Holding onto the reins of the past

Horsepower was on display in Rama, SK. Saturday, as a demonstration of heritage spring seeding technique was held.

Teamsters from throughout the region gathered to hitch their big horses to vintage plows, cultivators, discs, harrows and seed drill to plant a few acres of crop as spectators gathered to watch.

For those holding the reins as the horses trudged slowly around the field it was a day to keep long held loves of working horses alive.

"I've been playing with horses all my life," said Norval Budd of Kelliher as he hitched his four horses to a cultivator. "I started harnessing horses when I was about eight."

But a tractor soon arrived on the farm and horses were retired from field work.

"But we were soon back to horses for winter chores," he said, something he still does.

Rae Rosenkerr of Preeceville said he can recall horses at work, but added a Ford tractor arrived on his father's farm just before he would have started working with the big horses.

But Rosenkerr still felt a connection to horses, and his family was for years involved with a local riding club. He said they had a number of saddle horses for years, and then recently got the two working Percherons he drove in Rama.

"It's the love of horses. Every thing's so nice and quiet (working them). There's no roar of the tractor and clanging of machinery," he said. "I can actually hear the mole board cutting the sod. I've never heard that before."

Duncan Arthur of Preeceville is another man with a long passion for horses.

"I guess most of my life. Dad always worked a team," he said, adding he uses horses today too. "Horses are always used for chores and stuff like that It's amazing what they can do in some places and no diesel fuel."

"I grew up driving horses," echoed Lloyd Smith of Pelly, adding he even dabbles today having farmed nine acres of what on his farm last year. This year he wants to do more.

Asked why? Rosenkerr was quick to answer.

"It's to show the people that it can be done," he said.

In Budd's case he breeds horses.

"I raised all four of these from babies," he said with obvious pride, noting the quartet included a half-brother and three sisters.

But why still bring horses out to events like the one in Rama, sacrificing a Saturday on a long weekend to bouncing on a metal seat across a field.

"I just enjoy working with them," said Budd. "We try to take in as many (working demonstrations) as we can."

But there is more to it for the teamsters than the joy.

There is a hope that by doing such demonstrations others, hopefully younger people, will become interested and pick up the traces.

"I don't think there are too many to take over and keep it going," said Budd.

Rosenkerr agreed.

"We've got to get young people interested so we don't lose these horses," he said.