Heavy Horse Heritage Days

With an increase in awareness regarding environmental factors, economic impact and carbon footprint, the general public are becoming increasingly more interested in heavy horses and their part in history – from working within the agricultural industry to helping on the frontline during the first and second world war.

More recently heavy horses have become actively involved in heritage and history days at museums as a way of showing the general public the size, strength and beauty of these wonderful animals in comparison to the machinery which replaced them during the Industrial Revolution.

Heavy horses were replaced with machinery after the second world war when the price of grain increased 3 fold and tractors and other agricultural machinery became more widely available. Tractors and machines could increase production to a level that the heavy horses couldn’t and gradually they were replaced, becoming a distant memory and just a painting on a wall.

Rural Life Museum

I was approached in 2019 by The Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury as they were running different events during the summer holidays and were looking to host a ‘Heavy Horse’ day. They were looking for a local shire horse and stumbled upon my website.

Lunar, my homebred Shire x Clydesdale mare went along for a day, to meet the public and show them just how huge these heavy horses were – but also how kind, gentle and adaptable they could be.

Lunar made it to the front page of the local newspaper and has been back every year since.

Sheppy's Cider

We were asked by Sheppy’s Cider in Taunton to be part of an exciting new marketing initiative with Lunar, one of my mares pulling an antique cider dray. Lunar spent the day in the orchards with myself, a team of actors and a film crew and was an absolute hit!! As a result of the success of that day I’m also introducing my shire mare Queenie to events outside of the showing ring.

Whether you are looking for a heavy horse to attend an event or to be part of a Heritage Day, film production or anything similar I have several horses who would be more than happy to strut their stuff.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss your plans and we can create a bespoke package to suit you.