OK, lets start this off 49 years ago (so I lied about the 50 year thing. So sue me.)
Jr. Essex Troop, NJ.
Small Pony Hunters
Note: Long Shank pelham, big round fat braids (held in with rubber bands), huge loop in tail braid, number in collar of coat, thin white elastic "chin strap" sewn in by mother who loved me and thought it would make a difference, black coat and big old clunky off the rack boots.
But, notice the size of the jump! Pretty impressive for a 6 year old, eh?
"Show with C.L.A.S.S." http://classcircuit.0catch.com/Index.htm
~*~Proud new mommy of Nikolas aka "Niko"~*~
**Colorful helmet clique**SC'ers clique**TGFPT clique**BGSG clique**
www.kimballphotography.smugmug.com
~*~Mom of the wonderful Nikolas aka \"Niko\"~*~
**Proud member of The Colorful blinb-bling helmet, SCgirls, BGSGand the EquinePhotog (do we have one yet?) cliques**
Moving from mid 60's to mid 70's -- this is when things got weird.
Baby blue coats, rust breeches, velvet collars and pocket flaps... We thought we were stylin'!!!
But, the huge Stubben saddle flaps are gone and boots are now custom. So some parts of the modern look are sneaking in there. Also, although you can't see it, braiding has become "modern". (No tail braid since the horse rubbed his to the bone on the 24 hour van ride down to Fla. It was gross...)
But that pesky automatic release is still there... Well, it will go away sooner or later....
Pam, the 70s A/O photo proves my theory that baby blue huntcoats are like Christmas fruitcakes: there is only one in existence and it keeps getting passed around. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c.../icon_razz.gif
Moving into the early 1980's, or "the Valor years" -- I have already posted several of his truly good pictures, so I chose a picture this time which exemplifies WHY I love rust breeches.
This is from Washington International in 1982 or 1983. I had gotten a tad pudgy (yes, I do still have a neck although you cannot see it...) and even though I am popping out of my riding jacket, I think that the rust breeches do quite a good job of making my bulk look, er,... less bulky....
Everything else is pretty similar to today, except for all the fancy stitching which was big in the 80's, as was mentioned in the other thread. If the picture was bigger, one could see that my initials are stitched into the center of the noseband.....
Having gotten through the 90's, I'm back on track in the new century, and am once again stylin' with peach shirt, gray coat, puke green breeches, black custom field boots and a GPA.
Also, raised bridle, TCPS, and shiney horse.
OK --- I finally have figured out how to stand up in my stirrups, jump ahead of the horse, look straight dhown and lean on my hands!
Damn, it only took 5 decades. And they say I am a slow learner.
Xegeba, I think you are right. It was that damned automatic release that did me in. No more of that stuff for me!
I am so disapointed at your abandonment of the auto release! This post was beginning to look like a photo gallery of excellent releases. I think the crest relese is icky.
