Truibhs – Friend Or Foe ?

[JSFMACLJR]

The stick shown in the illustration is hardly a heavy and unbalanced item.

Nonetheless, this is getting pointless. The man is wearing trews. Gentlemen wore trews. They usually wore trews when riding. They carried sticks. Maybe Colquhoun rode to his destination, dismounted, and decided to take a walk. Perhaps a retainer ran along beside his pony carrying his stick, or else he carried it himself. It doesn't really matter, does it? The fact still remains that gentlemen wore trews because they often rode.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'm not trying to make a joke, nor am I being facetious. Sorry, internet posts sometimes come across in a different 'tone' than I mean them to.

I'm really just trying to get down to the crux of what the lore is on trews. Some folks say that they were only used when riding, while I tend to think they were fashionable on their own, even for fellows who didn't plan on riding a horse. Leggings were popular throughout Europe, and there was plenty of European influence in Scotland that could have made tartan trews a distinctly Scottish form of this manner of dress.

And yes, I am well aware of what a riding crop is. I own several horses and do a lot of riding. And I can say as an avid horseman that I would never consider using a walking stick as a crop. It's too heavy and unbalanced for that. Crops are very light and very small diameter, meant to be used as a tactile aid. Trying to keep a large diameter stick in your hand while handling the reins (and I'm assuming the Scots rode English-style with both hands on the reins instead of one-handed 'cowboy style' like we do here) would be clumsy and uncouth for a gentleman.

I'll add the disclaimer that I'm not professing to be an expert on Scottish horsemanship by any means. But I do find the idea of using a walking stick as a riding crop to be very unlikely, especially considering the history and conventions of English (and pretty much all European) riding styles.

All that is to say that I would guess the fellow in the portrait is probably just on foot and choosing to wear trews instead of a kilt.

As Sandford has already said, trews were (and still are) almost exclusively worn by the Highland aristocracy. At the time depicted in the McIan picture, trews were a more costly garment than the kilt because they required tailoring which, in and of itself, required going to the tailor (possibly in Glasgow, where the Irish Chieftain "Red Hugh" O'Donnell had his "suits of diverse colours" made). They were also practical, as they allowed for the easy mounting and dismounting of the Highland Pony which stood about 13-14 hands. This, by the way, was usually accomplished with the use of a mounting staff and a ghillie. Unlike their European counterparts, the Highland aristocracy did not see themselves as an equestrian class-- the terrain of the Highlands tends to mitigate against this-- and so their horses were led by retainers who considered it an honour to act as groom to their chief. I believe this may be covered in Andrew Fraser's book "The Native Horses of Scotland".

When the Highland aristocracy began to take an active part in military adventures in Scotland (and elsewhere), they rode as did everyone else: long legs (tongs over the fence) and neck reigned their horses (just like cow punchers); reigns in one hand, sword in the other. You can learn more about this (and the development of the flat or "English" saddle) by reading "A History of Horsemanship" by Charles Chenevix-Trench (hope I've got the first part of his double-barrelled name right).

So, if you want to know why Mr. Colquhoun is striding out in trews, armed with a stick, it is likely that he is on his way to mount his pony and be led by faithful retainers down the mountains and into the nearest town.

[Tobus]

Hmmm, I was just reading a book where it was pointed out that the scots used lighter, smaller horses, mostly during warfair, and often used no reins; controling the horse with their feet. However, that was in a time period before this, I am guessing.

Yes, it's true that Highland ponies were typically smaller (and shaggier) than other European breeds. And it's typical of many cultures that they would be able to ride into battle by using leg cues instead of direct reining so that their hands were free for weapons. However, for most regular riding, a combination of leg pressure and reins would have been used.

[Tobus]

It doesn't really matter, does it? The fact still remains that gentlemen wore trews because they often rode.

I don't disagree with that, nor am I trying to make a fuss over it. I just think there's probably some evidence that gentlemen wore trews for other reasons too. Like fashion. I saw in another thread (sorry, can't remember where) that someone quoted a Scottish historian as saying that it was incorrect to assume that all men work kilts. The quote was something along the lines of gentlemen could afford pants. While it may have been said tongue-in-cheek (or perhaps as an insult?), and I can't verify the source, it just seems that men may have worn trews while riding, yes, but also for occasions where they weren't riding.

But yes, the back-and-forth here is getting pointless so I'll stop.

[slohairt]

I like trews and certainly regard them to be as traditional as the kilt. I also think that the tartan egg cup phenomena is by no means exclusive to trews. It can equally apply to kilts as well! (Especially with a low hanging sporran to accentuate the look! )

I offer trews for sale but never receive any orders for them or even inquiries. A shame really, because one could put together a formal trews outfit for much cheaper than a kilted one. (Less accessories to buy.)