The power of heavy horses were on display at Saturday's Te Puke A&P Show.

Ross Wilson and his six-strong team of Clydesdales were at the show, taking passengers for rides on his large wagon.

Wilson is a Pongakawa dairy farmer who uses horsepower rather than tractor power for most of his farm work. It is a long-standing family tradition.

“My great-grandfather had them and I’ve just carried it on,” he said.

Wilson grew up on a dry stock farm in Morrinsville.

“My old man had horses right from the day I was born and we used them on the farm pretty much like a tractor.

“A lot of people do ride them – I’m not a big fan of riding them but we do take them down the beach and the kids will go for a ride – but they’re bred for pulling so that’s what you do with them.”

For anything other than a few small jobs around the farm, Ross uses horses – he gets the cows in with them, picks up calves with them, feeds out with them and uses them for ploughing, discing and harrowing.

Tools of the trade

His equipment includes three-horse and two-horse ploughs, a single-furrow ride-on plough, a fret sprayer, a hay rake and a disc.

He said the lack of engine noise also benefits his cows, making them more at ease.

“Everyone’s got a hobby and this is my hobby, but I’ve made it work. It’s just an enjoyment thing for me.”

Ross Wilson uses horsepower for most jobs normally done by a tractor on his Pongakawa dairy farm. Supplied photo

He’s been on his current farm for almost two years.

“I’ve been doing this for 16, 17 years and used [horses] on every farm I’ve been on. I make sure they do a job to earn their keep.”

Until recently, Wilson had bought horses and trained them, but he has now started breeding.

“I bought young ones and horses that have been untouched, young foals, and got them working and started them from there,” he said.

“I’ve had a few that could have been nasty, but it’s just working with them, consistent work. I always say there’s no such thing as a bad horse.

“They are just like people, some learn quickly and some are slow learners – exactly like people, except they don’t answer back.

“They’ve all got different temperaments – we do a lot of work with them so it’s like anything, a lot of training goes in before you head out of the gate.”

Wilson will soon be able to have an eight-horse team – the only one in the North Island, he believes.

“I’ve got a mare having a foal in April and it will just run beside her when she’s working, just to get used to it, then I’ll have an eight-horse team – the only one in the North Island.

Not for show

“I’m not into showing them – not really into that. For me, I’m happy with my horses. They’re not perfect, but I’m happy with them.”

While this year’s A&P Show featured Clydesdales in the show ring, Wilson was there just to give rides and it wasn't be his first rodeo.

“I go to Kumeū, Clevedon, Tauranga, now Te Puke, about three shows in the Waikato – I always go to Morrinsville, the water festival in Putāruru.”

Outside of that, he has taken his horses to weddings and funerals.

“I never planned on doing any of that – I’ve just got horses because that’s what I wanted to do. For me, driving around a paddock and feeding out to the cows is what I wanted to do, because that’s more fun.”

Wagon rides behind Clydesdales will be part of tomorrow’s Te Puke A&P Show. Supplied photo

Taking the horses off the farm started when he was asked to take them to a funeral. It grew from there into other functions where people “just wanted me there”.

“It pays good money, but like anything, there’s a lot of work you’ve got to put in before you can go to those.”

He also plans to one day take his horses to Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

“I will get there, but everything takes time and planning.”

Another long-term goal is to create a tourist business.

“You’ve got to have a good foundation and got to have good horses.”

Te Puke A&P Show

Saturday's Te Puke A&P Show was the 119th and featured a wide range of events, from pets corner to tree climbing, a chance to drive a rally car to a strong man and woman competition as well as trade stands, food stalls, equestrian events and much more.