MGLI Draft Horse Show - pics and vids

[ramanth]

This past weekend was the Michigan Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show. When I was younger, my family would travel to the State Fairgrounds in Detroit and camp on site during the Show. My sisters and I would assist in getting horses ready and pretty much run wild.

A few years ago, it moved to MSU's pavilion and despite it being closer, I hadn't had a chance to go (though my parents still attend and camp on site).

Friends of our have Belgians and they compete in the plowing competition. This year they also donated one of their fillies, named Tommie, for the raffle. (The winner has their choice of the horse or $500)

I adore Draft Horses and this past weekend has only fueled that passion. My parents, Andy, and I just adore Tommie. I'm trying to convince my dad to get her.

Pictures!

The nice thing about talking this for a walk is not having to pick up the poop! LOL!


Dad feeds Tommie


and then greets one of her stall neighbors. My dad is 6', to give you an idea of how big that Belgian is.


Susie


Chief and Babe


Babe and I


Percherons


Neil and Dad hook Chief and Babe up to the hand plow


Neil plowing with the team


More....

[ramanth]

Plowing competition




Neil plowing


One of the many aisles in the barn


Baby Belgian butts!


Heavyweight pulling competition - Each team has 3 minutes to get hooked up to the Dynamometer or they are disqualified. Whipping the horses is also grounds for disqualification. They get two attempts to reach a Full Pull (27 feet & 6 inches). If they can't make it during the first two tries, they'll get a third attempt at the end of each round. After each round the weight is increased a little.




This team was one of a few that weighed over 5000 pounds


Finger grooming Tommie before showing her off to the audience


Dad and Tommie watch the pulls


more...

[ramanth]

Tommie tries to sneak a drink


One of the Fifteen pulling teams


Pulling 4100 pounds


This team makes it to the next level on their third and final attempt (they ended up taking 1st place)


1st place


Sleepy horses




Playing with his food


A cute mule


Andy with some Clydesdales

more....

[ramanth]

Playing with Tommie








Halter competitions








Putting ribbons in a Percheron's mane


3 horse Clydesdale hitch


more..

[ramanth]

4 horse Clydesdale hitch


Western Saddle competition


Dad plowing (I got to plow a few rows myself - hard stuff!)


Belgian cart


Obstacle course (the horses have to go backwards through that zig zag)


Getting a Belgian ready for competition


Taking Tommie back to the trailer (the winner took the $500 meaning our friends get to take Tommie home)


You can find all the photos and videos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramanth...7608183481508/

[The_Duck]

Aaah! Kimmy! I knew I loved you! xD

I wanted to watch the weight pulling competition so bad. Those horses are absolutely amazing. We went the year before last and once before that. The raw power... I had the pleasure of seeing a competition at the local 4-H fair that I participated in, as well. There was this absolutely to die for pair of Black Percherons and then this gorgeous set of Belgians that I routed for. I found myself pulling just a little more for the Belgians as they were such an odd team. One of them was a good deal bigger than the other and at least three shades darker, but they pulled as a team and the little guy never slacked off.

I lived in Kentucky for four years and my neighbors bred the Draft Mules so they always had a bunch of Belgian and a couple of Percheron mares. I'd always found the drafts to be fascinating for their size alone, but spending time with them made me appreciate their gentle nature and hard working spirit, as well.

Thank you so much for sharing these. Looks like you had a blast! And that Tommie is just darling.

[ramanth]

Yay Drafts!!! Thanks and you're welcome. I was there all day Friday, but my camera batteries died prior to the Light Weight Pulling event. There was one little guy that just wouldn't pull, which goes to show how much the others love and want to pull. Can't make them pull if they don't want too!!

I'm bummed I had to leave early today to come to work. Next year I'm taking the whole weekend off.

Glad you enjoyed!

If you go to the Silver Bells parade in Lansing, Jerry (Neil's dad) takes a pair of his Belgians to give wagon rides before and after the parade.

[Karen]

Awww, I am sure jealous! How old (young) is Tommie? She's adorable!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Draft Horses!!!

I spent many an hour watching the various Draft Horse events at the Canfield Fair!

It always amazed me how the Pulling teams would stand SO quietly in line
just*watching* all the other teams hitch to the sled and take off ...
the *waiters* seemed like many of them were sleeping on their feet.
UNTIL their crew flicked the reins and it was THEIR turn to pull ...
Like turning on a switch - they'd 'light up' and almost jump out of their skins
getting lined up on the pulling sled ... no need to tell 'em to "pull" -
as soon as their tree *clanked* onto the sled - LOOK OUT!
After the whistle, they'd *prance* back to their place in the lineup and
settl in for anothe lil nap. AMAZING creatures!

Will Kia and Chipper *share* their apartment with Tommie?

[chocolatepuppy]

Beautiful horses! They're so big! Thanks for sharing Kimmy!

[ramanth]

Awww, I am sure jealous! How old (young) is Tommie? She's adorable!

She's 8 months old.

Phred, Kia and Chipper may not have a choice! LOL! Though I'm not sure how you'd housebreak a horse.

[Suki Wingy]

It's nice to see some beautiful Belgians. We had a team at the farm I used to work at.

[Cinder & Smoke]

I'm not sure how you'd housebreak a horse.

*B*I*G* Diapers, and a 55 gallon Diaper Pail!

[ramanth]

That's what my parents said.

Andy said we could just let Kia take care of it.

[boomersooner]

Very cool!!! I love draft horses, too.....Almost got my foot stepped on by one at the Kentucky Horse Park many years ago.....Imagine it would have broken it.....They are such beautiful massive animals!!! "Little" Tommie is adorable!!!!!