Beauty and Grace
Amber on her Summit Farms cart.
Horses have always captured my attention, but the beauty and grace of a draft horse captivates me. I dream of having horses. (When I have some spare time!) The second weekend of the Iowa State Fair is the draft horse show. Sitting on the curb watching the crews ready the horses and hitch them up is great entertainment.
I envy the opportunity that Amber (her kids go to the same daycare as ours) has to drive this horse. Here is one woman behind one horse. But the power of that horse is tremendous. Look how high off the ground she is in the cart. Draft horse are large animals! Maybe someday I'll get the chance to drive a horse. Meanwhile, congrats to Amber for placing third in this class.
The equipment for the horses is a beautiful thing in itself.
Getting the horses ready is no easy task. This site made me chuckle. Three people standing on tables and steps to get to the top of the horse to braid its mane.
The horses wait patiently in the hall as they all get dressed and ready for the show. I can't imagine all the fussying that thoses horses have to endure. As I stood at the doorway and watched the team scurry around with harnesses and putting pretty things in their manes, I also watched the crowd and how the horses reacted to them.
This horse in the front was calm until a man with a flash camera starting shooting picture after picture. That flash went off repeatedly less than 6 feet from the horse's face. That horse was getting so irritated. He'd raise his head and shake it (at least as much as the restraints allowed). And, when the man kept taking pictures the horse began to raise one leg and stomp his foot down as if to say, "Enough! No more flash." As soon as the man stopped and left, the horse was calm again.
The teams come from all over the United States. I liked this team because of the young driver! He's so small compared to those big horses. The man in the gold shirt that is backing up one of the horses eventually climbed up with the young man to drive the team.
As we stood and watched this six-team hitch get hooked up, it was amazing to feel the energy of the horses. I thought later, "why didn't I take a video." But I was so caught up in the moment that it didn't cross my mind. As the final two horses were added, it was all the crew could do to keep them from going. The horses could hear, and see, other teams moving toward the pavillon. These horses started "dancing", ready to go to the show! When the man in the red shirt jumped out of the way, the team was on its way.
Trackbacks
-
6/25/2010 4:19 AM
annamalai1977 wrote:
Check out this site Blog.heidikaisand.com and see what you think about it http://ping.fm/5iff5
Heidi--
I enjoyed your article on the draft horses. I pulled up some pictures of Heath and his Percherons, but now I find I don't actually have your email address, and I don't think I can send them without it. If you want to let me have it, just send it to me!!
Reply to this
Oh how I envy your life in the country! Those are beautiful creatures indeed!!!
Reply to this
I have always thought there was a grace and beauty (and even a gentleness) to the draft horses. Just gorgeous!
Reply to this
Your insights into the Iowa State Fair have been fun to read. I like your perspective! Thank you for sharing
Reply to this
There should be a good saddle for each horse in the stable and, as each animal differs from another in the shape of the back.
Reply to this
I love horse riding lol...if I will get the opportunity I will have the ride...but the pics shows it is really amazing and enjoyeable...to ride like that...
Reply to this
The horses in the 2nd pics are really cool...i will really like to have a ride at least once.....
Reply to this
Great advice, i am heading over to check out your entire site now. happens all the time
Reply to this
opportunity I will have the ride...but the pics shows it is really amazing and enjoyeable...to ride like that...
Reply to this