Club likes to show off a little horsepower
The art of hitching horses to wagons and getting them to all work as a team is in danger of slipping into obsolescence.
There are those, however who are committed to showcasing the pure horsepower.
Jason Descamps of Pleasant Hope, Mo., got involved with draft horses four or five years ago. Jason said his wife, Leah, wanted one, so they purchased a Clydesdale stallion and attended an event at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.
There, they found a group of like-minded folks. He said in a matter of minutes, Leah was on a ladder braiding a mane. Jason is now president of the group, the Show Me Draft Horse Four Series. The club, which Jason said is relatively new, and has members as far away as Kansas.
The series begins events in July and the 2023 season ended at the 2023 Missouri Mule Days event in Springfield, Mo. The winners of this year’s event were Double S Percherons from Ash Grove, Mo., owned and driven by Kim Scott and Jaime Sparrow.
Jason admitted to being a little apprehensive about draft horses, but that quickly faded.
“Their size is intimidating, but they are so gentle and intelligent,” he said.
The couple now has 11 Clydesdales they are breeding. They are expecting three foals next year. The Clydesdale are sent to trainers before the Descamps show them. They also raise miniature horses.
Jason and Leah feel their involvement with the Show Me Draft Horse Four Series is important to show people that draft horses are “approachable, achievable and delightful to own and work with.”
The club’s focus is on hitching draft horses, in teams of four or more to large wagons, but some of the members also do single-hitch carts and two-horse teams. They show the pulling team in the arena and go through a series of maneuvers so that a judge can evaluate them.
Elegance, perfection, style, smoothness and animation, are judging criteria for the teams. Essentially for the team to be working as one synchronous unit.
“One of the best things about the club is the people. Everyone is welcoming and they work together,” Jason said. “They have club members that don’t own horses, but they are active because they love learning and participating in the group.”
