There's something about Women and Utes...
by Jennifer C. Chisholm-Høibråten

It’s no surprise that women, especially those with horses,  are drawn to Utes. They are the workhorse of the equestrian world, used for everything from towing the float to carting hay,  yet still ‘scrub -up’ well for those social events.

The classic Aussie ute. Sturdy and reliable and a longstanding icon of the Australian bush, but ever more coming to the fore in towns and cities across the country. Originally with no frills or frippery, no racy lines, and barely even fast enough to tip off a radar gun - the older ones are clunky and noisy and don’t have power steering. Sound, sensible and highly practical, the reliable old workhorses are now being joined by fast and powerful show-ponies – tough, pumped-up 4x4’s and purpose-built recreational two-wheel drives suited to towing a horse float or city driving.

There’s something about a bona fidepick-up truck that commands a powerful draw on the feminine heart. No matter whether it’s a Ford, Toyota, Nissan or Holden – hidden away in that masculine frame is a potent variant of earthy sex appeal, a certain kind of respect-worthy machismo. It’s the automotive domain of people who live on the land or ride horses – the signature of capable hands. Strong men in strong jobs, a ‘can-do’ attitude and people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Just pay a visit to the local rodeo grounds, stockyards or a horse show. Drive to any country pub or just down to the local hardware store. You’ll see them lined up by the dozens, low tech and high tech, of all models and ages. Some are shiny and sassy, a lot are dusty and grimy, but all are strong and sturdy and unmistakably masculine.

Let’s face it folks, there’s nothing effeminate or poofy about a ute. They haul hay, horse floatsand goosenecks, transport kids, dogs, and livestock, tack and the winter wood supply, not to mention bags of seed, fertiliser, grain and more besides. Most people don’t think twice about driving them through mud and gravel, water and rocky terrain too. The vet drives one, as does the farrier, the plumber, the carpenter, electrician, the mechanic, the brick layer and just about any other professional that your community depends upon. Dependable as they are, they still go even when they’re abused or have the hiccups. In the case of the more hefty models, it’s the next best thing to having a tractor. An entire household can be moved on the flatbedof a F100, never mind round bales of hay, woolpacks of shavings and fencing materials! The ute is useful for harrowing the arena, and will double as a fireunit complete with water tank and firefightinpump in the summer. All that extra usefulness in addition to its regular duties as the work runabout.

Valued internationally, not just by men, as women are fast joining the ranks of sworn ute owners. Many young women see the ute as an extension of their personality, adorning their steed with stickers, personalised licence plates and accessories that give an insight in to the driver’s own lifestyle, interests and values. Some say you can pass on that fancy fitness centre if you’ve got a ute: the older ones give a great workout – consider the lack of power steering and the hard clutch!Utes come in all kinds of incarnations and are as individual as their owners. Oversized mudflaps,shiny aluminium rollbars, spotlights, fancy wheel rims and tailgate spoilers are on display at nearly every horse event, rodeo or agricultural show you go to! There are even special ute shows for the real gung-ho enthusiasts – including a ‘dog in the ute’ event in one country town – and competitions for everything from the grimy feral station workhorse with no doors and an outlandish exhaust and wrap-around bullbar, to the sleek and shiny low-slung city utes driven only on bitumen (and certainly never over speed bumps!)

For those in rural or regional areas, where encounters with cows, sheep, pigs or kangaroos is just the norm, the reliable ute - complete with bull bar - offers the driver confidenceand safety. It’s also the perfect dog transporter – man’s best friend is all very well when he is clean and dry, but who wants a stinky wet, sweaty dog in the cab, not to mention trying to shift gears around a rambunctious puppy when there is a perfectly good tray or well body for poochie to sit in? Other people findtheir utes to be a useful training aid in getting their horses fit,either with a ‘jogger’ attached to the vehicle or a friend to hold several leads (with horses attached) whilst driving slowly around a paddock or track.

The ute really comes into its own at horse events. What more useful place to tie a horse than to the roll-bar, tray or bull-bar of a sturdy ute? Gear can be thrown straight off the horse onto the back of the ute without having to drop it onto the ground or struggling to balance a saddle and horse while attempting to open the floatdoor. For those of us getting stiff in the joints and a bit long in the tooth (and even for those who are not) the tray offers a great mounting block.

You’ll often see the ute used as an airing rack for sweaty saddle blankets or a drying place for wet rugs at polocrosse tournaments, campdrafting competitions or endurance rides, not to mention a handy storage spot for feed, hay, brushes and helmets. And let’s not forget the obligatory esky full of beer or rum… 

Whether you’re a city dweller or rooted solidly on the land, your ute wins you instant friends and is a purveyor of good will as people ask if you can assist them to move house, move stable, pick up feed or hay, or trailer a horse.

Regardless of whether you are standing inan American cornfield, in the Australianbush or any point in between, the pickuptruck or Australian ute is an eternalsource of ‘intellectual’ conversation anddebate – i.e.: Chevrolet or Holden vs.Ford, or the pros and cons of V8’s and sixcylinders! In Australia the faster modelsare often the vehicle of choice at B&Sballs (bachelor and spinster events). Farfrom resembling a Viennese ball repletewith full, filmy dresses and black tieagainst a backdrop of Strauss waltzes, theB&S ball in reality is an open-air drinkingmarathon with deafening music for rumand beer-swilling, foot-stomping singles!And the ute is as much a part of it as thebeer. Upon occasion it might even serve asa impromptu dance floor for the intrepiduntil Dionysus assumes total command ofbrain, body and balance functions. Afterthe night’s festivities, the ute is back towork again the next day to do morningafter‘circle-work’. This involves rubbersquealingburnouts and driving extremelyfast in ever decreasing circles whilstcausing a huge dust storm in some poorfarmer’s paddock! And then the ultimateAustralian ingenuity in beating the heat:some folks turn their utes into makeshiftswimming pools with the simple additionof a plastic lining and water! Now there’s areal original twist on dual use!

You’ve always got a place to lay your headif you’ve got a ute. The older, larger onesare often used to carry a slide on camperfor those wanting a dry place to lay theirheads at horse events that require overnightcamping. But any ute will do. When theday’s work (or night’s partying) is done,just unroll the swag or spare horse rug andyou are set!

A true workhorse, yet one full of spiritand character, the rugged ute has apersonality all its own. Even as other carsare losing their identities and becomingone big aerodynamic yawn in thequest for maximum petrol mileage andefficiency, the ute has managed to retain itsindividuality. And some things are simplyinherent to the type – the lingering smellof fuel easily overpowers the little sachetsof $2 scented tree air freshener. It’s thehorseman’s choice as the ultimate in sportutility vehicles. Docile on the property, yetpowerful enough to muster up some steamon the highway, the ute not only does realwork but even the simplest, most strippeddown version is genuinely fun to drive.

So no, it’s no surprise that women are drawnto utes. They are an icon of a vibrant andearthy culture – the automotive symbol ofstability and rootedness in a society that isbecoming steadily less so. Look at a pickupand you think of farms and stations,livestock and horses, cowboys and farriers,veterinarians and handymen. Even withthe emergence of its big city counterpartsthe ute is still the vehicle of the land, ruralindustries, a pastoral pace and people whowon’t let you down. A symbol of thingsthat have always been there and that willgo on long after you pass on. The thingsthat really matter – and that a life, a family,a community, a civilisation – are built on.

One of the American manufacturers used to have a sales jingle: “Built tough and meant to last.” And they do!