The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fife to host celebration of working horses
Working horses will plough a nostalgic furrow in the heart of the Fife countryside this weekend, when Scotland’s farm heritage is brought back to life.
Celebrating a revival of interest in the use of traditional horsepower to work the land, the fifth British Horse Society of Scotland’s national Working Horses Day is being held on Saturday at Meadowells Farm, Collessie, courtesy of RH Black.
The event, launched in 2012, aims to educate about and demonstrate the use of horses or ponies for farming, crofting and even gardening tasks.
The magnificent display of horsepower attracts hundreds of spectators each year.
Lead horseman and organiser for the day is haulier Benny Duncan from Balmalcolm.
As far as Clydesdale enthusiasts go, Benny is still a relative ‘newcomer’ to the breed.
“I grew up surrounded by farms in the countryside by Ceres, outside Cupar, so as a very young lad my summers were spent stooking or sheaving,” Benny said.
“Although I didn’t work directly with the farm horses back then, there was just something I loved about the way of life. It was ingrained in my memory.
“Nowadays, I really wish I could have owned Clydesdales much sooner,” he said.
“I went to visit my friend Willie Davidson in hospital. He’d had much success with his horses over the years, including a Cawdor Cup winner, but he had only just sold a stallion and purchased a younger horse when he discovered he was very unwell.
“It wasn’t until I was walking out the door of his hospital room that he asked if I’d buy this last horse from him,” said Benny.
That three-year-old gelding – Quarrybrae Duster – took Benny and his wife Isobel, tentatively, to local shows to begin with.
“But it was always the idea of working and driving horses that really captured me,” added Benny. “There’s just something about the training of a horse that I find incredibly rewarding.”
Some 15 years down the line and Balmalcolm is home to four working Clydesdales – Star, Davy, Geordie and, most recently, Jackson.
These horses drive, coming out at shows individually or as a tandem or pair in the turnout sections, at weddings, public displays and funerals, and also take part – to great acclaim and two successive Royal Highland Show championships – in decorative harness contests.
But, unusually, they are equally adept when it comes to competitive ploughing – an interest Benny has developed over the last three years.
Jackson won’t be at the Working Horses Day as he’s only in the early stages of his education.
However, Star, Davy and Geordie will be integral to the ‘Cereal from Seed to Harvest’ displays at Meadowells.
A packed programme involving 16 horses will take part in a range of traditional farm activities. From ploughing to harrowing, seeding, rolling, reaping, binding and bailing, heavy horses from as far afield as Ireland will demonstrate a whole season of labour in one day.
There will also be farriery, forestry, harness decoration, dray rides, working ponies and vintage machinery displays.
George Skinner, of Strathorn Farm, Pitcaple, will act as compere.
Joining Benny at the reins, the horsemen carrying out farm work, displays and dray rides include John McDermott from Ireland; Neil MacPhail of Skernish Clydesdales, Campbeltown; Davy Walker of Galcantray, Cawdor; Ronnie Walker of Rivendale; Dave Duncan, Johnshaven; Dave Nelson; and Ross Kinnaird.
Proving age is no barrier to tradition, eight-year-old Blythe Sinclair will also be on standby, driving her Shetland pony with a box cart to deliver seed and fertiliser around the wheat field.
BHS Scotland director Helene Mauchline said: “Working with horses really is enjoying something of a revival at the moment.
“If you love the spectacle and the wonderful heritage of our working horses or are interested to learn more, then this is the day for you,” she added.
“The horsepower is amazing,” she said.
“There is just something so nostalgic about the sense of helping to preserve the old ways.”
The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm, is open to all.
Entrance – which includes soup and a roll – costs £10.
This year the event is being supported by the Gerald Fallowes Legacy Trust, which has awarded funds to the Clydesdale Horse Society.
Mr Fallowes’ bequest provides support for the promotion of the Clydesdale breed and values the traditional use of its horses.
Meanwhile another celebration of the Clydesdale breed, the North of Fife Foal Show, has its 100th anniversary in November.
It has added to its traditional schedule of showing classes with further competitions for driving and riding.
The November 5 event, is in the indoor facility at Highfield at Howe, Giffordtown. See northfifefoalshow@hotmail.com for schedules.