Farming with horses | An old skill for a better future

When horses were created we believe that God had a plan in mind. Humanity has been using horses for centuries, as transportation vehicles, as helpers in the fields and farms, for recreational activities and most importantly they are companions and friends to humans. Farming with horses is good for the soil and nature around us. Hooves do not compact the soil as tractors do. Horses eat from the ground and fertilize the soil as you work. They need breaks as you go when you can enjoy nature around you. Depending on what you are doing, you work harder, then when they rest, you can rest too. It is pleasant to work with animals.

 

Objectives of the event: Old School farming

- An all-family event to enjoy on a special day around horses and farmers.

- Wagon rides on the farm.

- Clinics and workshops related to Draft Horse, Harness and equipment horse training,

- Vendors spots available on site (please contact us).

- Sharing techniques from the past with younger generations, passing down to the next generations for a better future.

- We must today pay attention to our planet and know where our food is coming from, acting for the planet with respect for the earth, human and animals.

- Healthy soil, healthy lives!

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Program:

 

Saturday all-day:

Main event will start at 9:00 am and will end by 5:30pm (unless you want to extend the fun to later in the evening).

Food will be available all day, Saturday, for a minimal fee.

Entrance fee: $5.00 per car (covers for Saturday and Sunday).

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Morning:

• Cover crop plowing

• Using the cover crop as green manure and organic fertilizer

• Horse plowing with the walk behind plows and riding plow

• Bed preparation using horses

• Using disk with horses

• Harrowing with horses with spring harrow and flex harrow

•  Harvesting with horses and wagon

• Sweet potatoes harvest

• Cultivating

• Using Mc Cormick cultivators

• Clinics and workshop during the morning

 

Afternoon:

Haymaking:

• Cutting hay with  horse-drawn Mc Cormick sickle mower

• Tedding hay with horses

• Raking hay with horses

• Baling hay using Horses

• Clinics and workshop in the afternoon

 

 

Sunday:

Resting day, Church at 11:00 am. Enjoying the rest of the day visiting with friends and horses.

 

Working with horses: Treating the horses right

Feeding our souls, today we choose to work with horses that are our companions on earth in the present moment.

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Teamster self-evaluation:

We do our best to evaluate our thoughts and actions and feelings before a day of work ; if we do not feel comfortable working with horses, if we are, upset, nervous, we might want to decide to postpone the day of work with our horses and do something else on the farm. We know for a fact that horses are living creature that will react differently with us if we are relaxed, or happy and focused.

To protect the animals and ourselves we will make sure that we are in harmony and the bond is alive between us.

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Horses evaluation:

The morning before the day of work, after feeding time, we will brush and get the horses ready mentally. By spending time with them and grooming them we may feel and see any soreness that the horse may have. Then we will warm them up in the round pen and see if the horse give us signs of stress or if they are mentally ready for the day. If horses are not in the mood, we will change the team and switch another horse.

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Our horses are well fed, they work a limited time during the day. They will have a break as we go, and they do not work every day, as they rest on Sunday.

Today we work with them because we love them, we are a team and as a team, we cannot push them to where they will not be physically and emotionally comfortable. In order to make them do their best, we must evaluate their feelings and sensations the best we can. We know that horses that enjoy what are they are doing will make our life easier. We always can force a horse to do something, but after a while he will be sad, and will not enjoy what he is doing. This is not what we want!

We want teams that are happy to be with their teamsters as we are happy to share time on earth with them.