Heavy Horse World editor, Diana Zeuner, was honoured to be invited tobe president of the British PercheronHorse Society (BPHS) for 2017-18,covering the period of the society’scentenary in 2018.

Diana Zeuner is a professional writerand journalist who has been closelyinvolved with heavy horses for over 30years, beginning with their introduction tothe Weald & Downland Living Museum,Singleton, West Sussex, where her latehusband, Chris Zeuner OBE, was themuseum director. Chris and Diana havethemselves owned a number of Shires,and Diana took over the management ofthe heavy horse stables at the museumfor a period after Chris’ sudden death in2001.

Heavy Horse World was founded byDiana and Chris in 1987 – and as youcan see from this issue celebrates its30th anniversary this year. In 1998 Dianaproduced the Working Horse Manual, andin 2004 she wrote Heavy Horses. Dianaalso edits two other magazines.

Heavy Horse World is currently runningWilliam Castle’s excellent series on the history of the Percheron in the UK(you can find the last of the four parts on pages 53-55 in this issue). ThePercheron in Britain today has itsheartland in Cambridgeshire and the Fen country, but there is a substantialpresence in Hampshire.

“The Percheron has been an importantpart of my life,” says Diana. “TheSampsons and McDermotts, and otherPercheron enthusiasts such as the lateDavid Baker, have had long-standing linkswith the museum, and continue to play a key part in its draught horse activitiesthere. And we have published showreports, news stories and articlesfeaturing Percherons from all over the UKin HHW from the start. Over the years Ihave watched the amazing versatility ofthis breed, capable of doing everythingfrom farming and logging to trials driving,riding and showing. It just goes to showthat you can successfully train your draughthorse in a wide range of disciplines”.

To join the BPHS, or for help in buying a Percheron, go to Muriel Bond at 01379 588152/07415 877163,membership@percheron.org.uk. Website: www.percheron.org.uk

10 Heavy Horse World Spring 2017

NEWS

New BritishPercheron society president

Diana Zeuner getting a taste of a four-horse Percheron plough team at the Weald &Downland Living Museum’s Autumn Countryside event in 2015. Reassuringly, RobertSampson is walking alongside. . . The late Willingham Axl is in the nearside lead.

Collessie in thelead again – at aDevon racecourse!Adventure Clydesdale, which runs heavyhorse trail riding in Dartmoor, Devon, wasback at Exeter Racecourse in the autumnwith six of its Clydesdales racing in support of Devon Air Ambulance. The winner wasCollessie Reflection (Midge), closely followed by Brimpts Enchanter (Frankie Doodle)and in third place, Stobilli Scirocco (Siryl). Tim Ancrum, who runs the business andis a registered farrier, was supported this year by Robert Mackenzie, head horseman at Chiltern Open Air Museum, Buckinghamshire and museum volunteer and keenhorsewoman Annabelle Tripp. Several of Tim’s horses were out on winter loan by the time of the race, but six were prepared with washing and grooming before theirbig day. As always the horses were ridden by professional jockeys, along twofurlongs, with soft going this year – ideal for the Clydesdales. They were paradedbefore the crowd in the traditional way and ran the race before the main programmebegan: £4,000 was raised for the air ambulance. Tim is hoping to repeat it againnext year and is interested in hearing from other Clydesdale owners with very fitridden horses who may like to participate. Contact 01364 631683, websitewww.adventureclydesdale.com. The photos show Midge in the lead during the race,and the jockeys mounting their charges before the start.

Jim

Coc

hran

e

Heavy Horse World Spring 2017 19

THIRTY YEARS OF

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Inside

5

6

HEAVY HORSE WORLD!

In 2017 we celebrate the 30thanniversary of Heavy Horse Worldmagazine – the UK’s longest-running

publication devoted to draught horses!For three decades we have been

celebrating and promoting the heavyhorse breeds of the British Isles – theShire, Clydesdale, Suffolk and BritishPercheron – as well as overseas breedsin this country and beyond, plus workingponies and crosses. Heavy Horse Worldcovers all aspects of draught horseactivity – showing, breeding, in-hand,turnouts, farm and market garden work,horse-drawn equipment – modern andhistoric, forestry work, promotionalactivity, driving trials and riding. No othersingle forum in the UK – not even online– covers the scene so comprehensively.And it’s popular abroad – we have a largenumber of overseas subscribers.

Launched in 1987 by publisher andeditor Diana Zeuner and her latehusband, Chris, it quickly established aloyal following, becoming the ‘trade mag’for the British heavy horse sector. At itsfoundation it received great support fromthe breed societies and the workinghorse associations, and heavy horseowners and enthusiasts have enjoyedreading the popular quarterly ever since.

In addition to articles and featureswritten by the editor, the magazine hasbeen loyally served by contributors andphotographers over the years, some ofwhom are sadly no longer with us,including the historian of the Shire horse breed, Keith Chivers; the UK’s top working horseman in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Geoff Morton, and theaward-winning agricultural journalist,Edward Hart. Today we publish greatcontributions from John Bryant, KateStephen, Rosemary Cooper, Jane Muntz-Torres and William Castle, andperspectives on the draught horse’sdistinctive history from Bob Powell and David Viner – and wonderfulphotographs, from Colin Fry in the earlydays, and then Roy Fox, and now fromKevin Wright and Carol Stevens. Thereare many other people who help ensurethe latest news and images from theworld of heavy horses is brought regularlyto you, the readers.

And this is a great opportunity to thankall our advertisers, who ensure their own

horses, equipment and services are keptin front of their potential customers whileat the same time adding considerably tothe rich content in each issue.

In addition each Spring issue carries the popular annual list of heavyhorse events countrywide (the mostcomprehensive one published) togetherwith directories of breeders, breedsocieties, working horse associations,harness-makers and wheelwrights – allthese listings are completely free tothose included.

Subscribers pay just £28 a year (£30Europe/£32 Rest of the World) and eachseason receive 72+ pages packed withinformation on heavy horses. Themagazine includes a big news section,excellent events coverage, personalityprofiles, practical features and tips, andfascinating historical features.

Heavy Horse World is a complete one-stop shop for all your heavy horseneeds! There’s a Heavy Horse World Shopin each issue – featuring our wide-rangingselection of books and DVDs on heavyhorses – and you can make secureonline purchases on our website,www.heavyhorseworld.co.uk, where youcan also renew your subscription – ortake out a new one – and keep up todate with news. You can also follow uson facebook at www.facebook.com/heavyhorseworld magazine

We’re keen for you to take part in your magazine, so do come forward withsuggestions for stories – many of theseare published in our Heavy Horse Tailscolumn – it’s a great way of lettingeveryone know what you’re up to withyour heavy horses!

For further information go towww.heavyhorseworld.co.uk, or contact the editor, Diana Zeuner, ateditor@heavyhorseworld.co.uk, tel01730 812419.

Here’s a selection of top front covers from the last 30 years – (1) the first ever frontcover, Vol 1, Spring 1987 featuring champion ploughman Charlie Coffen; (2) the firstcolour cover in Spring 1994 featuring the late Rob Dash’s plough horses; (3) Autumn2002, featuring top Suffolk stallion Colony Millennium; (4) Winter 2011, with top Shirestallion Metheringham Upton Hamlet on the front with owner Paul Bedford, having justwon the Shire Horse of the Year Championship: (5) Autumn 2013, with BarnsbridgeApril Moonshine bouncing on the front, and (6) Autumn 2015, featuring RobertSampson’s Percheron Willingham Axl, one of the country’s best working stallions inmodern times. You can buy back numbers through our HHW Shop on page 59, whichlists those available.

Ihope you and your heavy horses haveall survived Winter and are now ontrack for the best months of the year!

Our fields are drying out nicely, grass isstarting to look as if it’s worth eating,and the drudge of winter – mucking out,all that hair growth, shedding andclipping, exercising in horrible weatherconditions, lugging hay around – willsoon be over. And with longer days andwarmer weather we are all lookingforward to a great Summer’s riding!

Spring checksSo, to Spring. The start of the showseason for many, foaling for others,schooling and riding out for the majority.Whatever you are doing there arefundamental checks to ensure all goessmoothly. Health checks are a good ideafor both you and your horse. Regularchecks for your horse should include a trained dentist checking teeth, aqualified farrier trimming feet (shoe ifhe’s going to be working hard or haspoor feet), a review of your feed regime,and do go over all tack for wear and tearand fit carefully.

Get fit!Get on a fitness buzz! Slowly and steadilybuild up fitness, include groundwork,make it fun, be consistent. And don’tforget yourself. Get fit for your sport!Make it fundamentally easy for yourhorse to carry you, be as fit and light asyour horse: ask yourself, could I jog upthis track which I am asking my horse totrot up? If not, maybe you shouldconsider your own fitness in the horseand rider combo! Ride well, ride lightly,

and both of you will get the most out ofyour time together over the next fewmonths.

Beware of sweet itch . . .In many areas of the UK we dread themidges and anyone with a sweet-itchhorse needs to be using those fly rugsnow! Prevention is far, far better thancure; no bites, no rubbing, no hair loss or sores. We use mainly Shires rugs asthey offer a good mid-range priced rug,but there are many out there to choosefrom. Cheap ones do tend to shred easily

– the main thing is, does it fit and is iteffective?

But most of all . . . watch out for laminitisA big problem for the heavy horse ofyesteryear was laminitis or ‘founder’ (a term used for more chronic cases). We do still see it in the heavy horse, sowhat is it, why do heavy horses get it,and how can we prevent it?

Laminitis is a disease of the foot;simply put, the blood flow to the laminaestructures (sensitive and insensitive)which join the coffin bone to the hoofwall is disrupted, causing damage andweakness to the laminae, so the coffinbone is not strongly supported and cansink, hence the term ‘founder’. It is mostcommonly, but not exclusively, seen inone of both front feet.

Why is it disrupted? Reasons for thisoccuring in heavy horses are much thesame as any horse, not necessarilydirectly caused by stress on the footitself, but rather caused by illnesselsewhere. Historically though,concussive laminitis – where poundingon the cobbles for dray and draughthorses caused stress and swelling withinthe foot – combined with a grain rich dietin cities, was often lethal.

30 Heavy Horse World Spring 2017

UNDER SADDLE

The series for ridden heavy horse enthusiasts by Annie Roseof Cumbrian Heavy Horses

Under saddle

Left, Sparky having an early spring roll atHigh Wallabarrow Farm. Right, Sparkyand Hamish in their sweet itch rugs.

(1) A healthy equine foot. (2) A founderedor laminitic foot. (3) A euthanased horsewith hoof showing founder. (4) Typicallaminitic stance.

4

Common DigitalExtensor Tendon

ProximalPhalanx (P1)

MiddlePhalanx (P2)

DistalPhalanx (P3)

Distalsesamoidean

ligaments

Superficial Digital Flexor

TendonDeep Digital

Flexor Tendon

Bulbarcushion

Navicularbone

Digital cushion

Detached distal phalanx rotatesand disrupts weight distribution

Rotation2

3

Long Pastern Bone

Exterior Tendon

Coronary Band

Sensitive Laminae

Horny LaminaePedal Bone

Hoof Wall

Flexor Tendon

Short Pastern Bone

Navicular Bone

Digital Cushion

Navicular Bone

FrogSole

Lamellar wedge

Lamellar layer

Hoof wall

1

Heavy Horse World Spring 2017 45

Robert Sampson with his four-horse team ofPercherons to a ride-on plough, taking part in the Autumn Countryside Event at the Weald &Downland Living Museum, West Sussex. Moreploughmen are in the background. Right, themuseum’s pair of Sussex oxen, who are beingtrained to work by Jamie Quinn of Lincolnshire(seen behind the implement) andmuseum volunteers, and insetthe presentation of the AlickDeadman Rosebowl:museum CEO MartinPurslow presented it toCharlotte Webb, formerly a volunteer at the museum and now workingwith Ness Morris based in Winchester.

Celebrating Autumn in Sussex

Match atLower Penn

Lower Penn Ploughing Match near Wolverhampton saw seven compete this year.Photographed by John Green are: right, Robert Reade on home ground with hisClydesdales, Millie (4) and Emma (11), assisted by his wife, Jing, here focusing on thefinish, and left Jane Muntz-Torres drove her single mare, Carolyn (7), helping newcomerVal Woods get to grips with ploughing. “Clearly Val hugely enjoyed her first day behind the plough,” says John.

Photographs: Diana Zeuner

Your editor who has done so muchfor the heavy horse world thinksyou, dear readers, would be

interested in my thoughts on horsefarming and the connection with my artwork. I feel quite inspired as well ashonoured, because having spent all myadult life involved in farming startingwhen it was nearly all powered by thehorse, and witnessing the huge changesthat have taken place, I now find myselfgreatly concerned, as I suppose people

often are in their later years. I can’thelp wondering what will be going on in another 50 years.

I wasn’t born into farming, but I fell inlove with it as a boy and couldn’t wait toget out of school to be involved with thewonderful rhythm of it all. I used to helpon a nearby farm in my school holidays,and I remember standing in the stablelooking at the horses and thinking tomyself – you just couldn’t designanything better to pull great weights,

those massive hind legs incorporatingwonderful angulation from the hip to thehoof; when he straightens it out it mustcreate terrific power.

In the late 1950s I thought, like somany others, we must mechanise andbought a tractor. I missed the friendshipof the horses and after a while watchingmy spinning wheels, I found myselfthinking I’d be better off with a pair ofhorses again, but decided to stick withwhat I’d got.

Then, in about 1975 I began to thinkmore seriously about the subject. Oilprices seemed to go up every time Ineeded more, machinery prices went sky high, and the power-driven machinesbecame too complicated for me to mend myself. Suddenly milk productionbecame less viable, certainly on a smallscale, and people didn’t want the Jerseyhigh butter-fat milk anyway. Things gottight! I decided to buy a cart mare andtumbril with which I could feed the cattleand perhaps breed a foal every year orso that I could sell. After the usualteething troubles this worked OK and

Heavy Horse World Spring 2017 67

Joe Godderidge has played a large part in ensuring thecontinuity of the working horse in the UK – through his horse farming at home, at events, in his articles over theyears – and, perhaps uniquely through his paintings of horsesat work. He reflects on some of the aspects of his life – andhis favourite creature.

Respect – salute to the working horse

Joe Godderidge with three of his workinghorses on the farm at Stanfield, nearDereham, Norfolk.

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