One of the events held this past weekend at the National Lawnmower Races in Clements included the Draft Horse Pull. Sixteen teams from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania competed in the event which is always a crowd favorite.
Winning the event this year was John Bowen from Mechanicsville with his horses Max and Burt. The winning pair pulled 7000 pounds 23 feet, 10 inches. Second was Cole Suter from Somerset Pennsylvania and taking third place was Bruce Barnes from Clements.
These equine athletes compete by pulling weights loaded onto a sled. It is a simple process of elimination whereby each team must pull the established weight the required distance of 27 and one half feet to qualify for the next round of weights.
The winner is determined by which team can pull the most weight. These horses are worked and conditioned every day – not much different than a weight lifter or football player getting ready for their given sport.
The 27.5 feet distance was determine based on extensive studies that determined these draft horses, bred for their strength and agility, can exert maximum power for the time it takes to pull that distance with no risk to the animal.
Be sure to catch the next horse pull event and see these gentle giants at the St. Mary’s County Fair in September or again next year at Bowles Farm.
