Peg, she looks lovely in the neck collar! The Pacific Smart Cart is a great choice with her and looks very nice. Where did you find the collar, and what size is it?
Signed,
A Fellow VSE Driver Who Can Never Find a Good Collar
Hello Washington HobbyHorse23: Whoohoo! Other side of the country, thank you all out there for your wonderful support driving VSE. I don’t miss an article in Driving Digest or the Whip.
I had a 16 inch collar erroneously purchased by eyesight, and when slipped over her head, she “swam” in it. Thanks to the Smuckers shop at the time, over the phone, I measured using that one. Lifting the collar up to rest correctly at the shoulder, I measured the distance of 5-6inches too big. I went with the the minus 5 and ordered an 11 inch collar through Mini Express in Florida. Here is my secret out, MiniExpress’s harness man, comes south in the winter and she orders what people need through him.
He is a harness maker and is Amish, but, the cuts of leather are good leather. This year I want to order a new saddle and a new bridle made to size. I add what I can afford. The collar was the purchase of the year last year. I have Spook’s half brother, and my ultimate goal is to drive them as a pair, but that means new harness and a four wheel.
Mr. Schuil of Pacific Carriage says he has a pole now for the Smart Cart, but I told him I would be drummed out my post as Regional Director on safety issues driving a pair to a two wheel vehicle. How about that?
I like the “Spook” too. We had a friend once who’s dog was named Spook. He sounded really racist standing out on his deck calling the dog in for the night!
Anyway, I like the collar for Spook too. Better line of draught that the breast collar. I agree, the blue gig needs the collar harness, correct tugs, the whole nine yards. Regarding the shafts - not sure about raising them, may toss me out the back. The shafts do have an extreme bend to them ahead of the tugs. I have compared many a photo and have seen many at the same level as mine. Hmmm something to fiddle with.
Whoopdeedo - I agree, the thinner the lady, the easier it is to feel the part of the carriage pretty picture. But I can tell you that I do have some annoying fitting issues of my own that leave me high and dry in the in between sizes. Since having my son, my upper arms have gotten very flabby and I have a devil of a time fitting the jackets over my flab. And I have always had a super strange hourglass figure with most of the sand in the bottom, if you get my drift. Off the rack aprons do not fit my waist and backside. If the waist fits, it barely covers the sides of my hips, if the bum is covered the waist is gigantic, sloppy and ugly. So remember that the grass is always greener. Ah to be a man who can just don a snappy suit and smart hat and be merrily driving on his way!!
On a side, I love your hats. I would be brave and experiment with lighter patterns on top. Leave the dark colors on the bottom half. I have never been a big fan of top dark, bottom light. I think the gray apron is very nice but looks lost without something more obviously tieing it together on your top half.
I also noticed in one pic that your blinker stays are onthe outside of your browband. Is that right? I have always seen them tucked under the browband. I think your cutey pie could use some shiney bling on her browband to match her new flashy collar, too.
On the mule, I like how the collar looks on her. As mentioned, gives her a better line of draught to make optimum use of her power. If you want to use a breast collar for daily use, I would suggest a shaped one, slightly V-shaped that gives her room at the windpipe to lower her head and higher up over her shoulders. Maybe even one of the new,extreme breast collars that are cut so deeply for the windpipe and legs, to allow better use of body. I think Empathy is the name of that new collar design from Advanced Equine:
http://www.advancedequine.com/Zilco-Empathy-breastplate-harness-p/930-z480122.htm
The breast collar photo appears to have it placed very low on her chest. She may need that placing for windpipe, but shoulder points are getting interfered with as she pulls.
I have always put the winker stays under the browband, but her browband looks tight. Perhaps she needs one in a larger size, so winker stays will fit under there and allow browband to be a bit lower on her face. Winkers look pulled up hard, so stay straps are wide by the ears. You may have her set up this way because winker stays are too short, maybe her head only works this way in the bridle. Some mules are touchy about their ears, so bridling is difficult. I am just wondering if bridle is a bit too small over-all. One of those “average” sizes that fit no one well.
Another question is are the winkers on bridle cupped or shaped? They look rather flat, not curved around her eyes and a bit tight with the winker stays pulled up so short. Could be the photo or contrast of her white lashes against the black of winkers.
On the clothing, I would suggest longer jacket sleeves, to cover the white of blouse sleeves showing. White pulls your eye immediately, shows every move you make with arms. You may have very quiet hands, but others will notice each move with the white showing. My friends may wear short or sleeveless blouses, to prevent the cuffs showing with arms extended in Driving.
Same color jacket and apron can make for a longer body look. Would a brighter shade of blue liven it up enough for you?
I liked the black and grey with the sharp hat. It all went together well in the photo. A photo from ringside might give a better view of what the judge sees. The bright mule color is going to be the first thing noticed, not sure if darker colors will be a blur from any distance. I show the photos to non-horse friends and ask what they notice first. Such friends don’t ALWAYS check out the animals first! I had a grey and navy outfit I thought was SO COOL. Photos after just had me as a dull blur with a white face. Really dull, almost invisible in the navy vehicle. Too matchy-matchy. Horse was GOOD, but she was all you could see with her light yellow color, white mane, tail, tall stockings. Photo showed the truth of colors, not my imagined appearance.
I tend to now use brighter colors, want to avoid the funeral look, though dark is often touted as desirable in Pleasure Driving. The “name” ladies doing Coaching, driving fancy rigs, who can afford anything, use brighter colors themselves. Not usually seen in all the dark, drab shades. Pretty is pretty, whether on a CDE or Pleasure turnout. Searching for winners photos might give you some ideas for touches of color.
Winfield, I have to agree with KellyS on the shafts. Curved tip is too low on horse shoulder. Those Gig shafts are just called “curved”, not really hooked as some are on the antiques. I would try raising the tug loops, see how the vehicle rides for you. May not be possible, making tilt back of body, too much. Gig almost looks too small for that horse in some ways.
The picky points of pleasure driving would include French Tugs, so curve stays in place, in the tugs. Shafts can’t get out of tug loops with the locking French Tugs. Places like Walnut Hill would call for a full collar, Gig bit, Gig saddle, false breeching, martingale, for ladies driving horse correctly turned out. Reading the rule book for Pleasure Driving can give you MUCH information on items needed in each class for the various vehicles.
Looking at the CORRECT photos now, I am mixed on the Gig vehicle to that horse. I see the blocking, to gain height. HOWEVER, even with blocks removed, dashboard is very high, with shaft line very low on any animal. I want dashboard to be almost equal in height to horse rump top. To get the straight, LEVEL line of shafts behind the curve, animal would need to be quite small. Yet your larger horse is still quite far out front, in the shafts. Looking at some of the other photos I found this one:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage.aspx?pi=01KX00CN3J0009&po=9
You might want to adjust the breeching so it comes into play sooner for stopping. Horse should not be holding the vehicle back with the tug loops on tug stops.
A word of warning about Arabs and Arab crosses with their thin skin. Many do not like the heavier vehicles, seem to get pinched between bony shoulder bones and harness. This makes them cold-shouldered, not wanting to move into a heavier load because it can hurt to pull. So all the Arab folks we know are careful about vehicle and fit of harness when trying to move up to bigger vehicles with their animals. Some don’t have any problem, like our beginner Arab crosses. Their QH half were pullers, would haul a train, no pinch problems with them. Other folks can only drive the lightest carts to their Arab horse without a problem. Pinching makes them reactive, as pain would to anyone. Something to consider if your horse is a little bouncy with this vehicle, though modern Gig is usually much lighter than the antiques, easier to pull.
I am wondering if vehicle would be a better fit with a much more curved, sharper hook to shafts. Doing a shaft replacement is not real hard. You would want the hook to have steel strap on the underside to hold the shape. Higher hook would still raise the tug loops on saddle, but keep the shafts level for travel, put the shaft point at her shoulder.
I think the outfit you wear is quite attractive in that vehicle. Only thing is if darker gloves make the white jacket stand out when you move your hands. White moving, catches the eye.
If you are having problems with laprobe/aprons, you could go with some tailoring to fit them better. Darts can reduce the waist size, while allowing good hip fit and coverage you want. Better laprobe/apron makers can help you out easily. Sherri Lower of Hats Off Botique does great work, along with a number of other folks.
Brown gloves are traditional for Driving and riding. Black gloves meant that someone had died and you were in mourning for them. White gloves showed all the dirt, especially with rein handling, were hard to clean and expensive! Gloves should be a darker shade so they don’t draw attention to your hands and rein handling moves. Should cover the wrists.
Husband got points off at a CDE once from a Pleasure Judge doing Presentation, for new tan gloves being “too orangy”. Judge couldn’t fault him for anything else, didn’t even notice mixed metal of brass on traces and silver on harness. Only had brass fittings on roller bolt traces! Funny what will catch their eye or is most important to them.
Small hat is cute, but I would put up the veil or remove it. You do not want to look like a costume class, unless that is what you are entered in. Driving folks mostly do NOT want to be considered as wearing “costumes”. I never see veils down on hats except in dressy store displays or fashion magazines. Old time ladies did wear veils, but does not seem to have come forward with other “traditional” clothing mandates. Sidesaddle ladies in habits still need veils to be correct, but might also help keep their hats on. You probably will only see them veiled in a ring class. You need good vision for driving, veils down are a hazard these days.
Gracious Thanks. Your time and words are so appreciated.
:eek::eek: what ?? what on Earth are they ?? PM me will you when you get some time about them??
thanks
I’ll share one of mine: Photo below taken years ago (when I showed) after winning a Concours d’Elegance class. Son climbed in the carriage for the photo. (Please note the holly whip :))
They are a fabricated “breed” (registry?) based on an April’s Fools joke. 
But probably not too far removed from how many registries got their start. As it is, I think the idea was/is pretty cute – as are Ashmont’s adorable ponies.
[QUOTE=gothedistance;4366534]
They are a fabricated “breed” (registry?) based on an April’s Fools joke. But probably not too far removed from how many registries got their start. As it is, I think the idea was/is pretty cute – as are Ashmont’s adorable ponies.[/QUOTE]
And easy care is one of the breed attributes. Hence the required roached manes and flowing forelocks to save grooming time for the owners. You have to love a breed with such a designed-in feature!
