October 3, 2011
This lovely image was part of a graphic story, drawn by R. de la Neziere, in the 1896 “Christmas number” of The Graphic.
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the story, "Pride Goes Before a Fall," opens with this image, in which "Sir M. T. Head drives to the meet of the Toffham Hunt with his famous high-stepping mare, as he knows that the Duchess of Reddimony and her charming daughters are to be present."
October 2, 2011
This is another one of my (very) occasional blog posts that’s not really about much of anything other than being able to say I posted something today.
I and a whole bunch of other volunteers are at the KY Horse Park today (in the CAA office as I write this, eating lunch) having a volunteer “work day” for next week’s KY Classic CDE.
I was hoping to get photos of the work day to post here, but I’m on sign and “rope barrier” detail, and I didn’t think it would be terribly exciting to post photos of us pounding stakes in the ground and running rope between them.
And … I want today’s post to be short so that everyone gets a chance to see the wonderful videos in yesterday’s post.
Back to work, then.
October 1, 2011
If you’ve just stumbled onto this carriage- and driving-related blog, or if you’re a regular reader who doesn’t actually drive, or even if you’re an experienced driver but would like a pleasant refresher course, you may find these (old) videos rather interesting:
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September 30, 2011
Do you remember Isaac’s widemouth bass from last year’s World Equestrian Games?
It’s baaaaack …
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The fish is back in the water obstacle known as “The Spring,” awaiting marathon competitors at next weekend’s Kentucky Classic CDE, here at the KY Horse Park.
Stay tuned here next week for reports, photos, and videos from the event!
September 29, 2011
While in the office yesterday, we spied an absolutely enormous pair of wheels being unloaded from a flatbed trailer. So of course, I went out to get some photos.
It turns out they belonged to a device known by a variety of names: high-wheel logging cart, high wheels, logging wheels, and more.
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the enormous pair of ten-foot-tall wheels, after they were unloaded from the trailer but before they were separated and attached to their equally enormous axles
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a close-up of one of the two wheels after the entire contraption was put together
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This logging cart was brought to the KY Horse Park by the restorers: an Amish family (and their driver) from northern Indiana. According to the sign now attached to one of the wheels, the tires, spoke rings, and boxing in the wheels are original (from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), and the wooden parts are either ash or oak. These types of vehicles were used from the late nineteenth century through the early twentieth century for getting logs out of forested logging areas. You can read more about these vehicles, and see some fascinating old photos of them in use, here.
The Slower Road 