I spent the summer working with Belgian, Percheron, and ****re draft
horses. I was raised around saddle horses, but had no exposure to work
horses until the summer. I was amazed at how similar they are, but how
different too. Draft horses can definitely be a handful, but for the
most part, they don't even realize how large and powerful they are.
I got bucked off, bruised, ran away with, ran-over and even kicked by
saddle horses this summer (I'm not kidding, they all happened..some
multiple times). But the most I got from a draft horse was a black
fingernail.
I learned to harness and drive the team on a wagon. I even got to
train a two-year old team of blonde belgian fillies; peaches and
cream--beautiful animals!
Now summer is over and I am back in college. I miss the draft horses
so much. Does anyone else have experience with drafthorses, wagons,
buggies, harnesses, or anything else in this entirely different world?
Does anyone know how I can stay involved without being there with the
horses? Is there a draft horse organization, not a breed organization,
but like a club or something?
If nothing else, just let me know your story of how your granddaddy
farmed with a team, or how you saw an amazing four-up at a state fair,
or just something to let me know that someone else takes interest in
these animals like I do.
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