With impressive strength, endurance, and an ability to perform heavy labor tasks, draft horses serve a crucial purpose on the farm. Historically, these animals were the original tractor. Depending on the equipment they were hooked to, all sorts of tasks including plowing, mowing, harvesting, hauling, and transportation could be done efficiently and effectively.
Today, our horses primarily pull ride wagons and sleighs and are trained to pull farm equipment too. At Billings Farm, we have four draft horses. Luke and Danny, born in 2012, are a team of Percherons, and Jim and Jerry, born in 2018, are a team of Belgians. Percheron horses are known for their strength and stamina while Belgians are known for their power and endurance. These attributes provide the farm with a sustainable and economical option for performing heavy labor tasks that keep the farm running, all while simultaneously connecting us to our agricultural past.