Horse Progress Days

Last Friday I had a chance to attend the Horse Progress Days in Clare, MI. It's an annual event that rotates to a different Midwestern state each summer. It showcases the latest in horse-powered  equipment. Of course I was mostly interested in seeing the horses and vendors (Tiffany got a halter and lead rope to match our wagon), and eating some freshly made kettle corn!

We saw all different types of wagons, forecarts, plows, discs, lawn mowers (gas powered and reel), hay balers, hay wrappers, sprayers, and lots more. It was also neat seeing the range of equines in attendance-everything from a 19-hand dapple gray Percheron mule, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, purebred Percherons, and stubby little draft ponies whose sole purpose is to work on the farm.

There were so many things to look at I forgot to take pictures, but here are some of them:

This was a huge team of Belgians-the horse on the right must have been 19 hands tall. The horse on the left has "freckles" on its blaze-a color pattern I've never seen before.

Blogger won't let me rotate this photo. ANYWAYS, this is one of my favorite pictures from the day-this Belgian mule is taking a break from the treadmill while his buddy behind him calmly goes through his paces.

Basically, the horse walks on shallow stairs to generate electricity.

 

 

Here is a team of giant donkeys-they were probably 14-15 hands tall. (I thought they were mules until I read the sign ;-)).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The big event of the afternoon was the Amateur Auctioneer contest, that featured contestants from all over the country. A lot of people in attendance were Amish, so I tried not to take any close-ups, as the Amish prefer not to be photographed.

I'm not sure that Tiff and I will be plowing the garden together next summer, but it is really neat to see that people are preserving the "old ways" while looking towards the future.