Farming methods are not the same as they used to be many years ago. Thanks to technology, it has changed, but for some farmers, they do not embrace all the innovations. For example, the replacement of horses with tractors.
Old farming operations had to rely heavily on their horse stock for the ploughing of their fields. Without them, farmers simply would not have survived. It was common practice for them to own a few good heavy breed horses, and they were well cared for because they were such a valuable asset.
Then, when the tractors came into production, many turned to this new technology, mostly because of the time-saving measures. Also, farmers then didn’t have to worry about the care and health of their heavy horses because they were not as dependent on them.
There is a least one farmer in Devon who has not turned to the new technology. He still relies on the old methods of using his Shire horses for ploughing the fields. For some who don’t know much about horses, they may think that this is being cruel to these animals.
On the contrary, the history of these horses is as a workhorse, and their very anatomy and characteristics are built on this. These animals thrive on ploughing the fields, which is light work for them. The farmer who is using them is not just ploughing a few acres but is covering one hundred acres.
The workhorse which is going to be used for field ploughing has to be appropriately trained. Not only for their safety but the well-being of the farmed and to get the job done right. These horses, when adequately trained, can continue working the fields well into their twenties.
One of the things which many are curious about when it comes to agriculture or farm horses, is how much can they accomplish in a day? It is estimated that the average workhorse being used for this can handle about 10 acres of grass mowing in a day.
Many of the modern day farmers cannot grasp what the benefits would be of using the workhorse when there are so many more advanced pieces of equipment which can do the same job in less time.
The farmers who are still relying on the workhorse, declare that they are not being faced with enormous bills; ones which come with buying equipment to do the job that the workhorse does. Then, provided the horses are well cared for, the farmer is not spending a ton of money on machinery repairs.