There he was on my TV screen -- Carson Kressley, style savant of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."  But he wasn't standing in a trendy shop talking about style at the top of that nasal falsetto of his.  He was standing in a barn ... talking about equestrian sport.  The half-hour special was airing on RFD-TV, as part of its evening equestrian coverage, and Kressley was the host. 

RFD-TV is a relatively new channel aimed at rural people, covering everything from satellite cattle auctions to California wineries to gospel and bluegrass music.  While I wouldn't describe RFD-TV as "redneck," I'd have to say that the channel surprised me pleasantly with this programming twist.

At 35, Kressley should be titled "national champion clothes horse."  Born in 1969, he grew up on a Pennsylvania farm where his family raised Shetlands and Miniature Horses.  He was riding and competing from an early age, along with his sister, Diana Kressley-Billing.  His favorite mount was Sparky, a grey Shetland.  But even on the farm, he was already a flamer.  "I was into Barbie and designer jeans.  It was a little frightening," he told a gay magazine editor.  From the slightly dizzy image he projects on the show, you wouldn't know that he graduated from Gettysburg College magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in finance and fine arts.  "That means," says BravoTV.com, "he has a beautiful mind and always looks suave in the saddle."

Kressley got his fashion start as an independent stylist, and was tapped for the men's sportswear design team at Ralph Lauren.  He also styled catalogues for big retailers like Neiman Marcus. Connecting with QEFTSG almost by chance, he said later: "One of my coworkers at Ralph Lauren heard about the show in a cab on the radio, and called me up when she got back to the office, said; 'Carson, you have to call Bravo. They're doing a show. You're perfect for it.' "

Though Carson has ridden on the U.S. World Cup equestrian team, he isn't an athlete in the "pain is gain" school.  He insists that his favorite exercise is shopping.  In the show ring he specializes in the American Saddlebred with all its spirit and snappy knee action.  Indeed, one has to wonder if Carson picked Saddlebreds because he gets to wear rider's attire that is the peak of chic.  Saddlebred tradition decrees that formal attire (meaning a tuxedo-type jacket and gloves) is NEVER to be worn in classes before 6 p.m.   The whole effect is elegant, polished ... what Carson calls "good style."

On the Saddlebred discussion board at www.trot.org,  members who've met him on the show circuit gush about Carson's wit and charm, and how good that soft derby and saddle-suit look on him.  "So stylish and soigne," said one.  "Plus de chic!  The riding attire has completely captivated me.  The soft brimmed hat!  Heavens to Betsy, I spent my youth in the ugly crash-helmet type hard-hat."   Message-boarders agree that Carson is as funny around the barns as he is on the set.  There were wild rumors that he was going to cut off his ponytail and donate it to a charity auction. 

The RFD-TV show  was shot in Wellington, Fla.  for the American Shetland Pony Club.  Kressley did a similar show for the American Miniature Horse Registry.  He agreed to host the shows to help promote both breeds.  The classic chunky Shetland, possibly the most ancient breed of equine to be found in England, doesn't top 46 inches at the shoulder.  But the stylish modern "American show pony" goes a little taller, and is often shown in harness classes.  For the camera, Kressley obligingly drove a pony and cart around the lawn to show how easy and fun it is.  He was wearing low-key clothes appropriate for the barn -- chino pants and sports shirt open at the neck.

Said American Shetland Pony Club representative Johnny Robb: "Carson was such a delight on the set.... We are so grateful to him for doing the shows.  With our baby boomer population aging and the nation’s land resources dwindling, small equines are growing in popularity with adults, as well as children.  We also wanted to overcome some of the misconceptions people have about Shetland Ponies. Carson shows the audience how sleek and versatile Shetland Ponies are, and has a lot of fun doing it."  

Between close-up takes of Carson talking, the Shetland show jump-cuts to footage of all the things you can do with ponies.  There are potbellied ponies ridden bareback by tots in crash helmets.  There are teams pulling miniature beer wagons, all tarted up in brass-studded harness to look like miniature Budweiser horses. The soundtrack music is (you guessed it) show tunes.  By the end of the show, you're ready to go out and buy a pony.

Kressley has been riding high on the set too.  In addition to shooting an episode a week for QEFTSG, he just finished filming "The Perfect Man" with Hilary Duff and Heather Locklear. The feature will be released February 2005.  Lately there hasn't been much time to show, so he sold his champion Santana's Home on Thyme.  But rumors run furiously that he has new horses waiting in the wings.

Thanks to RFD-TV for airing a show featuring the gay vaquero of vogue.

Kressley interview on Unbridled.tv: http://www.unbridled.tv/images/CARSON_TEASE.mov

Sept. 28, 2004