The British Festival of the Working Horse 2012

Horses are worked in horticulture quite commonly. On a small scale they are more economic (and more fun) than a tractor, do not rut or impact the ground and are excellent options for power in organic production

With a growing awareness of the need to reduce carbon footprints horses are being increasingly used to provide a low carbon, low cost and sustainable power source for horticulture and small scale farming.

Horses will be worked, modern horse drawn horticultural implements will be demonstrated and exponents and experts will be on hand to elaborate. Equipment will be judged for the Charlie Pinney Memorial Award for Innovation in Horse Work Machinery.

Part demonstration, part competition and all celebration it is not to be missed.

Living horse power is cheap and readily available. We can breed horses, without limit, without endangering the planet.We know a lot about them and how to use them. They can pull things for us, carry us, help support our society, feed it and enable it to function. They can do so far better than they did in the past if we take advantage of some of the technical advances made in agriculture and machinery design. They can be fed from our fields. They don't destroy the environment but enhance it. They create employment, not replace it. They are a source of companionship in the workplace, a source of pride and pleasure when seen to be working to perfection in harmony with man and his surrounding. Why on earth don't we use them?

Charlie Pinney. 2003.

Three abreast harrowing grassland.