Keely, as I recall it there were three entries. Two to antique-type vehicles and one wood-paneled Glinkowski wagonette very nicely turned out in ADS style with carriage harness. That entry placed last, which is a shame.
I didn't notice the time stamps on the rest of this thread until after I'd written the below but I think I'll let it stand as I would like to discuss it.
Hi Rita! Welcome to the forum and I'm very glad to see your participation on this thread. I am THRILLED to see this class added to the roster but have a couple of concerns I wonder if we could discuss based on the rules as posted here.
In the wider carriage driving world, "Light Harness", "Fine Harness" and "Draft Harness" are three very different styles of driving. Draft harness horses are referred to as a "hitch," use full collars with full hames, often have nickel decorations on their harnesses, may have three breeching straps or other variations of harness like chain trace ends, and are driven to hitch wagons and commercial vehicles. They are required to perform historical maneuvers such as fanning the horses and usually move in a deliberate, collected manner as these horses are meant to be pulling weight, not moving fast. This is the traditional harness for draft horses (Percherons, Clydesdales, Belgians, etc.) and draft ponies like Fjords. Fine harness turnouts are the ones you see breeds like the Saddlebreds, Morgans and Arabs displaying in the show ring. This is a patent leather harness with a check and absolutely no breeching, usually of rolled leather and sometimes with colored trim on the bridle and pulling a show cart or viceroy. The horses are usually very high-stepping and fancy and very much of the saddleseat or Park type. Hackneys and modern Shetlands would fall right into this category. Light harness, on the other hand, does not refer simply to anything that is not draft. It refers to that range of harnesses between draft and fine, which as you noted can include neck collars without full hames, breast collars, breeching, checks or no checks, and can be driven to a variety of vehicle types. Carriage harness, meaning the type generally driven at American Driving Society events, falls squarely into this category.
Where I get a little concerned is the way these rules are written, it's basically a draft hitch class driven in different harness. Light harness is a completely different
style of driving as well, not just a turnout class, and I think it could only benefit the miniature horse associations (especially with our new partnership with the ADS!) if we brought this new division into line with the rest of the driving world. I would like to see this class driven much like a regular driving class with a walk, working trot, and extended trot both ways of the ring and a reinback in the line up. The rules below state that 70% of the judging is to be on the way of going but what I saw at Nationals was the antique carriages and "best turnout" winning...period. Someone in a modern carriage with comfortable, well-adjusted carriage harness did not stand a chance because this was more truly about showing off your fancy carriage than your team's driving training.
Of course the fancy turnouts are wonderful to look at and need a place to be shown! But I see potential here for many of the drivers we are losing to the ADS to be brought back into breed show competition if this division is done right and the way the rules are currently written, they will not be interested. I know I will show my tandem instead of driving them as a pair because that's the only way I can be fancy enough to place.
awoimini said:
Section X, Part 18A - Light Harness Pairs or More 38" and under.A. Classes may be offered for pairs, tandems, unicorns, four-in-hand, six-in-hand, 4 abreast, etc.
B. Gait Requirements: Hitches are to enter the show ring at a trot going counter-clockwise (to the right). The horses should be judged at the flat footed walk, a four beat straight movement and easy going. The extended trot should be ground covering and reaching. Extreme animation is to be penalized. Horses should be asked to stand quietly in the line up and rein back at the discretion of the Judge.
C. Horses must be harnessed in light harness with breast collar, full collar, (Not Full Hames). Britching is permitted. Harness may have side check or over-check. Liverpool bits not allowed. Check bit and martingales are optional.
D. Vehicle should be two wheeled (meadow-brook type), or four wheeled wheeled buggy, buckboard type, or antique carriage. No viceroys, racing sulkys, or fine harness rigs allowed.
E. Exhibitors shall not be allowed to wear formal type wear (evening gowns or tuxedos). Casual or western type wear is appropriate, hats may or may not be worn, but all clothing should be appropriate to the type of vehicle that is being used.
F. Judging to be based 70% on way of going, 20% on equipment and harness, 10% on conformation.
I'm confused as to why Liverpool bits would not be allowed when they are traditional turnout for many multiple hitches in carriage harness, but can live with that. I LOVE the fact that checks are optional!
It would be nice if the apparel rules could be broadened to include appropriate historical turnout such as driving aprons, brown gloves, nice jackets and ladies' hats (which is definitely NOT a casual appearance); I am a little concerned that confused judges pouring over the rules for guidance might decide that since such a thing isn't listed, it isn't allowed.
My main concern however is with the description of the accepted vehicles. I understand that some exclusion needs to be made to indicate that roadster rigs, viceroys and the like are not to be shown in this class. What bothers me is that the description of the vehicles which
are allowed completely skips all the modern two- and four-wheeled carriages which are available for multiple hitches. Meadowbrooks and other country-driving turnout are not the only appropriate two-wheeled vehicles for tandems (and barring a Cape Cart arrangement, two-wheelers should NEVER be used for pairs!) and there are many four-wheeled vehicles that cannot correctly be classed as buggies, buckboards or antiques. Unless you make room for those in this division it is essentially a costume class just as Roman Chariot is. IMO that would be a terrible shame and leaves many modern drivers out in the rain, unable to use their gig carts, Bellcrowns, marathon vehicles or other perfectly appropriate light-harness turnouts for fear the judge will DQ them.
Respectfully,
Leia Gibson
Snohomish, WA
