Colours Explained
Traditional Colours and the "Traditional with a Twist"
On this website and on my Heavy Horse Crafts Facebook page you may hear mentions of "Traditional colours" but what are they and why are they, traditional?
Traditional colours are predominantly based around the Primary colours of Red, Yellow and Blue but also included are Green and White. Making some of the most popular combinations such as Royal Blue and Yellow and Red and White.
It's probably because these colours were the most readily available colours in ribbon form back in the day, compared to today where your literally spoiled for choice of 50 shades of a particular colour!
As mentioned in a previous post, in the period between the Victorian era and the 1960's, it was a common sight to see just one single colour used - and I was told it was common to see a line up of Suffolk's uniformly wearing red bows neatly tied into the bass, flights following a bit later.
Colours can also be superstitious - as per my last post, in Pagan times Red and White ribbons were woven into the manes of working horses to bring blessings to the Earth Mother and bring Good Luck to the crops and farm.
Whilst researching traditional colours - which I hasten to add is not easy as the information isn't published in print, more spoken and passed down, and sadly lost - I was fascinated to learn about County Colours and it reminded me of a lady we have been lucky to meet on our heavy horse journey who told me that here in Hampshire, Green and Yellow was the favoured combination, while our West Country Neighbours, in particular Dorset, favoured Royal Blue and Red.
Red and Yellow was the combination of choice in the Fenlands of the East Anglia and I've even been told that Orange or a Salmon Pink and White were liked in Suffolk, maybe representational of the clay soils in the area.
The colours would also be the same for the Agricultural wagons - and still very much seen today.
I found a lovely quote in the book "The Heavy Horse, it's harness and harness decorations" which explained....
"The colours of the ribbons used were usually chosen to suit the colour of the horse, though this varied from county to county.
Grey's in the north were decorated with RED and YELLOW
ribbons. Further south in Yorkshire it was GREEN and YELLOW 
whilst in the Midlands RED was considered to look best on a grey and in parts of the Cotswolds, BLUE 
was the favoured choice ..."
"The colours of the ribbons used were usually chosen to suit the colour of the horse, though this varied from county to county.
Grey's in the north were decorated with RED and YELLOW
ribbons. Further south in Yorkshire it was GREEN and YELLOW whilst in the Midlands RED was considered to look best on a grey and in parts of the Cotswolds, BLUE was the favoured choice ..."For me, grey horses, like blacks, suit almost anything, but it's fascinating to know that the preferences changed depending upon location.
Corporate Colours
Horsemen of yesteryear took a great deal of pride in the turnout of their horses, in fact it's said
" A good platter could make an average horse look top notch!"
And as such were highly sought after for their skills.
Corporate businesses, trades and breweries would each have their own colours for the purpose of advertising and so they were easily recognisable.
💬 It's quoted in the book " The Heavy Horse, it's harness and Harness Decoration" that
"The famous YOUNGS BREWERY would always have a team of Black Shires with White plaits"
And I understand that the team who have the Young's Brewery dray still turnout with White plaits and white flights.
The same was also said of Stallions, who were once walked from farm to farm to cover mares. "Carter's" took immense pride in appearance and Stallions would be recognised by their colours .
In modern times you will notice that breeders and teams have their own set colours, and even families, handed down through generations recognised by their chosen colours.
"Traditional with a Twist"
A phrase I have adopted right from the start, as I take the stance that we should ALWAYS acknowledge the history and traditions but respect that we are in a modern time, and the two can fuse.
Fast forwarding to today and showing heavy horses in the 21st century it's safe to say colour choices are only limited by imagination - with owners striving for the own unique colours.
There is a joy to be had to create or pick your own colours, these colours often come with meaning: they maybe sentimental, represent your football team, your hometown or just be your favourite colours.
Of course it's at this point that it's worth adding, that whilst your flights are NEVER judged - the "wrong" colours can detract from the overall appearance in the show ring, a place where first impressions count!!
So whilst a colour like pink might be your favourite colour, take a step back and ask yourself "DOES IT SUIT MY HORSE?"
My favourite sets we make are those that acknowledge the traditional colours but have a twist, albeit subtle, like a different shade or style of ribbon.
That said the creative in me will always love the new, unique, bright, sparkly and colourful, maybe just that little bit more.
