Gatton Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Field Days on this Weekend!

Come along to Gatton, Queensland, this weekend and see the heavy horses working, in breed led classes, ploughing, harness and ridden events.  See Australian Draught horses, Clydesdales, Percherons, Shires, Gypsy horses, Suffolks, Belgian and more in an action packed weekend.

A regular on Horsezone, gorgeous Clydesdale stallion Cathcart Lofty and his owner Samantha Weir (pictured) - fresh from Sydney Royal Show - will be travelling to Gatton to compete (they are based in Goulburn).  Lofty and Samantha are currently preparing to travel to the USA for the World Clydesdale Show later in the year, so at least the trip to Queensland will be a short one compared to that! Samanta says, "This is the biggest (and best!) heavy horse event downunder!"

CLICK HERE to read more about Cathcart Lofty and Samantha Weir in their February interview with Horsezone.

The Annual Field Days started back in 1974 when a small group of people met on a farm at Aratula to learn about working horses.  Now, nearly four decades later, a few informal gatherings has turned into the Annual Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Field Days.

After the first few events, the amount of spectators and participants rapidly grew, so the event was held at Marburg for two years, then Laidley for 11 years before moving to Gatton in 1992, where it has been held ever since.

This year the Field Days 35th Anniversary will be honoured with many stories to tell and plenty of colourful characters who bring their horses along each year.  The event has evolved into one of the largest and prestigious heavy horse shows in Australia, with about 150 heavy horses entered.

The Clydesdales are a reminder of the pride, spirit and tradition that helped build Australia.  The Clydesdale played a vital role in developing early settlements in Australia, when they were used extensively for pulling heavy loads in rural, industrial and urban settings.

This year, for the first time anywhere in Australia, there are 11 heavy horse breeds assembled in the breed display including the Suffolk Punch, one of the rarest draught breeds in the world.

Other rarities include one of only two registered Georgian Grande horses in Australia on display along with the Clydesdale, Shire, Percheron, Australian Draught, Highland, Drum, Gypsy Cob, Friesian and another rare breed in Australia – the Belgium.

The weekend will feature events such as ploughing, log snigging and slide driving, which would have been an everyday sight on farms once upon a time.

A wide range of displays and demonstrations will also keep visitors occupied including a sheep shearing crew and the animal nursery, which are firm favourites every year.

A renaissance of figures such as knights, soldiers and commoners will also bring back a bygone era.

To top off all the other events a parade of the wonderful heavy horses will be held on both Saturday and Sunday.

Visit www.gattonheavyhorses.com to view the full programme, find out more information and buy tickets.