburg.
American Circus developed in a different way from English and Russian possibly due to the influence of P.T.Barnham the great showman. It was and still is Razzmatazz!
Circus themed class?: So it’s either circus transportation or else it’s fancy dress. So that would either be a Trade class or a Fancy Dress Class.
Concours D’elegance: Which I appreciate the OP had never even heard of previously is actually a showing class competition of elegance and prestige. Places are awarded according to which turnout the judge deems to create the most correct, elegant and prestigious and pleasing picture from afar.
What is shown in the photo with the circus vehicles are commercial trade class. But with a hotch potch of interpretative features thrown in that to me make it not genuine commercial trade but more some sort of interpretative twist or fancy dress show.
What I don’t understand though is why there’s circus vehicles in the class with what is more akin to Concours D’elegance. Looks to me like there’s 2 classes there or else it’s just some themed special class.
I want to ask the OP :
Are you absolutely certain that the circus vehicles you showed photographed were in the class listed as Concours D’elegance???
Because, trust me, if they were then that isn’t Concour D’elegance at all.
That is the name of the class per the official show photographer’s website. And, if you read through the earlier posts on this thread, it appears two classes were combined, most likely due to low entries.
[QUOTE=Tiffani B;4981912]
That is the name of the class per the official show photographer’s website. And, if you read through the earlier posts on this thread, it appears two classes were combined, most likely due to low entries.[/QUOTE] Just seen that and I can now fully appreciate that no wonder it wasn’t like anything I was familiar with.
