The Visionary

By: Lori Bucholz, The Equine Chronicle.
Our thanks to The Equine Chronicle. The article appeared in Jan/Feb 2004  Issue. 

Brian Holmes had a vision. Well actually he had trouble seeing what he needed to see. Although Holmes is originally from Ohio, graduating from The Ohio State University, and teaching at Findlay College for a stint, he's called Oklahoma home for over twenty-three years. He holds both his AQHA and NSBA judges cards. Holmes has trained, shown and won in multiple english and western events with many different horses. But, without a doubt, it is in the pleasure driving arena where Holmes has achieved his greatest successes. He has earned over twenty world championships in the driving with such renowned horses as CC Surprise, Mostly Sunny Days, Every Boy's Dream, A Self Portrait, and Held Captive to name just a few. Holmes has spent more time seated in a driving cart than many horse trainers have spent in the saddle.

Which brings us back to the trouble with his sight.

"I've been thinking for years that the vehicles we use in the pleasure driving are inappropriate. With the large horses, usually over 16 hands, that we use in the driving it is difficult to see around them from where we are seated in the traditional carts. All you are looking at is the back end of the horse, and you just aren't effective when you can't see."

He knew that increasing his elevation in the cart would allow him to better see where his horse was going and to allow him to see what changes needed to be made in the horse's head carriage to create that world winning profile.

Holmes decided to design a more functional, safer show cart. He was prompted to read about the carts of the past and experiment with what he knew should be the cart of the future.

After researching how the driving cart had evolved, he become convinced that horses should be driven from a higher perspective.

"Throughout time, almost without exception, the traditional horse-drawn vehicle has the driver above the horse. From carriages to stagecoaches, the driver was always seated up higher where he could better see," explained Holmes.

"What we now consider the pleasure driving cart was just a racing sulky made a little fancier. Even the early racing sulkies were higher, but because of the evolution of racing, the sulky was made lower to help decrease wind resistance, thereby helping to increase speed."

He tore apart some carts. He tinkered and built and rebuilt until he had what he thought was a better vehicle. A cart that would not only allow the driver to see what needed to be seen, but would also be safer for the driver and ultimately, the other contestants in a class. A more functional, safer cart Holmes named "The Vision".

After he had a good idea of how he wanted "The Vision" to be built, Holmes made a trip to Waterloo, Iowa to meet with the executives of the Jerald Sulky Company.

"Jerald is a long established company. It's been in business in the same family, for over 100 years" Holmes explained and then added, "I've always been sold on their workmanship and quality and I knew I wanted them to build my new cart. When I first presented them with the idea they were a little skeptical, but after building the first prototype, the owner and plant manager were extremely pleased. The new cart exceeded expectations while retaining the beauty and aesthetic appeal of the classic Jerald show cart."

Holmes continued about the technical aspects of the construction of the vehicle. "Our biggest alteration was with the axles. We made them twelve inches longer. By increasing the wheel base, the cart has more stability. We've also made the basket better. We've allowed the driver to get his legs in front of him and be able to brace himself better in the cart. When your legs are braced in the cart it makes your seat more secure and that is just basic horsemanship. It doesn't matter if you're riding, jumping or driving. When your seat is more secure, it makes your hands more effective."

Holmes also stated, "You have to know what your horse is doing. In the driving, we only have our voice and the lines to communicate with the horse. 'The Vision' gives you a completely different perspective. Because you can see where your horse is going and what he's doing, your reaction time is shortened, thereby improving control of the horse."

In April of 2003 "The Vision" was introduced to the horse showing public. "Of course there were some skeptics out there when it was first introduced and often, to their detriment, people resist change. But everyone who sits in it and uses it LOVES it," Holmes relayed enthusiastically.

So what do others who have used the cart have to say about it?

"Let me tell you a story," said Louis Huffnagel, trainer and multi-breed association judge from Tennassee, "At this year's (2003) World Show, I used my regular cart for the preliminaries of the Jr. Pleasure Driving. For the finals, I borrowed Rhonda Replogle's new "Vision" cart. I was actually able to see what was happening in the class. I wasn't just looking at the horse's butt. I could see what my horse was doing as well as what the other horses were doing." Hufnagel finished sixth in the class with Dancin With Details. He continued praising the new vehicle by saying, "You can actually see where the horse is going and what he's doing. My clients who have sat in it like it and I'm encouraging them to buy 'The Vision' when they need a new cart."

Rhonda Replogle agrees with Hufnagel and adds, "For anyone interested in learning to drive it really helps because you can see your horse better. You can also see the other horses and you're able to negotiate around them in the class better. Because you can negotiate better, if makes the class safer."

Replogle, who lives in Maryland and owns and stands Sky Blue Walker, relayed, "I took both my old cart and the new cart to the AQHA World Show this year."

She continued with emphasis saying, "No, not really the best time to try out my new cart for the first time, but I did! I practiced in the new cart and ended up showing in it, too. It just seems like your horse is more solid with his head carriage and his stride. Even though it's a little heavier, it seemed to pull much easier, too. It also has more stability. Friends commented that because it sits higher, they thought it would make the horses look smaller, but when they saw it being used they said it actually made the horses look bigger."

"It's just a safety issue, especially for the amateurs. When you can see, it's just a a lot safer. Brian sure named it right when he called it 'The Vision'," commented Replogle.

If you're curious about how the cart has been perceived in the show arena, consider this: using "The Vision", Holmes won two world championships at the 2003 Paint World Show with Sundance Jazz. Owner of the gelding, Kristen Hansen, also used it and finished as the Reserve Champion in the Amateur Pleasure Driving. The cart was used at the Appaloosa World Show where Holmes won the World Championship with Hunter On The Run. At the 2003 Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show, "The Vision" was the cart Holmes used, finishing third with Skys Sassy Rose in the Jr. Pleasure Driving at both shows. Cathering Jennings, owner of the mare, was using "The Vision" when she was awarded top five placings in the Amateur Pleasure Driving at both prestigious events.

Holmes is thrilled with how the cart has accepted by those who have used it and responds, "I really believe that in the near fbeen uture the lower carts will be obsolete."

As for his future vision, Holmes relates, "One day when I'm old and grey, well older and greyer," he chucked, "I'll look out at the driving classes and see everyone driving with 'Vision'."

If you would like more information about "The Vision", contact Brian Holmes at (405) 527-1014