Horses pulling for the hell of it
A staple of fall fairs, horse pulling is an awesome experience. There are even pulling events for smaller horses and ponies! Many associations
are devoted to the heavy horses, even as the day of the horse on the farm is
edging into posterity.
I gather that horses, individuals and pairs, are divided into classes based on weight.
The fellows shown here are approximately 1,500 pounds each (650 kg or so). These wondrous beasts can pull many times their own weight,
a deadweight of concrete bars (or other material) loaded onto a sledge. So, these
guys can take on something like 10,000 pounds and pull it
as deadwight for a set distance measured by the chain man (shown
at the right rear). More weight is added until the horses cannot
pull the set distance, and the pull is ended.
It must be a little scary to drive these creatures. They are so highly trained
that once the drawbar hook "clicks" into place at the front of the sledge, the handlers
have to clear away as the horses are up and going instantly. The driver has to steer clear of
the twisitng sledge as the horses dig and buck and slide, and make the impossible happen.
The balding driver in the foreground is tensed and the reins taut as the big horses
kick and power up, up and away.
I expect that heavy horses are raised now for the purpose of show and
pull, and perhaps for sleigh rides or featured players in a parade. Such beautiful creatures, impossibly big and strong, usually with
names like Nick or Salty, names ypou would apply to a buddy. A large buddy mind you . . .
Horse Pull
Acrylic on pine panel, 36 x 20 1/2 in (2009)
SOLD
Please do not reproduce the images in this display.
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