Members of the Draft Horse Club recently visited Brett McLeod’s property to learn some practical equine skills and spend time with Dolly. Dolly, Brett’s haflinger, hadn’t been worked since the fall and needed some foot care, brushing, and ground word in order to prepare her for the spring. Following the work the members of the club collected maple sap for sugaring and celebrated with pizzas, calzones, and Peep s’mores.
Ashley Evans and Brett trim Dolly’s hooves before harnessing.
After harnessing, Fredrick Wright drove Dolly around the pastures to several downed cherry logs.
John Pokrzywka sets the choker chain on one of the cherry logs waiting to be skidded.
Ashley takes the reins and drives Dolly through the woods towards the landing.
Dolly stands still while the log is taken off and put in the wood pile.
The harness comes off and it’s time to start warming the oven and collecting sap.
Sap buckets at Uncle Ralph’s sugar bush.
Collecting buckets and pouring them into the storage tank.
The earth oven is hot and pizzas are cooking!
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