Clydesdales Day Out…

By Michael Lytton-Hitchins

Michael & Wayne & friend

Michael & Wayne & friend

We thought we would give you a little insight into our day today. The following are some of my treasured friends in action.

It was raining (we love the rain especially after one of the driest periods on records in the New England! smile) & the day was full of learning and new experiences.

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Wayne, Kenny & I took out four beauties: Captain, Bounce, Trooper & Campfire. It was pretty amazing to hear Wayne’s experiences of teams of Clydesdales carting wool, digging dams and working with horses every day. It was like going back in time.

These draught horses are truly magnificent.

The vehicle is a Wagon built in 1890 in London. It is probably a rare example of some Wagons here in Australia & built at that time.

Wagon, built 1890 London, UK

Wagon, built 1890 London, UK

It was Campfire’s first time in the Wagon but he had had some practice pulling the rubber tyred vehicle here, following his recent education.

Campfire pulling Kenny in rubber tyred vehicle

Campfire pulling Kenny in rubber tyred vehicle

Draught horses were responsible for developing Australian Agriculture & are an important part of our Australian Heritage; there is currently a renewed interest in breeding these animals amongst a strong band of draught horse enthusiasts & these “Gentle Giants” win many a heart when they are out and about & even on display at Shows & Field-days.

Kyabra has a band of brood mares & a stallion & is producing foals to educate & make available for sale. Five young ones were recently sold to Queensland.

I am a harness maker these days & enjoys restoring old harness & horse drawn vehicles, of which we have collected a number.

Love Michael

Short Video:

All ready to go… Waiting on the humans…

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

In full flight…

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Michael, Kenny, Campfire, Captain, Trooper, Bounce..

Michael & Kenny & friends

Michael & Kenny & friends

Susan & Bounce. Bounce let everyone else do the work in the wagon pulling.

Susan & Bounce

Susan & Bounce

Three kids in the cart…

Kids in the Cart

Kids in the Cart

Hobbled and waiting for their gear to be taken off…

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Trooper, Bounce, Captain & Campfire pulling wagon

Inspiring People: Ron Finley – Guerilla Gardener

Ron Finley is a Guerilla Gardener. He is spreading the word on how to be a modern gangster, LA Style, for all those people wanting to be hip and cool, he suggests a shovel and planting seeds as ‘weapons’ of choice.

It’s hard not to be infected by his passion and we loved that he has no desire to sit around and talk about it. If you want to meet him you need bring a shovel. He is desire in action.

LA has an equivalent of 20 Central Parks in government owned land (like grass verges and ‘lots’) that could be created into a massive food forest, Ron and his mates are doing exactly that one verge at a time.

Costa Gorgiadis from Gardening Australia (ABC) has a similar idea and has created a veggie patch verge to show how it is done. You can check out ‘On The Verge’ Costa’s community garden project on google if you are interested.

It highlights the fact that we think we need to own land to grow food, when there is already so much land waiting for someone to love it!

There are so many possibilities EVERYWHERE!!!