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Recording times, tallying penalty faults and keeping track of who's
where on the cross country course are just some of the many activities
the paddock marshalls and ring crew perform during the jam-packed five days
of competition.
A 21 year old registered Quarter Horse with the Monroe Country Sheriff's
Mounted Unit displays considerable talent at standing pat as she and her
human partner calm traffic on the busy road between the stables and
the oval.
In uniforms replicating those worn from 1918 to the 1930's, members of
the Fort Sill Field Artillery Half Section re-enactment unit
await instructions to enter the oval and fire the 75mm cannon.
Lending true authenticity to the re-enactment are both replica and
original saddles and hardware, some provided by the Fort Sill Field Artillery
Museum.
The eight well-matched horses in the re-enactment unit have been
selected as ideal artillery mounts, based on old photographs, and
include thoroughbred, standardbred and quarter horse breeds.
Skillfully navigating the Cross Country Obstacle course with
spectacular turns like this, a Canadian whip and his Morgan, put to a
road cart, are enroute to a first place finish.
With his Friesian, a seasoned whip at Walnut Hill leaves the
oval in the same winning style that has just added to his collection of
blue ribbons.
Elegant hats are now the norm in carriage driving but in
the sweltering heat, a cool new look also serves this
young lady quite nicely as she drives her miniature horse.
A real treat in the commercial division, the Cracker Jack wagon,
pulled by Cooper, a Welsh pony, is entered for the first time
this year at Walnut Hill.
While only introduced in 2007 as one of the special features of Ascot Night,
the Costume Class continues to grow as some highly imaginative
equestrians, like this miniature Ben-Hur, present
a diversity of creativity to the crowd's delight.
All bets are on that Colonial Fields will trot out smartly down the home
stretch.
Sporting a distinctive mustache, in recognition of a certain dedicated
Technical Advisor, Eve the entomologist makes her mini fly
again this year.
Mary may have had a little lamb, but what's inside this fleece
white-as-snow is a Welsh pony driven by Kate under a cascade of curls.
Aaargh . . . it's Captain Harvey at the helm along side a real
parrot passenger, enroute to pirate booty in the form of a blue ribbon.
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Photographs and images are Copyright ©2009 Photography by Imajennation - JAL.
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EQUINES
The arrival of some "liquid sunshine" forces the
cancellation of the Fort Sill Field Artillery Half Section re-enactment on day one, but
in the days that follow, the weather proves much more welcoming for the
soldiers from Oklahoma.
