Rural Heritage June/July 2026

Safety. Comfort. These are both very important pieces of this foundation. But I’ll include another foundational attribute of this work, and that is FUN! Attaching a giant animal to a sharp piece of steel should be taken seriously, sure. But it was not lost on anyone present that working good horses is also pleasurable. The pretest forthe participants was to“drive”another participant through a short obstacle course while that person was blindfolded. Not much guidance was given, and a few wrecks were expected. (Remember, no real horses yet.) This activity was intended to make the point that we must understand what we are asking of our horses. Clear commands are essential. Hopefully, it also gave them some measure of empathy for the animals they would work. We revisited this skill later after receiving instruction on line contact and clear commands. We were making progress. Old Capitol Farm’s Suffolk horses were caught and harnessed several times each so that all participants became comfortable with these tasks. It helps that these horses are exceptionally docile examples of a breed known for their good temperament. Instructors provided guidance, but the students obviously enjoyed getting their hands on these animals. Like Teddy Roosevelt said, “There’s something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man.” By lunchtime everyone was ready for a sit down. That’s part of the wonderful rhythm working with horses. Living things have limits. Although the horses hadn’t worked all morning, we had. We recognized our limits and stopped for lunch. What a lunch it was, too! Maggie is a junior in high school with a knack for culinary masterpieces. When the local caterer got sick, we needed to find someone to provide lunches. With the help from her mother, Molly, Maggie stepped right into the role and outdid herself! Ben and I started a little music at the tail end of lunch when Molly and Maggie joined in. It was made clear that participants might as well start practicing the skills learned that morning. Music seems to frequently go hand in hand with this culture of working horses. The real heart of the workshop began after lunch. A garden plot had been prepared with three rows to work. There were three horses and three instructors. Participants took turns driving horses down the rows where small wooden stakes

simulated our cash crop. We must have been doing something right with our instruction, because our wonderful volunteers didn’t have to stay terribly busy “replanting” the veggies when they were knocked out. The instructors provided feedback when necessary, but everyone seemed to really gain confidence during this exercise. As the workshop ended, we all seemed to have that feeling you hope to have at the end of a day working good horses. We felt a sense of accomplishment, proud we brought our skills to bear for a team working with a common goal. We were gentle, but assertive, leaders for our horses. The horses affirmed us by remaining relaxed, confident and compliant. As harnesses slid off sweaty backs, horses yawned, and participants brushed and inspected. There were things I meant to cover that I didn’t. There were things I said that I wish I had said differently. All in all, I believe the foundation we started was a good one. It is not likely that everyone who attended will end up working horses. Where their journey takes them is not my responsibility. All I can do is do my best to provide a good start. Those who do find themselves behind their own team someday may look back on this day and appreciate the foundation on which they have built. At least, that is my hope. Before we parted ways, several of us stood and visited. Whatever we feel about national or world politics, we all seemed to understand that there is strength in building local communities — communities who work together, who care for each other, and care for our common place on earth. Horses do not present a fool-proof alternative mode of power. Horsepower could be used irresponsibly. But can horses, under good care, make use of local resources to power themselves and produce food and goods for people in a way that builds soil and protects clean air and water? That is one of the questions the Sustainable Horticulture Lab at Purdue University seeks to answer. I have a strong hunch the answer is, “Yes, if done well.” What being done “well” looks like will consider many practices which reflect the needs and resources in that part of the world. Without practitioners working with horses with a mind for good stewardship, how will we know? And so, we sow seeds of that culture and try our best to start them off right with a strong foundation of skills.

June/July 2026

41