Rural Heritage June/July 2025

Another sleigh with pin-striping.

up for easier entry. It is because of its rarity that this cart is in the collection. Many items in the Lyons’ collection are rarely seen, or are just lovely to look at, such as the big green Brougham, acquired by the Lyons in the United States. While it might be wonderful to have had a ride in this carriage, the driver had a difficult climb up to the driver’s seat. Of course, people rich enough to own one of these beauties likely had many employees to stand by the horses’ heads and to do all the necessary polishing of brass to keep it looking splendid. One little vehicle stands out amongst the crowd.The Governess Cart is made of wicker and was in perfect condition when the Lyons’ acquired it. I used to love to watch the Governess Cart class at the fall fair in the village I grew up in, back half a century ago when the Belgians and Percherons were wide-chested and stout-legged, and considerably lower to the ground than today’s show stock is. I was a dedicated railbird,

practically glued to a spot where I could see both the heavy horse classes and the fine harness horses. I rarely took a seat in the rickety covered wooden bleachers; that was too far away from the action for me! I wanted to be right there, to soak in every detail, every clink of the harness and scent of the horses. Oh, how I envied the young ladies who drove in the Governess Cart class. They were about my age and dressed up in long skirts and ruffles and bows. There were always several other, younger children in the cart, also dressed in period costume, and sometimes, there would be a little dog, too. The carts would be drawn by quiet ponies, often multi-colored, with ribbons in their long manes and tails. This class was not for the high-stepping and equally high-spirited Hackney Ponies; it was supposed to mirror a Governess taking her charges for a quiet drive in the park. I wanted so much to be that girl with the lines in her white-gloved hands! The ponies trotted around obediently and stood quietly in the lineup.

Rural Heritage

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