Happy New Year from Eaglesfield Percherons

If you want to live a happy life,

tie it to a goal, not to people

or objects. ~ Albert Einstein

Farm Percussion (Study 6: Delta Hot Bulb Engine)

The Caravan, a 2500 Mile Transcontinental Journey with Horses

The Caravan is a 2500 mile transcontinental journey, led by two organizers, Michael Muir and Gerard Paagman, who began their travels from Murrieta, California on November 1, 2014.  The Caravan's destiny?  The Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, Florida on March 21, 2015 at 11 a.m.

Michael Muir has a history of 50 years of horse breeding, and has bred, raised, trained and shown National Grand Champions in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Michael has represented the United States in six International/World Champion Driving Competitions, winning medals and champion honors in Germany, Austria, France and Great Britain.

Gerard Paagman started riding and driving at the ripe age of 8.  Born and raised in The Netherlands, he moved when he was 40 with his family and Friesian horses to British Columbia.  Gerard drove the Olympic torch in 2000 for the Winter Games in Canada over a frozen lake.  He is driving six of his Friesians on this journey (who were recently in the Hunger Games Catching Fire movie).  They were hauled from British Columbia to Murietta.

Participants have joined up with The Caravan while they could escape their day-to-day responsibilities from all over the world while the troupe traveled in California and Arizona.  They are enjoying fantastic hospitality and invitations for at the spur of the moment participation in local holiday parades along the way.  See the video below capturing their travels and beautiful landscape.

Visit www.facebook.com/TheCaravanUSA or Gerard Paagman's Facebook page to keep up with The Caravan's adventures.

White Wings

White Wings, "the most beautiful horse alive" as described by a 1902 book of animal life, was a Percheron stallion.  His mane was said to be 14 feet long with a tail measuring in at 17 feet long.

"Bee" Charitable

Photo:  Archives of the International Museum of the Horse

Plowing Bee
Warren, Michigan
1913

A group of folks gathered to all work for a common, and often times charitable purpose, was called a "bee."  As the photo depicts, a neighbor has fallen ill so friends and neighbors, with their horses, have come to the rescue in plowing his fields.

The "bee" relates to a bee colony, all working together for a common goal.  The term "working bee" is still used in parts of the world as a term for community gatherings with volunteers to get work done.  A "quilting bee" was a social get together for the ladies to catch up with each other, busily stitching away while seated in a small cluster or around a large quilting frame.