At a pleasure-driving show, the “Park” Division is a particularly fancy — and particularly beautiful — class based on the old notion of going for a drive in the park. In the late nineteenth century, most major cities had large parks where the city’s fashionable citizens would spend part of their afternoons strolling on foot or riding flashy horses or driving (or being driven in) elegant carriages. Their goal was to get some exercise and some fresh air, and “to see and be seen.”

Saturday afternoon’s session at our Carriage Festival featured two Park Division classes: Afternoon Turnout and Reinsmanship.

Before the classes, I went over to the barns to see if I could find anyone getting ready.

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getting the horses ready: this pair of Friesians is owned by Tom & Gloria Burgess

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Tom Burgess accompanied by his 89-year-old mother-in-law

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Karen Waldron’s Friesians look more bay than black here, but it’s a trick of the light

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Karen Waldron, with her Friesians put to a Brewster George IV Phaeton, won the Park Division: Afternoon Turnout class

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Tom Burgess during the Park Division: Reinsmanship class, which is judged mainly on the driver’s handling of the reins and whip

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… and Karen Waldron again, here in the reinsmanship class, which she also won

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In between the two Park Division classes was the Single Horse: Working class.

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remember what I said in an earlier post about the feeling of movement in these photos, with one bit in sharp focus? how about that boater?

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… and a more traditional view of Sterling Graburn and Ulano

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Jim Leo won the Single Horse: Working class

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Still to come: the Saturday evening session and the Sunday-morning drive (outdoors, in actual sunlight!).