Four-Horse Mini Hitch, Richmond Fair 2012.

Right beside the Heavy Horse show ring, the Miniature Horse show was taking place. What a contrast! The four-horse hitch class attracted 3 entries. The little blacks came away with first prize.

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Four-Horse Hitch at Richmond Fair: 2012

Nicol Belgians, Copenhagen, NY

The six-horse hitch class was followed by the four-horse hitch class. The same 9 farms competed again, with the addition of an entry from Nicol Belgians from Copenhagen, New York.

Nicol Belgians

Steadholm Farm

Allan Foster Belgians

Allumettes Clydesdales

And the winner is…the Karvelton Clydesdales of Richmond.

Karvelton Clydesdales

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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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Eight Horse Hitch

On Sunday, we attended the Richmond Fair horse show. They had a wonderful event, with 3 rings running concurrently. In one ring were the light horse English and Western classes. In a second ring was a miniature horse show, and in the third ring were draft classes. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the 8-horse miniature hitch. Putting together a hitch of eight horses, even miniature ones, is quite an undertaking. We watched as the teams were assembled.

Here is the first pair, the wheelers, being hitched in position. They were a well-behaved pair who stood quietly as the other teams were assembled.

The third mini gets a pat and some encouraging words.

The fourth mini is brought around into position.

Numbers five and six are added to the hitch.

Here is mini number seven.

Finally, number eight is brought out.

Many hands help with holding the horses and work on the harnessing.

Everyone is ready and they head for the show ring.

The team works both ways in the ring and then stands in the centre of the ring for inspection by the judge. The little horses fan to the right and back, just like the Budweiser Clydesdales do! After a wonderful display, they make their triumphant exit from the ring. What a great showing.

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