Coloured monochrome

At long last we have managed to get the carriage in action. It's the first time for us with Sultan and as the weather was cool & damp thought there would be no tractors (Sultan's horror) on the road. Two minutes in to the drive, two tractors approached us but luckily there was an entrance to a cut field which we quickly made use of. From there on went very well. We need to make some adjustments to the harness set up. In Germany one uses the ?Achenbach" system developed by a certain Benno von Achenbach around 1900. His driving tutor was an Englishman, Edwin Howlett, and based on his style, Achenbach in true Prussian tradition, developed exact rules on the equipment and its use. The lines (reins) alone have 22 parts to be adjusted according to horse size, temperament etc. His system is the ?standard" and used by all instructors. Both Angie & I took part in a very lengthy course over many months & passed the FEI test. It's not yet an official requirement but I can imagine one day it will be. Driving in harness is potentially quite dangerous and I would recommend anyone thinking of doing it to take a course.
Went out with the temperature showing 13°C, then it rained and blew. On returning it was 8°. Came indoors for a warming coffee, switched on TV to see weather forecast and there appeared the German Touring Car Championship race from Brands Hatch with a track temperature of 40°C. Perhaps my Blip godfather Nogbad was there demonstrating against the lack of a speed limit on German autobahns. I would however remind him that both he and I spent a day racing around the Brands Hatch circuit in RS Escorts and single seaters around 25 years ago. If I remember correctly, the best times/style from our group of 12 or so, was made by Sue L, the only girl in the team! The "demo" drive from an instructor on that day is one of those events I will never forget & hope never have to repeat, Scared sh**less!