Date:    Wed, 7 Nov 2001 22:47:21 -0800
From:    Barb Lee <nearside@EASYSTREET.COM>
Subject: Equipment for the newcomer

It troubles me greatly to see new drivers arc up in extreme displays of
defensiveness when experienced drivers suggest spending fair sums of money
on a cart and harness, even if they are just testing the waters.  From me of
course, the advice sound like a sales pitch, although nothing could be
farther from the truth.  I know there is heaps of good harness out there,
made by somebody else, for less money than mine, and I don't expect to be
able to equip the world with harness, nor do I want to.  (Dave McW and I
should be able to take care of the bulk of it together!  <VBG!>)

My ears and eyes are charred from hearing and reading accusations that we
(who is "we"?) are trying to make driving a rich person's sport, by
suggesting that $450 is a minimal amount for a new starter harness, and $750
is rock bottom for a meadowbrook in need of refurbishing.

I see good advice here from experienced drivers, who have processed terrible
wrecks through their own eyes and hearts and minds, offered in a heartfelt
effort to spare the newcomer such pain.  I see decades of experience related
by people such as myself who started when driving was unheard of in our
regions, starting with junk, and without benefit of experienced input,
spending $100, then $300, then $500 then on and on, digging out of the pile
of useless purchases that they have made over the years.  I spent years
taking in freshly purchased junk harness that hadn't been dismantled in
years, finding cracked, rotten leather under every single buckle, rendering
every single strap useless.  Yet I was expected to fix the whole smash for
an arbitrary sum the owner had set in their mind of maybe $25.  After all
the whole thing only cost $75 to begin with and only needed a bridle, reins
and complete breeching assembly to make it work.  They're only straps,
right?

The old analogy is, would a newcomer to skydiving  be wise to buy a WWII
parachute from GI Joe's Surplus Depot, if he only intended to jump on
weekends?

This post is not to suggest that one must be wealthy to start driving, but
the facts must be faced that quality equipment, quality ANYTHING sports a
price tag that reflects that quality.  "Quality" in driving does NOT mean
pretty, and ready to go in the turnout classes (hold on to your Visa card,
if that's your ambition).  QUALITY in driving equipment means YOUR SAFETY,
YOUR HORSE'S SAFETY,  YOUR LITTLE TODDLER'S SAFETY THAT RIDES ALONG WITH
YOU, THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY.  QUALITY means INVESTMENT in equipment that will
retain its value and can be resold with little or no loss if you decide
driving is not for you.

There is NO VALUE in buying cheaply constructed, old, "bargain" gear if the
money you saved gets spent at the local hospital, or veterinarian, or both.

The advice that is sought by newcomers on this or any other driving list,
which is answered freely and generously by EXPERIENCED DRIVERS gains the
answering party NO FINANCIAL REWARD, nor does it attempt to preserve this
sport for the elite.  These answers are provided by good people who care
enough to wish for everyone, safety, enjoyment, and avoidance of the
pitfalls that those of us who either did not have, or ignored such advice,
have endured.

Descending from the cleaning agent container,
Barb Lee
Nearside Harness, Inc.
Bloody Good Synthetic Harness
http://www.nearsideharness.com
nearside@easystreet.com