Publisher hosts horse workshops

Lynn Miller, center, brought some top hands together to teach workhorse handling. Photo by Kristi Miller

The Sisters Rodeo Grounds resonated with the sounds of jangling harness and the calls of teamsters when the Small Farmer's Journal hosted the Workhorse Workshops there on October 15-17.

Lynn Miller, publisher of the Journal, teamed up with long-time friend and fellow workhorse clinician, Dr. Doug Hammill of Kalispell, Montana, to teach the workshops.

They also enlisted the aid of expert teamsters Mike MacIntosh of Redmond and Tom Triplett, Hammill's father-in-law, to help the 30 participants during the hands-on sessions.

This is the first time Miller and Hammill have taught together and the first time the workshops have been held in Sisters. Miller has spent the past 30 years traveling around the U.S. teaching about workhorses. Hammill holds a workshop at his home ranch in Montana every year.

"Doug says he's thinking he'll come back and do this again," said Miller.

Participants came from several states, many from the East Coast and the Midwest. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day they learned about the essentials of working draft horses. Harness design and fit, driving principles, harnessing and unharnessing were all demonstrated.

In the hands-on sessions, four teams were utilized. Participants practiced the basics of driving and maneuvering a team with a variety of exercises. Plowing and log skidding were also included.

The teams of Belgians and Percherons were provided by Miller and the Lazy Z ranch.

According to Miller, the best information available estimates that in the 1980s there were around 200,000 working horses in the US.

"Now the estimates say there are around 400,000," he said.

And people need to learn how to handle the gentle giants.

Nels Nelson of Jefferson, New Hampshire and John Crater of Long Valley, New Jersey braved cross-country air travel to participate.

"I've worked draft horses a long time," Crater said. "I didn't think I could learn any more about them, but I have been surprised."

Proving that learning never ends, Clarence Stancil, 82, of Tenino, Washington, came to watch and listen. An artificial knee prevented him from driving, but the sparkle in his eye showed his delight in the workhorse world.

"I've been working horses most of my long life," he said. "There's always something new that a horse can teach you."

Terry Jacobsen calls Wales, North Dakota, home. He doesn't farm his organic farm with horses, yet.

"Being here adds a depth to the experience," he said. "I wanted to start out right. I've enjoyed being in Sisters, and learning a gentle way to handle horses."