Saturday, November 10, 2012

Dray Horses #4

7 comments:

John Herriott said...

Note the britching straps go right to the bellyband. This is the wayy circus hitches were put on. Othe hitches and farm teams would put the straps beneath the belly and snap to the bellyband. Hitch drivers on the circus never liked having to reach under the horse. This driver is probably the same.johnny

John Herriott said...

Note the word Dray. Also the words Draft or drought. Circus always referred to "Baggage Stock" and the Boss Hostler was listed as "Supt. of Baggage Stock" in programs, dept. listing, etc. Noted circus boss hostlers were Tom Lynch, Blackie Diller. Red Finn, Charlie Rooney,etc.johnny. And of course the great Jake Posey of forty horse hitches.

John Herriott said...

Salaries were depending on Four horse drivers [the lowest] Six horse drivers, [next] Eight horse,plus the nhighest. Boss hostler was the deciding factor.They were the highest paid of the working men deptmnts. Next were ring stock grooms and Bull hands. johnny

John Herriott said...

Terrel Jacobs No 1 cage man "Haywire" and Loyal Repensky Groom "Repensky Red" had both been eight horse drivers. Alot of Hitch Drivers became "Cat Skinners" when the BaggAGE HORSES WERE discontinued. Among them were Bill Bush. Bill Britten and the great Deacon Blanchfield. Repensky Red was also a "frarrier" as was Tex Montgomery. johnny. It was noted that the great Boss Hotler [ Rb and B&B] Tom Lynch was totally illiterate and had a hand that filled out various reports.johnny

Chic Silber said...


Beer & ale seem to be the primary

theme in most of these photos

Eric said...

Chic, what a great selection of photos! Thanks for this much-appreciated posting. (And thanks also to Col. Herriott, whose comments made them even more interesting.)

Chic Silber said...


I had a nice chat with Col Johhny

yesterday & learned a few lessons

from the master himself about the

mixing of stallions with mares &

geldings (& what not to do) he is

a walking talking encyclopedia