Almost wordless Wednesday

 I really love these British In-hand Heavy Horse harnesses. They're such a wonderful combination of elegant functionality and fanciful decoration... For the first time in years, I actually feel inspired to make a harness!  I can not thank Jackie Radwanski enough for introducing me to them. Since I expect I am not the only tackmaker who will be inspired by her photos, here's another batch of them.  Enjoy!

British in-hand heavy horse harness classes

As I was preparing the photos for yesterday's post about the Cornish heavy horse show harness, I couldn't help but notice that there wasn't a cart.

This was notable, because every harness class I've ever seen involves some horse drawn vehicle. 

And, honestly, a harness class without a vehicle is almost the best thing ever for a performance shower on a budget. 

So I asked the photographer, Jackie Radwanski, for more information about this class.

Here's what she told me:  For In-hand Heavy Horse Harness Classes the horses are led around the arena at walk only.

The judges then inspect each harness very closely, looking at it's condition, and fit as well as the overall 'look' on the horse. 

They also pay very close attention to the way it is cleaned and maintained.

Every part is checked, front... 

and back...

and if any part is not up to 'standard' then it is marked down.

Different regions have different ways the harness is 'made' like the type of brasses or the way they are displayed. Even the way the reins are attached can vary. A Scottish Harness would be different to a Welsh Harness which in tern is different again to a Harness from the South of England.

A lot have evolved due to local legends and superstitions. They are truly works of art with many being past down through the years within the same family, some are well over 100 years old. They can take up to 3 days to strip down and clean! 

The sound of the brasses and bells 'tinkerling' as the horses walk around the rings is one of my most favourite sounds! 

Once again, I'd like to thank Jackie for allowing me share her photos and knowledge. This event is tailor made for the model horse performance ring.  I am so happy to have "discovered" it! 

Tack reference Tuesday

Like most tackmakers, I collect photos of tack. 

I'm interested in just about anything that could possibly be put on a horse, but what I love most of all is good clear photos of something rare, exotic and awesome.  

This Cornish heavy horse show harness qualifies on all counts!

These photos were taken by British hobbyist, Jackie Radwanski, at the 2014 Wessex Heavy Horse Show.

I haven't been able to find much information about Cornish show harnesses online, but they appear to be regular heavy horse in-hand harnesses with lots of extra embellishments.  

Although I can't be certain, this particular Cornish harness appears to be the one made to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

It's a beautiful piece of tack...

and I even though I have no interest in replicating this in 1:9 scale (sorry!)... 

I am happy to have so many wonderful pictures of it for my files! 

Thank you so much for allowing me to share your pictures, Jackie! 

I would love to make "Tack reference Tuesday" a semi-regular blog feature.  If you have good, clear photos of an unusual tack item you'd like to share, please send them my way!

All of Olive

As soon as Erin Corbett told me she was planning to enter the BCS Winter Photo Challenge, I secretly began hoping she would submit an all Olive entry.  

Sadly, that did not happen.

Olive did make into a couple of the pictures...

but I also had to suffer through several photos of Erin's model horse collection.

It was torturous.

After I announced the winners, I made the mistake of telling Erin that I planned to write a post featuring all my favorite single pictures from the blogged based entries, including her "scale issues" shot of Olive on some cheap silver horse.

A week passed and I sort of forgot about that idea. Erin did not.  

I told her I would write an all Olive post if she took a picture of Olive with her Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig Khemosabi resin.  I was sort of kidding, but not really.  Also, I didn't think she'd do it.

She did! 

Ha ha.  That was awesome, Erin. You have earned your all Olive post!