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| Photograph with the permission of: Graham Wiffen Photography |
Last weekend was fun in the rain. On Saturday my friend Wendy and I went to watch the first day of the New Forest Concours International d'Attelage at the New Forest show ground. I have known for a long time that driving people are the nicest horse people around and we were made very welcome at this event, people telling us about their horses and ponies, and the history of their vehicles. Everyone was beautifully turned out - sadly underneath their long Mackintoshes.
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| Photo permission granted by Graham Wiffen Photography |
Our particular favourites were the two Highland Friesian crosses who were bred,it turns out, by Ruaridh Ormiston (see earlier holiday in Scotland). They were a beautiful match and had great temperaments although it was noticeable that all the horses, including the lofty KPWN gelderlanders who were happily snoozing in their stables before dancing their away across the show ring lawns.
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| Photograph by permission: Graham Wiffen Photography |
According to AIAT-GB, the Concours International d'Attelage de Tradition competition format was developed around 30 years ago in order to regenerate interest in traditional driving.
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| Two Welsh Section C's and the eventual winners. Photography by permission: Graham Wiffen Photography |
On course, the horses - at a time when they were raring to go - had to stand still long enough for the driver to pick up and then deliver safely a glass of champagne, and soon to go past someone noisily banging on a drum. After other obstacles, they set out - in the by now pouring rain - to drive around a circuit on the Forest (at least there would be no crab flies!).
