Pyramid Hitch

[Tallpines]

Wisconsin’s Farm Progress show is happening this week in the southern part of Clark County.  About 45 miles from us.

DH and I attended, and, with our “old age” and walking difficulties, we rented mobility scooters.
Scooters!  They were a VERY GOOD THING!
Lots and lots of vendors, displays, demonstrations, samples, food.

My favorite thing to see was in the area of equine displays.

They had  a 10 horse Pyramid hitch.
10 HUGE Belgium horses ….. 18 plus hands high.

4 horses closest to the wagon.
Then 3 horses, right in front of the four.
The 3 following a team of 2.
All led by ONE very smart lead horse.

We viewers watched while all the horses were being hitched, while listening to the history and breeds of draft horses.
We also learned, in a very interesting presentation, about the story of each of the individual 10 horses.
They each have their own interesting personality.
The horse in the lead is actually the shortest of the bunch but he knows HE IS THE BOSS!

It takes 2 team drivers on the wagon.
One of them is the primary driver, while the other is there to help keep the reins organized.

It was nothing short of AMAZING to watch that Pyramid of horses circle around that arena, and then do a figure-eight, ending with a very tight circle!
As soon as the driver called out to the number one horse, he ears perked up and he knew it was SHOW TIME.
The high stepping rhythm of those 40 hooves was mesmerizing.

Loved it!

The horses were unhitched, and, then re-hitched for an afternoon performance.
I made sure to go back for the second show.

It was also impressive to watch the dozen or so workers that were required to get it all done.
All those leather straps and metal hooks were like a huge puzzle.
It took a small army to get all the pieces in place.





 

[Woodpecker]

That sure sounds like some amazing fun!!! I would have loved seeing that, too…I’m a horse lover 🐎

[mogal]

When we lived north of Kansas City, we'd go to the American Royal draft horse show. What fun to see so many beautiful, well-trained, well turned out horses and vehicles!

I had a friend who loved horses and had a bunch including a huge Percheron gelding that was supposed to be the last surviving member of the 1980 Canadian 6 horse hitch. His name was Randy and I talked about him to DH quite a bit. So, when this lady was invited to show him in the ladies' cart class, of course, we had to be sure to go. Well, my friend's husband was there too, helping my friend get all ready for the arena. I told DH "this is Randy" and he stepped to the my friend's husband, extending his hand. We all got a big laugh from it. DH patted Randy, then visited with the lady's husband whose name I don't remember, just the horse's name.

One spring morning, I decided to take the goats across the creek to browse an area of our place that we couldn't access--town encroached on one side and that creek ran the full length of the place. Plus town dogs weren't kept at home and we couldn't afford enough fencing to keep them out. Anyway, I had a nice walk with the goats and got back to the house about noon. There was a message on my answering machine--this was long before everybody and his off ox had a cell phone--from my friend inviting me to join her to exercise Randy on the gravel roads around her place. I had a ball helping to harness and unharness this huge horse. My friend is shorter than I am. I can't tell you what a thrill it was to watch the countryside pass framed by two horsey ears! When we got back to her house, I gave her a big hug and told her how special she'd made my BIRTHDAY.

[countrymom22]

mogal, sounds like a special memory that will last a lifetime!

[Woodpecker]

Yes that sure sounds fun mogal, I have fond memories of riding on the sulky with my father with his trotter, Gussy Wind, around and around the cornfield...what fun that was. Gussy Wind won one race at Roosevelt Raceway here on LI ...I have the picture of her at the finish line

I rode a lot back in the day...there was a farm near by with a very nice woman and a horse named "Blue Boy" she would let us kids ride him in her fields...that was the first horse I fell off of when it stopped short!!! I do love horses, but am afraid to even pet them now...I keep hearing my dad, "you can never trust a horse" I don't know if thats true, but all the horses my father had were very high strung race horses, so that's pretty much all I knew, about being careful when around or with them.

Then the last time I rode with my younger sister, I asked for a calm horse as I hadn't ridden in a long time..he gave me a dapple gray, big horse and said, "oh you'll be fine on him, a 90 year old rides him all the time...I take off first with my sister behind, the horse starts galloping away with me, as I'm reining him in..my little sister is yelling "wait for me!!!!" as soon as I got him to stop, I jumped off, the horse ran back to the barn and I walked back...my sister was mad at me, but I was scared!

[oldone]

I've had horse or donkeys or both for over 30 years. Just had to put the old horse down on July 3rd. He was 27 had been going down hill since spring. He fell & couldn't get back up. Had to be put down. Still have 2 donkeys & goats.
Haven't ridden for years. I'm too far. Don't want to hurt them, but HAVE to have them in my life. Animals keep me sane.
I would have loved to see the pyramid hitch.