WEST ALLIS, Wis. — With just days left before the end of the Wisconsin State Fair, horses were in the spotlight Friday for draft horse competition day.
Groups from all over Wisconsin and other Midwestern states came not only for competition, but also community.
Madelyn Doyle focused her attention on their horses before the showing. Her family owns Doyle’s Belgians in Wilton, Wis.
“I just got done braiding their mane, so now I’m just pulling their tail into a bun,” said Doyle.
Draft horses have traditionally been used for plowing and other types of farm labor.
Doyle said the key to winning the draft horse competition is how well the horses work together.
“They are looking for the animation of the horse and how high they pick up their legs, how high they hold their head is a big thing too,” said Doyle. “When there are six together, they really want to make sure they are all working as a team, and they are all traveling as one unit and working together and not fighting against each other while they are pulling the wagon and things like that so it’s really important that they all work together as one unit. Literally, it’s like a beauty competition.”
Jessica Banowetz of Maker Farms came all the way from Strawberry Point, Iowa, to be a part of this show. She said her family has been coming to the Wisconsin State Fair for 20 years and plans to continue that tradition.
“All the draft horse people together is a community and not only are we here and it’s work, but it’s fun work. You get to meet new people,” said Banowetz. “I’ve met people from all over North America through draft horses.”
For Doyle, it’s also about making sure the horses are well taken care of and they can even help other communities.
“There’s also the Amish community that buys horses to work and things like that and when they see a horse that can work really well and listen really and there’s are always moving and they are listening to the ones that are driving them, it really goes far when we are selling our horses as well,” said Doyle.
Both Doyle and Banowetz have been participating in draft horse shows their whole lives and these two wouldn’t have it any other way.