Six-Horse Hitch at the Richmond Fair 2012

Reid Acres Percherons, Mountain, ON

The Richmond Fair, which took place this weekend past, is my favorite. That’s partly because there is such a great Heavy Horse show. There’s nothing like seeing all these gorgeous, huge horses, all together, and no better display than the six-horse hitch class. This year, there were 9 entries, bringing together 54 horses in the show ring. What a spectacle!

Here is a selection of photographs of the competitors. I thought that every team should be awarded first prize! Every entry represents a huge investment of hours of work, dedication, knowledge and skill, a love and passion for horses, and of course, money. The judge had the unenviable job of having to choose just one entry to pin the red ribbon on. She chose the Maple Creek Belgians, of Stittsville, Ontario. Thank you to all the competitors for a fine show.

Reid Acres Percherons

Trout Brook Belgians, Potsdam, NY.

Trout Brook Belgians

Steadholm Farm, Lanark, ON

Kelly Farm, Brockville, ON

Kelly Farm

Maple Creek Belgians, Stittsville, ON

Allumettes Clydesdales, Allard Family, Chapeau, PQ

Allan Foster & Family, North Gower, ON

Bourbonnais Family, Metcalfe, ON

Bourbonnais Percherons

Karvelton Clydesdales, Richmond, ON

Karvelton Clydesdales, Richmond, ON

And the winners…

Maple Creek Belgians, Stittsville, ON

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Richmond Fair: Six Horse Hitch

Last weekend’s Richmond Fair offered a wonderful display of draft horses. Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales were all represented. We had the pleasure of watching the 6-horse hitch class. When 6 huge horses trot past, the ground shakes. What an awesome spectacle! Ten teams participated. The teams worked in the ring in two separate rounds of 5 teams each. For the final lineup, with all 10 teams, there were 60 giant horses in the ring. It was really something to see.

The Clydesdales are my personal favorites. Maybe it’s because of my Scottish ancestry, but I love their lanky good looks, beautiful colours with white markings, and of course, feathers. The long hair around their hooves is called feathers. However, all the teams were wonderful.

The announcer pointed out that each team represented an investment in the neighbourhood of half a million dollars. I don’t know how accurate that figure might be, but they surely would be a major undertaking. The winner of the class was the Bourbonnais entry of black Percherons.

McLaughlin Clydesdales, Haley Station, Ontario

Maple Creek Belgians, Stittsville, Ontario

Stead Family Belgians, Lanark, Ontario

Bourbonnais Percherons, Metcalfe, Ontario

Trout Brook Belgians, Potsdam, New York

Allan Foster & Family Belgians, North Gower, Ontario

Wilson Family Percherons, Van Kleek Hill, Ontario

Nesbitt Riverview Farm Belgians, Gatineau, Quebec

Hambleton Belgians, Alexandria, Ontario

Kelly Farm Belgians, Brockville, Ontario

First Place Winners

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