Gentle giants of the equine world participate in Tuscarawas County Fair
By Jennifer Kneuss
September 20, 2012
1031
Some call them gentle giants. No matter where they appear, heads turn in admiration of their grace, beauty, and power. The massive draft horses at the Tuscarawas County Fair are always sure to draw the full attention of anyone who sees them pass by during fair competition or at rest in the Four Way Barn in the center of the fairgrounds.
In the barn this year are Belgians, Percherons, Clydesdales, and Shires, along with several mules and a sprinkling of miniature horses that are dwarfed by their giant stable mates.
My parents got me going showing Belgians when I was 11 years old, stated Steve McQueen of McQueens Belgians of New Philadelphia. I was hooked. From a few original horses, the herd has now grown to 20 or so horses.
McQueen said that the draft horse business is a family operation, and includes his wife, Michelle and children Tyler and Emily, as well as his parents, Tom and Nancy McQueen. The family exhibits in six to eight shows each year plus the Tuscarawas County Fair, and often travel great distances with an entourage including a full size semi and various other vehicles to transport the horses, tack and harnesses, and the wagon that a team of up to eight horses pull. This year, they went as far as Manitoba, Canada for the Worlds Show.
The draft horse pursuit can be quite costly, and isnt for the faint of heart.
A set of harnesses for just two horses is about $15,000, and you can have anywhere from five to thirty thousand tied up in a wagon, said the horseman, who admitted that his familys involvement is a passion. I do this because I love doing it. I love raising the foals, all of it. Each Belgian foal born on the farm weighs between 300 to 500 pounds. The family keeps some of its horses on their Oldtown Valley farm, while the 10 or so used as hitch horses, all mares, are kept near Mount Eaton, where a flatter terrain allows the horses to be worked with the wagon in preparation for competitions. The McQueens also sell semen for breeding purposes, and attending shows helps get the word out about the quality of their breeding animals.
Currently, the McQueens have a single, 2-year-old stallion, which will soon be old enough to be used for breeding. Their previous stallion, Chestnuts Rocky, died earlier this month at the ripe old age of 19.
Over those 19 years, he sired hundreds of foals. Our 2-year-old stud is out of one of Chestnut Rockys daughters, so he will continue that line, said McQueen, who noted that the old horses death was expected, but still difficult for the family.
Steves father, Tom McQueen, watched intently Sept. 18 during the draft horse show inside the main show arena. He pointed out the Belgian mares in the show ring.
Each of those mares weighs around 1,700 to 1,800 pounds, he explained, when asked about how much feed the animals consume. They eat two to three gallons of grain and at least a half bale or so of hay every day. The judge here is looking at their confirmation, how they move, and their overall condition.
The elder McQueen explained that in addition to the draft horses in the competition, there are also Friesians and Spotted Drafts – that is kind of a new breed of horse they have developed now.
According to Steve McQueen, besides his familys Belgians, several other area farms brought their draft horses for the competition, including Circle S Percherons of Dennison, Mullens Clydesdales, Cush Belgians of Bolivar, ABZ Belgians of Strasburg, and Monarch Clydesdales of the Sugarcreek area.
Said Tom McQueen as yet another group of horses entered the arena, Were all friends, and its a friendly competition.
