[drivingpairs] Grooms and Location
- From: kathy robertson <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 13:10:31 -0800 (PST)
Usually much easier to get out of the back of a
carriage, than out of the front, over a wheel. Also,
if carriage stops suddenly, groom will usually hit the
front seat back, not fall onto the floor or over the
dashboard, like driver, so can give better aid with
the
horses. Tradition is still influential, grooms were
hired help, didn't sit in the same seat with the
employer. Who rides up front with the limo driver?
Tandems are the exception, because they are usually
driven to a two wheel cart. Again tradition, smaller
carriage on single horse, often not as much seat room,
puts both driver and groom on the same forward ,seat.
The rule of asking for an exception, allowing groom
to sit beside you, sounds nice. However as a
competitor, you MUST be prepared for a refusal from
the ground jury. You know that your outfit is not the
correct one, going in to compete. What will you do if
they say no? Every person perceives things
differently and for some reason they may feel
compelled to not allow it. We have had it happen to
us, and you have to play with what you have, or go
home. Folks will often offer equipment, but I don't
think changing carriages at a CDE is good, if you have
not practiced with it. No one might have something
suitable.
Good preparation is NOT DEPENDING on chance. You
are ready, correctly, ahead of time.
> really - the carriage just seems to balance/ride
better with my husband/navigator on the back... In
pratice , he is always on the back - how
> much good an a groom do if they cant get to the
> horses qickly?
For multiples, a pair and tandem require one groom. I
would presume a randem would require extra grooms,
would depend on how many horses are out front, 3-4-5?
Unicorns would require two grooms and teams of four
require two grooms. I would presume six would require
three grooms to be safe. A groom to handle each pair
of a hitch. Unicorn, second groom handles leader.
Technically, the groom should have to do nothing,
just stand there ornamentally. However at a
competition, Pleasure or CDE, horses might need a hand
to keep them standing straight, heads up, no rubbing.
Distractions of being away from home, bored with
standing for long times.
Actually for a four, you need a third ground person
to run around to polish horses and everyone up as they
sit on the carriage! You can't have them getting
themselves dirty before judging!!
> Just out of interest , when you compete
> multiples, the number of grooms
> required changes - do unicorns require 2 grooms, and
> 4 require 3?
Kathy Robertson
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