Draft horse show recalls glory days

They are the living representative of days long past. They are the tireless and honest equine workers from the old world, who have been by our sides for centuries carrying our loads and working our fields to ensure the success of humankind.

We may not need them for our livelihood any longer but for some people the love affair with these gentle giants continues. It culminates in breed protection and preservation and public exhibition in order to gain awareness of the many uses and extraordinary capabilities of these magnificent creatures.

Despite our modern sensibilities, draft horse employment is making a comeback. Many draft farms are choosing to use their massive friends over machinery to work the fields, log and pull heavy loads.

Besides the draft horse’s physical attributes, their beauty is breathtaking. And there were plenty of stunning examples of the mighty steeds thumping the ground at Eagle Crest this past weekend, July 15-17.

For 15 years Eagle Crest has been hosting one of the highest quality draft horse shows in the country. It has become a traditional event for many families who keep coming back year after year to enjoy the top-caliber competition.

Each year the drivers and hitches are carefully selected and invited to compete, making the event an elite collection of only the highest quality competitors on the West Coast. Spectators were treated to a wide variety of classes and demonstrations with almost every popular draft breed represented.

Sisters View Clydesdales of Redmond, John Sharp’s Corral of Prineville, Cream Acres Ranch of Bend, Lazy M Ranch of Redmond, and Lone Pine Clydesdales of Terrebonne all had the honor of competing this year.

The newcomers to the event this year were Triber’s Clydesdales from Greenacres, Washington, who brought a fine team of bay Clydes to the show, competing in just about all the classes offered.

“The staff at Eagle Crest have been great,” said Ramona Triber, who also competes at Monroe Western Regional Clydesdale Show in Washinton and the Sand Point, Idaho all-breed Draft Show each year.

“We have really enjoyed this show and consider it a great honor to have been invited. Central Oregon is a great place to visit, although you can turn down the temperature about 10 degrees next time we come.”

“I think it is a privilege to be able to drive a team in competition at this show,” said 14-year-old Cashly Herman, representing McInnis Classic Belgians of Beaverton. She won the Two-horse Hitch Youth Driver class on Sunday, her second win at a draft show, but by far her most exciting.

Herman, who has been driving the McInnis Belgians since she was nine years old said, “You have to work really, really hard for this but it sure pays off when you win at this kind of competition.”

Pat Mathews, concierge at Eagle Crest Resort, put together a fund-raiser raffle at the show this year to benefit Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend. Sheryl Mclaughlin won a two-day Eagle Crest package. Betty Hutt from Lacy, Washington won a quilt made by local quilter Jan Lau, and Paul Loberg, resident of Eagle Crest, won a crib quilt made by local quilter Barbara Whitaker.

Mathews said, “It went very well, and I just want to thank Lanai and Sara McCoy who worked hard all weekend at the raffle table. Also a big thank-you to everyone who came together to help make the entire event a success.”