Chapter XIV · SHOW RING APPOINTMENTS

The harness should be of black patent-leather with square wire buckles. Crests, monograms, or initials should be small and inconspicuous: for a single horse, placed on the standing martingale; for a pair, on the breast plates.

Loin straps, which are part of the appointments of a victoria or other trap driven by a servant, should not be used for ladies’ traps driven by a lady. Pole chains with oval links are permissible or pole pieces, when the owner drives; chains are never permissible on any trap driven by a servant. The chains should fasten at the pole and no extra links should be allowed to hang.

Perfectly Appointed Lady’s Pair

Phaetons for use in the country have been shown of late, built on the lines of the George IV and finished in natural wood, and with them russet harness instead of black patent-leather is very smart, and, if the trap is a light one, Dutch collars may be used instead of Kay collars. All formal ladies’ traps finished in dark colors should also be lined with the owner’s colors, either black, dark blue, dark green, or maroon, and the servants’ liveries should match

Lady’s Single Basket Phaeton

The running gear of all ladies’ traps should be finished in dark colors with inconspicuous striping, and the striping should be in keeping with the lining; that is, if the lining is other than black, the striping should be of the same color. All light colors for the striping, such as primrose, light red, and light green, should be confined to sporting traps and runabouts; light hues do not seem appropriate to formal ladies’ traps.

Western Style of Gig Horse

With all formal ladies’ traps, plain square lamps are more appropriate, and round lamps belong rather page 209.

The owner’s rain coat and storm gloves should be carried folded in the hood. The rubbers, comprising the rubber apron and groom’s rain coat and cover for his hat, should be folded and placed under the seat of the rumble.