The Ex-Workhorse Initiative

28/12/2022

Let's do a breed appreciation/spotlight post featuring the iconic Clydesdale!

-They originated in Scotland.
-The most iconic Clydesdales (at least in the US) are the Budweiser Clydesdales.
- Not to be confused with Shires which are on average taller than Clydesdales.
- the average male stands between 17-19 hands and weighs between 1700 and 2200 pounds.
- the average female stands between 16-18 hands
- the first Clydesdales appeared in the US around 1842 and the American Clydesdale Horse Association was formed in 1879.

I will be back with some more info, in the mean time, where are my Clydesdale lovers at?!?!

20/12/2022

With the approach of the holidays, I encourage everyone to remember your local animal rescues. If the giving spirit strikes you and you are looking for a way to give back, I encourage you to find a local, reputable rescue. This time of year can be especially tough for rescues who take in farm animals (horses, cattle, goats, ect.). Feeding these guys is not cheap, but good forage such as hay is very important as the digestion of the forage is a crucial part in the process their body's undergo to keep them warm.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!!

30/10/2022

Where are my percheron lovers? Another common workhorse breed. Let's do a photo contest! Comment with a picture and some info about your percheron and the one with the most likes Friday (Nov 4) will be the next profile picture! I will be adding some breed info over the next couple of days!

24/10/2022

My apologies for being absent for a few weeks. I have been very busy with work and training my younger Belgian who was also a work horse. We are approaching the holiday season which means several events and opportunities to get our mission out there. There is an even on Nov. 5th, also in greenville ohio that I would like to attend. I would love to have a group for that as well as the lighted parade in greenville ohio on November 19th. Please reach out if you are able and interested! I need to get entry forms in soon! I remain dedicated to bringing awareness to the plight of these ex workhorses, but I need your help! Please let me know if anyone is available! This is a great opportunity to meet like minded people and make some new friends all while bringing awareness to this issue!

27/08/2022

Not to be the downer for tonight, but these are ex work horses that found themselves in the auction pipeline. No horse deserves this, but especially these guys. They work so hard and give their very best. These 2 were lucky, they were pulled by a wonderful rescue who will take great care of them, but many aren't so lucky.

13/08/2022

Hello everyone, sorry for the delay! Work was very busy the last 2 days! Anyways I would like to say congratulations to Holly Sanders and her very handsome Belgian Draft horse, Takoda, on being the winner of our profile picture contest! Their picture will be the profile picture for the next 2 weeks!!

12/08/2022

Carrying on with our breed spotlight on the Belgian Draft horse.

Did you know that until his passing in June of 2021 the tallest living horse was a Belgian gelding by the name of Big Jake.

Big Jake lived on Smokey Hollow Farm in Poynette, Wisconsin.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010, Big Jake measured in at 20 hands 2.75 inches and weighed around 2,600 pounds! While not the largest horse ever recorded, his impressive stature earned him the title of the tallest living horse.

Sadly he passed away in June of 2021 at the age of 20.

Attached are several pictures of this "gentle giant" including a picture of Big Jake, the world's tallest horse, with Thumbelina, who was the world's smallest horse measuring a whopping 17 inches tall at the whithers when full grown!

10/08/2022

Hello everyone! Let's have a little contest for a new profile picture!! Currently pictured is Titan, my Belgian Draft horse. I am going to start off by giving a little history and info on Belgians, then ask you guys to comment with pictures of your Belgians. Which ever picture has the most likes by noon on Friday will be the profile picture for 2 weeks!

Now some quick breed information:
*They originated from the Brabant region of Belgium. They are believed to have ties to "the great horse" used in medieval times.
*They are the most popular draft breed in the United States with more registered than all other draft breeds combined!
*The average weight range is from 1,800 to 2,400 pounds
* The average height range is between 16 and 18 hands
* Average life expectancy of about 20 years
* the desired and most common coat colors are sorrel, chestnut, or blonde with light mane and tail. Roan is also an acceptable coat variation. Light/white legs and white markings on their faces are also desirable markings.

Throughout the next couple of days I will continue to post interesting facts and information about the breed!

So comment with your pictures of your Belgians so they can start to get some likes!

02/08/2022

Thank you to everyone who has liked and commented so far!! I am beginning to compile a list of reputable rescues by state, so keep an eye out for that!

Also I would like to add an admin or 2 to help keep the page active, reaching out, and educating people! If interested, please message the page!

I am getting ready to start posting some events that I would like us to attend to begin the outreach side of things. The first being the Hometown Holiday horse parade in Greenville, OH. This is an event I have ridden in before and it is fantastic. Lots of horses and carriages. You can ride or drive a carriage. The main stipulation is that it has to be lit up with lights!! So if anyone is within driving distance of Greenville, OH and is interested in being in the parade please reach out to the page. It isn't until Nov 19th so we have some time!

31/07/2022

As part of this group I would ove to start to compile a list of rescues by state that either specialize in drafts or other work horses (Amish bred standardbred's and DHH buggy horses) or at least take them in sometimes. This would be a great resource for anyone who would be interested in adopting one of these lovely horses.

31/07/2022

Here is my boy, Titan. Titan is a 16-17 year old Belgian who was an Amish plow horse before he came to me! Please feel free to share your ex work horse enjoying their "new life"!!!

29/07/2022

This page was created to bring awareness to and advocate for ex-work horses. These horses are so much more than "just an old plow horse." They are still useful in many ways and are definitely able to take up new jobs. The sad reality is that as they get older and not able to do the heavy pulling, they are often replaced by younger stock and find themselves in the auction pipeline where ultimately a large number end up going to slaughter. Most of the time they are still healthy horses that are very capable of having another job such as a trail horse or light carriage horse. A lot of the time they aren't the prettiest, they have scars or imperfections. They need groceries or farrier care. None of these things make them "used up" or not useful.

29/07/2022