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!

Suffolk Punch Draft Horses

Fair Winds Farm specializes in Suffolk horses. Visit the American Suffolk Horse Association website
to learn more about Suffolk Horses. We chose Suffolk Horses because of their history and reputation for being good all-around farm horses. We have stuck with them because their reputation is well placed.

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

We also have horses for sale from time to time.

Workshops

Our workshops will be helpful to anyone interested in using horses for farming, logging, pleasure driving, or pulling commercial horse drawn vehicles. They will also be useful for museum and living history farm operators and staff who want to use and understand horses and equipment in a farming context.

The Jay and Janet Bailey family have been farming a 40 acre horse powered, diversified farm using 1,2,3&4 horse hitches for almost 30 years. Located in Southern Vermont, we produce eggs, perennials, free-range pork and chicken and grassfed lamb. We give hay and sleigh rides and teach draft horse workshops with our Suffolk Punch horses. Daughters Rebekah and Erica and work with us on the farm, as do Meg, John & Mary Diane. We have all worked with the horses throughout the years and enjoy sharing our experience with others.

• All workshops are Tuesday - Friday, 2:00 PM start and finish. If you have any questions, please feel free to call and clarify at 802-254-9067.
• All workshops start at 2:00 PM on the first day and go through lunch on the last day.
• Workshops: $485 per person / $910 for two people from the same farm or two workshops in one calendar year for one person. First workshop is full price, second is $430.
• Mowing with Horses: $150
• Firewood 101:$100
• Advanced Techniques for Experienced Teamsters: $100
• Working Partnerships - horse fee: $150 + board
• All workshops include meals, camping space & showers.
• There are a number of hotels within 5 miles of the farm. We'll send a list with confirmation.
• Dates and topics subject to change according to interest. Let us know what you need!

For workshop topics and full descriptions, please visit Workshop Topics & Descriptions.

Download our Workshop 2008 registration form (PDF format).

2008 Workshop Calendar

April 22-25: Draft Horse Workshop - Level I
May 13-16: Draft Horse Workshop - Level I
May 23-24: Mowing With Horses - Intensive Workshop
August 5-8: Draft Horse Workshop - Working Partnerships
August 19-22: Draft Horse Workshops - Technical Skills for Women
September 12-14: Northeast Suffolk Punch Gathering at Fair Winds Farm
September 13: Annual Meeting of the American Suffolk Horse Association at Fair Winds Farm
September 26-28: Stop by our booth at the Animal Power Field Day
October 14-17: Draft Horse Workshop - Level II
November 8: Draft Horse Workshop - Firewood 101
November Pending: The Game of Logging, chainsaw skills

Want to know more? Text and photos describe A Typical Day At A Draft Horse Workshop.

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