Deb, thanx for sharing those pics... They are really neat. I've been thinking about doing an axle draft "swingle tree" for my ez entry style cart and when I really go back to driving, need to see if we can put the single tree on the sulky cart underneath the bar it's currently on top of. It's too high and no matter how you adjust the shafts, the traces are well above the shafts in some cases (hence why it had the little hooks on the inside of the shafts right behind the circle bar & no single tree originally)...
Did you ever figure out what caused Katee to do that leap? I'm very curious...
When I was at the Mini Horse Nationals in 2012 - right before I came down really ill - I visited with several of the folks preparing their minis for draft halter and driving classes (that was a blast, btw!). The eventual winner in several events was a young lady I'd been in contact with BEFORE these shows and we met up there. She had just invested in new harness and scotch housing for this show and while she'd tried it on at home, she hadn't worked any of her minis long in it. I did not help her put it on, as I had no idea how to do so. I DID hold her horse while she made some adjustments and headed her while she remounted her cart before the class (we were in the warmup ring - Tulsa OK). She did a warm up but she stated how the little mare was just a bit OFF and she couldn't quite place it as to why. Then they announced the class and everyone else told her to lead in - her mare got almost to the gate and exploded! The squalling and airs above the ground were quite impressive - and she never managed to put a hoof/leg over the shafts or kick the cart behind her. O got out, took a hold of her head and looked her in the eyes - while everyone else went past them and entered the ring. She tugged on the scotch housing, raised the back strap a bit and remounted her cart and they calmly trotted right into the ring. The mare turned in a smashing performance - and took the Reserve Championship. They were almost out of the gate when she exploded again! I was right there - reached - but then asked "Want me to?" as she nodded and we pulled up to the side and she swung out of the cart and undid the scotch housing. It was putting pressure on her back/withers - there was a divot in the flesh that didn't pop back up when she removed it... But no "real wound". Go figure. Later when I called her (think she lives in MO or AR), she stated that she couldn't return the harness or the scotch housing due to them being a special order sized for her minis (Sampson Harness, I believe), but they did take it back and make some adjustments (not sure what/how) and she said that it fit/worked much better after that. From the pics, I'd say that she still has the scotch housing and that particular harness.
I found the pics of that day, but since they are copyrighted, I don't think I can post them... If you want to see - go to
Casey McBride Photography.
Go to 2014 and previous horse shows, then 2012 Horse shows, then 2012 AMHR Nationals, then Sept 12, Wednesday, Evening, then class #212. Her pics are #s - 212-016; 022; 023; 043; 044; 047; 048; 049 & 50.
She took the Reserve World Championship w/ her draft pair as well... Thurs eve, class #270. Her wagon is black w/ silver hardware, the pair is not wearing scotch housing and she's wearing a white jacket & black britches. Let me look some more - think she showed Tandem and 4-up hitch as well? I was VERY sick by then and missed our own filly showing in the yearling futurity! I think I did see her in her halter class (it was a HUGE class - the winner looked like a 3 yr old, LOL. Our puny little girl had no chance! A late foal and while VERY nice, just not mature enough then to be competitive against her competition).
She didn't show in the 4 up hitch, but did in Tandem and there she took the National Championship... Friday eve, class # 327.
Some of those carts and hitch wagons are VERY impressive. Several of the folks in the AMHR that do the draft style driving have worked hard w/ several Amish manufacturers and have gotten some nice vehicles turned out. I went to dinner (BREAKFAST - after the classes on Wednesday nite) w/ a group that included the Bryants, another person and his wife and ... my acquaintance. this is really embarrassing as I can't remember the names of these folk!! My ASPC/AMHR magazines are packed or I could go thru them and find the names... UGH! Anyhoo - it was great - LEARNED a LOT (the Bryants were active big horse farmers at one point in their lives)...
And yes, Rural Heritage is fantastic... Learned a lot thru them as well. Went to Horse Progress Days in 2014 in Mt Hope OH. FUN.
