Despite the typical spring weather in Fredericktown, OH, a few teams showed up on Saturday, April 29, 2017, to get wet plowing the field next to the Percheron Horse Association of America’s headquarters! It is an initiation for one of the new Directors to take on the role of judging the plowing competition which this year was Director Jim Day. We thank those who came out and participated in this annual event.
Results from the plowing:
- Sulky Plow–1. Joe Reed 2. Alan Stanley 3. Dave Freas
- Walking Plow–1. Joe Reed
- Walking Plow Youth–1. Lydia Ingalls
People who brought horses were:
- Joe Reed, Fredericktown, Ohio
- Jim Reed, Oberlin, Ohio
- Dave Freas, Walhonding, Ohio
- Alan Stanley, Newark, Ohio
- Howard Goodyear, Brunswick Hills, Ohio
There were 32 participants in the Dean Woodbury conformation and judging clinic. Dean covered the nuts and bolts of what he looks for in conformation in the draft horse and the steps he takes while judging a horse as well as a class of horses.
Director Robert Sparrow trucked 5 yearlings from Missouri to the clinic for Dean
to utilize as part of the clinic. Dean went over each of the 5 animals while standing and moving. He discussed their strong points and their lesser points, as we all know there is no perfect horse.
At the conclusion of Dean’s review of each horse he then asked the participants to walk the line of the 5 animals and to place them the way they would see fit. Dean then stood the yearlings head to tail in the order he would pin them as if he were judging the horses that day and gave his reasons as to why he placed them that way.
A lunch break was had and then a round table discussion ensued with Dean Woodbury, Director Linda Klinger and Director Ross Honsberger. The floor was open to any and all questions from the clinic participants.
We greatly appreciate all of you who came and participated in the clinic! We hope you were able to take something away from this learning opportunity.
The Percheron Horse Association is open to ideas for future clinics, please let us know what you would like to see us do in the future!
