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.
September 28, 2011
Whenever I’m in an antique store, I’m always on the lookout for old photographs. A couple of weekends ago, we visited a shop here in downtown Lexington, where I was, naturally, drawn to the pile of old photos sitting on a table. After looking through nearly the entire pile — mostly late-19th- and early-20th-century weddings, class reunions, camps, and the like — I found this:
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this peddlar and his wagon, horses, and musician all appear to be decked out for a parade; the sign on the flag says, "L.W. Green Sells 90 Different Articles," and the side of the wagon is painted with "Rawleigh's Remedies," "Fine Flavoring Extracts," something ("Horehound," perhaps?) obscured by the decorations, and "Spices"
September 27, 2011
Wendy Ying was having Internet difficulties in Lipica and so couldn’t send many photos while she was there. I was having Internet difficulties this weekend, and so was just able to download these photos this morning. Here are a few of Wendy’s final shots from this year’s World Pony Driving Championships:
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photo by Wendy Ying
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photo by Wendy Ying
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photo by Wendy Ying
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photo by Wendy Ying
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photo by Wendy Ying
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photo by Wendy Ying
The Slower Road 