The Slower Road

February 2, 2011

governess carts in the spotlight

Posted by Jennifer under history
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I’m working on a longer post, which touches on Governess Carts (and which I hope to put up tomorrow), but in the meantime I found this lovely old image.

This is another from Rider & Driver (the May 30, 1914, issue), and the caption says:

“Mr. Wm. Foster’s Mel Valley’s Bauble 13.2 B.M., first in Governess Car Class at the last Olympia Show, driven by Miss Brocklebank, and Reserve Champion in Single Harness, to Mel Valley’s fame.”

Miss Brocklebank (described in a photo caption on the following page as "one of the greatest women whips in England") driving Mel Valley's Bauble to a Governess Cart (from Rider & Driver, May 30, 1914)

February 1, 2011

and it’s Dutchess Maude again

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… and in the same box of old issues of Rider & Driver, I found another photo of one of the horses in yesterday’s sleighing photo:

"Dutchess Maude: Master Charles F. Elmes, five years old, driving Mr. Carleton L. Elmes' trotting-bred Hackney mare at Winnetka, Illinois" (from Rider & Driver, May 30, 1914)

January 31, 2011

father and son went sleighing

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In the March 7, 1914, issue of Rider & Driver magazine, it was noted on page 4 that Mr. Carleton L. Elmes and Master Charles F. Elmes, of Winnetka, Illinois, had been driving Royal Maid and Dutchess Maude, both trotting-bred Hackneys.

sleighing in Illinois in the winter of 1913-14 (from Rider & Driver)

January 30, 2011

Saturday at the Winter Conference

Posted by Jennifer under CAA Conferences
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Yesterday (Saturday) at our Winter Conference featured talks on a variety of topics, a sleigh rally and, in the evening, an awards banquet.

“strawberry,” “raspberry,” and “acorn” are names of just three types of sleigh bells; there are more than 600 kinds … these bells were part of the Showcase (photo by Gloria Burgess)

bells are strapped to all parts of the horse, carriage, and harness; these are rosette bells, and there are also bells for the shafts and the horse’s rump and neck (photo by Gloria Burgess)

with the talks concluding in the morning, attendees bundled up and prepared for the sleigh rally (photo by Gloria Burgess)

all dressed up and ready to go! (photo by Gloria Burgess)

“the CAA’s president, Colonel Davis (on the right), and Dana Banfield were the Sleigh Rally judges; but if they were in a turnout class, I think the top hat and ear muff look is a winner!” (photo by Gloria Burgess)

one of the turnouts in Saturday's sleigh rally (photo by Gloria Burgess)

... and another (photo by Gloria Burgess)

this pony was a hit with the spectators (photo by Gloria Burgess) ...

... and this turnout was also a big crowd favorite (photo by Gloria Burgess)

in the Carriage / Sleigh Showcase, the Davis Documentation Award (for the best-documented vehicle) and the Carl Casper Trophy (for the highest-scoring restored vehicle) went to Jim Leo’s Cutter; P.J. Crowley (center) accepted the awards from Jerry Trapani, on the left, and Tom Burgess, on the right (photo by Gloria Burgess)

the Sidney Latham Memorial Trophy (for the highest-scoring vehicle in use in the Showcase) went to Scott Teigen’s 1895 Landaulet (photo by Gloria Burgess)

the People's Choice Award went to Mary Block’s reindeer sleigh (photo by Gloria Burgess)

January 29, 2011

Friday at the Winter Conference

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Friday’s events at the CAA’s Winter Conference included lectures, social gatherings, and Showcase commentary.

hats, muffs, and sleigh bells on a badger lap robe ... (photo by Gloria Burgess)

... and a close up of sleigh bells on the badger lap robe; all of these items were used to illustrate Vicki Nelson Bodoh’s talk on sleigh turnouts (photo by Gloria Burgess)

flowers on a colorful lap robe (photo by Gloria Burgess)

Dana Banfield, one of the Showcases judges, discusses the lap robe division (photo by Gloria Burgess)

another of the Showcase judges, Randy Solle, gives the judges’ commentary on this well-restored sleigh; there were thirty entries in the Showcase (photo by Gloria Burgess)

Ted Swendson (left, with his wife, Yvette, to his left) of Calgary, Canada, is the first recipient of the new James Laird Award. This award is to be presented by the CAA president (Colonel Davis, on the right) to a CAA member who is passionate about horses, carriages, and driving, and who serves as an example of the fun and friendship that carriage-driving experiences can provide. Ted has brought his Fjord horses MANY miles to participate in a variety of CAA events, from the grand opening of the CAA headquarters (in Lexington, Ky.) in 2006 to this year’s Winter Conference. Ted is driving three abreast on Saturday to his sleigh; he has driven in all types of weather at CAA events (including pouring rain), and always with a smile. He is a tremendous ambassador for the new James Laird Award (photo by Gloria Burgess)