I could write a novel based on those two. But an editor would say the characters are way too vibrant and they’d have to be toned down. And I’d have to argue that they were all that and then some.
The whole scene was “Grey Gardens” meets “MacArthur” by way of … I don’t know. Ah! … “On Golden Pond.”
Great imagery!
I knew a few like that too. Clear out of the warm up ring when they arrived. Too scary.
Do it! I always wanted a pair, and pulled the trigger in early summer. I ordered the Ego7s in brown and love the color!
Leave it to @CBoylen to know what’s what for sidesaddle in the hunt field. You need to write a book!
Yep, I’ve got about three pair of random string gloves in my sidesaddle garment bag. And I do ride in regular crochet-backs to school, except when it gets too cold.
When I rolled into a show this summer and my trainer saw I was in rust breeches, she asked if I was going to wear a green coat as well. I’d planned to do navy as it was a little more subtle, but it took very little encouragement to pull out the olive coat instead. Judge was someone who’d definitely been around for the true era of such attire and it didn’t hurt our placings at all–we ended up champion! Rust has actually been pretty lucky for us this year; we’ve placed better wearing it than not 
I’m hoping and praying to get back in the show ring with my chestnut next year - y’all are really tempting me to go all out and buy brown boots, helmet, gloves, and belt. I already have a hunter green coat… 
I wasn’t really out of horses for a long time, always had one and rode a lot, but had been out of showing for a couple of decades, except for a bit of eventing.
A friend really wanted to go to a big two-day show, so off we went. All the riders over fences were using crest release. I thought, WHAT? Doesn’t anyone in South Carolina know how to RIDE?!?
Thats a rather sweeping condemnation doncha think? And at least 25 years too late as far as the pearl clutching over the crest release equalling incompetent riding theory…how many trainwreck threads on that over the years?
As my years have gotten up there, I try to avoid expressing opinions about how much better everything was in the “ good old days”, always hated that.
What? That’s not a condemnation at all of any kind. It’s just surprise that everyone seemed to have to hold on with their hands while jumping.
Remember, I had never ever SEEN crest release, didn’t know what it was or why they were riding like that.
A while ago, I shared a photo of me at a show back in the 70’s on my Facebook page. Someone commented on my “unusual crest release.” Ummm, no, that’s called “a following hand” and it’s what was taught back in the 60s when I started riding.
And here I was, so proud of that straight line from the bit to my elbow. 
Edited to say that I’m not criticizing anyone. The crest release makes good sense for most riders. Edited again to note that when I say “most riders,” I’m including myself at this stage of my riding life.
Yup, that’s what I was taught and what I knew and what everyone who showed, back when I was showing so much, did.
That straight line from the bit to the elbow was the ideal. You were right to be proud of it. It meant you had independent seat and a following hand, the horse literally pulled your hand forward, and if everything was balanced, with loose joints, the line from bit to elbow came out straight.
Also, back then, people didn’t show until they were ready.
AMEN!
Many, many things are much better now
I had to UN-LEARN the straight line when I first returned as an adult in my 20s. My (then-new) coach kept calling: “Crest release! Crest release!” And I was all, “Huh?”
The Horsemasters is an early 1960s Disney movie set at a horsemanship school in England. Annette Funicello and Tommy Kirk were the leads. I saw it as a kid on The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday night. I was already riding when I saw the movie. I loved that movie. I wanted to go to that school, and learn to ride as well as those wonderful horsemen, and ride those beautiful horses. There was lots of footage of real people riding, e.g. clips from a fox hunt, scenes that were real riders doubling for the actors.
The other day, I watched The Horsemasters for the first time since the '60s on YouTube. Oh, my. I was kind of appalled. Yes, many, many things about riding have changed for the better.
A Following Hand is an appropriate choice jumping larger courses, going over varied terrain and carrying some pace. Crest Release is just as appropriate in a groomed arena over lower fences at a sedate pace.
These days the better trainers teach 3 crest releases, all with hands on each side just below the crest, plus the auto/following hand. Each has its place.
Remember that today, most riders don’t have any access to riding anywhere but in an arena so they dont’t need quite as large a tool box to ride effectively.
Thank you for the additional explanation.
The picture I posted about was a green hunter over fences class on an outside course over rolling ground, so it ticked all of your boxes for using a following hand.
IIRC Horsemasters was about circa 1960 era Eventing and some of the obstacles ( ridden by professionals and stuntmen) were pretty intimidating and not in the least frangible. All about kick on at all costs.
I’m surprised you’d never seen the crest release, as it’s been around a long long time. It just wasn’t called that. This rider is clearly not using the crest release because he’s unstable, wobbly, or inexperienced. This photo is from nearly fifty years ago and I’m sure we all recognize who he is. 
Driving Turnout class requires a pair tucked under the seat. You wear brown leather to drive & slip the string pair over those if it rains, so lines don’t slip.
The Debate is over whether the gloves are placed with the thumb pointed towards or away from the Whip(driver).
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