Our mission is to help others learn to work with draft horses with increasing knowledge and sensitivity. This allows their enjoyment of and ability in working with horses to grow and encompass a larger range of accomplishments.

Our vision is to provide ideas and examples of sustainable farming with horses in a setting and atmosphere that encourages anyone interested to get started with their own dreams.

Our values are to work a farm that is environmentally, economically, and personally sustainable. All parts of the farm compliment each other, recycling, supporting, nourishing, and energizing the others. Draft horses play a key role: they cause less soil compaction, grow their own replacements, do what is asked and then give you more when the chips are down.

Our passion is working with horses!

Why Suffolk Punch Draft Horses?

Of all of the major draft breeds, Suffolks bear the destinction of never having been bred for any task other than farm work. What does this mean? Horses whose temperament was not suited to farm work were not kept or bred.

From the standpoint of conformation, Suffolks typically have a very short cannon bone and long forearm. This ratio makes for a horse with a long, ground covering stride. We have had many Suffolks whose hind feet overstepped their front tracks by a full hooflength! Horses with the opposite ratio, a short forearm and long cannon, tend to have higher, flashier action that is less efficient - that is, it takes them more energy to go the same distance.

Visit the American Suffolk Horse Association website to learn more about Suffolk Horses.

Visit our Links page for other draft horse and small farming links.

We also have horses for sale from time to time.

Horse Training

Starting young horses:
We can start your young horse either in harness or under saddle using our own blend of horse sense, communication and intuition. We encourage the horses to think about what we are asking them to do, to focus on the job at hand, and above all, to trust us (and you!). Thus we create a solid foundation that we believe will carry through to all the work you do together.

"Tune up" for older horses:
If you have a horse who has some habits that are less than ideal, we can reestablish the basics, bring the horses' focus back to the handler, and help make your time together more productive. From horses that are hard to catch, to bad barn manners, and problems in harness, we can help you get back on track.

 

 

For more pictures of our horses, please visit our Photo Album.

Please stop by and visit us!
511 Upper Dummerston Road
Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
802-254-9067
E-mail: fairwind@sover.net