MGLI Draft Horse Show - pics and vids

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!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8087.jpg

Dad feeds Tommie
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8096.jpg

and then greets one of her stall neighbors. My dad is 6', to give you an idea of how big that Belgian is. :D
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8098.jpg

Susie
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8103.jpg

Chief and Babe
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8105.jpg

Babe and I
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8109.jpg

Percherons
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8111.jpg

Neil and Dad hook Chief and Babe up to the hand plow
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8113.jpg

Neil plowing with the team
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8120.jpg

More....

Plowing competition
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8122.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8124.jpg

Neil plowing
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...h_MVI_8127.jpg

One of the many aisles in the barn
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8130.jpg

Baby Belgian butts!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8140.jpg

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.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8142.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8152.jpg

This team was one of a few that weighed over 5000 pounds
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...h_MVI_8167.jpg

Finger grooming Tommie before showing her off to the audience
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8153.jpg

Dad and Tommie watch the pulls
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8158.jpg

more...

Tommie tries to sneak a drink
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8159.jpg

One of the Fifteen pulling teams
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8168.jpg

Pulling 4100 pounds
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8192.jpg

This team makes it to the next level on their third and final attempt (they ended up taking 1st place)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...h_MVI_8197.jpg

1st place
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8203.jpg

Sleepy horses
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8223.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8225.jpg

Playing with his food
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...h_MVI_8221.jpg

A cute mule
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8229.jpg

Andy with some Clydesdales
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8237.jpg
more....

Playing with Tommie
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8241.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8248.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8249.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8251.jpg

Halter competitions
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8255.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8263.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8269.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...h_MVI_8270.jpg

Putting ribbons in a Percheron's mane
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8271.jpg

3 horse Clydesdale hitch
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...h_MVI_8306.jpg

more..

4 horse Clydesdale hitch
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8280.jpg

Western Saddle competition
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8291.jpg

Dad plowing (I got to plow a few rows myself - hard stuff!)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8296.jpg

Belgian cart
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8300.jpg

Obstacle course (the horses have to go backwards through that zig zag)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8317.jpg

Getting a Belgian ready for competition
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8322.jpg

Taking Tommie back to the trailer (the winner took the $500 meaning our friends get to take Tommie home)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...I/IMG_8324.jpg

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

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... :eek: 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. :love:

Yay Drafts!!! :D :love: 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. :D

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. :D

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

:love: 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?

:D

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Karen

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

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She's 8 months old. :love:

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ramanth

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

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

:D

http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif That's what my parents said.

Andy said we could just let Kia take care of it. http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/icon2.gif

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!!!!!