“Kärleken drar som tio par oxar” is an old Swedish saying that translates to “Love has the strength of ten pairs of oxen.” For centuries, oxen were the heart of Swedish agriculture, but they disappeared with the arrival of tractors in the 1950s. Today, the slow hoofbeats of oxen can still be heard on my farm - not out of nostalgia for the past, but to create a better future. Working with oxen is my daily practice of environmental and animal activism.
My name is Angela, and I own a small organic vegetable market garden near Stockholm, Sweden. From August through November, I sell heirloom varieties of tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, swiss chard, radishes, kale, lettuce, herbs, and whole chili pepper plants at the Stockholm Farmers Market.
I started farming as a business in 2021. I stepped off the academic path in environmental sciences to take action for a more sustainable food system. Every organic vegetable that I can provide for my community is one less that comes from conventional greenhouses in Spain. One tomato at a time, I work to help decrease the carbon footprint of food traveling across Europe, the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, and the impacts of pesticides on biodiversity.
Growing vegetables is my “job”, but the real passion of both my farm and my life is my small herd of rescued cattle. In the barn that my partner built from the wood that he milled himself (yes, I'm bragging), live my two milking cows and two oxen. Sunshine and Marigold were discards from conventional dairy operations. They didn’t meet the rigorous standards the industry requires, but now they thrive as family cows. They are in the fourth year of their lactations, and together they still generously provide 15-19 liters (4-5 gallons) of high-fat milk per day. Sales from their milk, butter, ghee, and cheese easily cover the winter costs of the entire herd’s haylage, straw, and sawdust.
Madhu (Sanskrit for “sweet” or “honey”) and Chandra (the Hindu moon god) are my pair of four-year-old oxen. They are the most common dairy breeds in Sweden - half Swedish Red (SRB) and half Swedish Lowland (SLB). If I were to equate them to more common breeds, they are essentially half Guernsey and half old-version of Holstein. They are BIG, long-legged, people-loving sweethearts.
As an environmentalist, I have always been drawn to the benefits of using draft animals because of how lightly they tread on the land. Literally, their hooves compress the soil much less than tractors, but even in a much larger sense, their global “footprint” is far less. We don’t depend on fossil fuels, and there are no waste products to send to landfills. Their manure becomes the rich compost used to grow vegetables. I find it so poetic that even after my two oxen live out their natural lives, their bodies will simply return to the earth; the only evidence they will leave behind is the healthy soil they built and the metal buckles of their harnesses.
In truth, my small-scale production doesn’t actually require oxen - one donkey could probably get the job done. The most important point for me is to positively engage them in work. This benefits their physical health, their mental well-being, and, of course, they help me run our shared home.
In the growing season, we harrow and cultivate vegetable beds, move compost around, and mow the pastures. In the winter, we plow the snow from the farm driveways, haul fallen logs home for firewood, and go for sleigh rides. Year-round, we use our small two-wheeled cart to do simple errands like buying sawdust and grains from a farm down the road, and emptying moldy food from the round bale feeder.
I almost always choose to work them as singles rather than as a pair. They are plenty strong enough alone, the tight layout of my gardens are better suited to one ox, and I naturally prefer connecting with one individual at a time. Each ox has his own personality and strengths, and by working one-on-one, I have the luxury of choosing the ox who best fits the task. If I want power, speed, or need to do repetitive work, I go with Madhu. When a task requires detailed movement, a slow and even pace, or frequent periods of time where I have to leave him standing to adjust the load, then I work with Chandra.
Their eagerness to work and the depth of their companionship have surpassed all my expectations. I am profoundly grateful to Madhu and Chandra for their patient and adaptable natures. They are my first team, and the three of us have learned our skills together, step-by-step. Even though we are certainly still beginners, every day they prove that oxen are not just a relic of a romantic past. I believe that together we are stepping forward toward a sustainable food system built on respect for the earth, respect for our local community, and, of course, respect for draft animals.
-Angela Patterson
A Passion That Persists
And People Who Light the Path
Hello from wintry Western Massachusetts. I hope this finds you cozy enough to sit and read this newsletter. I was asked to write about how I came to work with draft animals and how they fit into my life. Though initially a bit stumped, I decided to share in case it helps someone else find their way, or feel a little less alone in the process. My journey is very much a work in progress.
I was a horse-obsessed kid in a family that did not have horses. Thankfully, I had parents who became very supportive, along with access to a raggedy little barn in coastal MA, where kids earned their stripes through work and learned to ride. With no formal management, a bunch of us kids and a few adults cared for two full barns of school horses and some boarders. It was a pretty feral scene, which meant learning by doing — guided by a few seasoned mentors who instilled some old-school horsemanship.
From lessons and drill teams, to barn bullies, buddies, nerdy horse-care school projects, first aid, troubleshooting, trail and beach rides, tragedies and triumphs — I was all in. I got into showing, braiding, and hauling horses to shows, and always imagined my future would be with horses. I loved it with every ounce of my being. Eventually, though, I realized that a career in the hunter/jumper world I knew so well was not a viable path beyond junior riding years. When my horse was sold, that chapter closed. I deeply missed horses and sought them out wherever I could as I moved into adulthood.
Work and motherhood became the primary focus of my twenties. I made my home in rural Western MA, which embodies deep agricultural heritage — something I hadn’t known growing up on the coast. A family friend, Bruce Marshard, had been the exception: with a pair of Percherons, the only draft horses I knew as a kid. They logged, plowed snowy driveways with a V-plow, and dragged the arena at our county fair before our drill team performed. I admired those horses but never imagined working with drafts myself. At the time, the disciplines felt more rigid. It’s refreshing to see the versatility and interdisciplinary horsemanship today.
Living in Western Massachusetts exposed me to working farms that told stories — generational farmers and loggers whose cadence of speech felt like a portal to another time. Not lost, but still very much here. I also encountered first-generation farmers working with draft animals, including David Fisher right in my hometown. As my worldview took shape, each brush with draft power tugged at my horse-loving soul. It simply made sense, and steadily began shaping my dreams.
The hardest part was finding a pathway. As a working single mother, I wasn’t exactly a candidate for an apprenticeship, so the dreaming and longing became a slow burn. I took side jobs on farms and helped farmers with draft animals whenever I could. Discovering DAPNet and the Green Mountain Draft Horse Association felt like finding a magical realm full of inspiration, generosity, resourcefulness, and community. Even as a newcomer, I felt I had found my people, or at least knew I wanted to be among them.
Some key steps included an immersive workshop at Fair Winds Farm with Jay and Janet Bailey, and a GMDHA driving clinic with my Dad, where we met people who would become mentors and friends. I wasn’t sure I would ever truly become a teamster — coming in as a newbie and as a woman — but a few key people encouraged me to keep stepping up.
I said yes to nearly every invitation. Phil Warren welcomed me to tag along, hold the lines, and meet up at the Mid-Ohio Spring Sale, where we watched horses for days. I bought a teal draft halter to manifest my future horse, followed by a team set of Phil’s old leather harness. (Three days later, unknowingly, I was offered my horse!) Pat Palmer and Macey Ross welcomed me on their trash route and offered insight as I explored starting a business in my town. I devoured Lynn Miller books, nerded out at Field Days, drove solo to Horse Progress Days, and showed up wherever I could — even when I felt like an outsider, unsure if I would ever cross the threshold into truly doing this work.
During the pandemic shutdown, space finally opened in my life. My daughter was older, my work paused, and mentorship became the next step. Through a DAPNet suggestion, I reached out to Pam Rickenbach and asked if I could volunteer with her herd. That winter, I spent countless days with her horses — routine care, fitting harness, ground driving, hitching, and long conversations about history and context. Eventually, Pam placed an incredible semi-retired carriage horse into my hands: a Spotted Draft named Tomahawk, or “T-Bird.” He became my first draft and showed me what I was made of. He knew far more than I did, tested me plenty, and over time we became a dream team.
That spring, I took a job with Carriages of Acadia. I couldn’t fathom how it would work — a teen, a horse, a dog, a home — but miraculously everything aligned. My horse and I spent the summer in Acadia National Park, where he was “on vacation.” I worked long days caring for and driving many teams for miles on the historic carriage roads, living in close quarters with coworkers who became mentors and friends. Emily and Mike Carpenter pushed me and believed in me. It was immersive, demanding, humbling, and deeply rewarding — my Draft Horse Practicum, an experience that would have taken years to replicate at home.
If there’s one takeaway I hope to impart, it’s the value of mentorship and community. These powerful animals generously place their trust in our hands, and there are always risks, even for lifelong teamsters. Seasoned allies make all the difference — for safety, success, and support when things go sideways.
Since returning home, my herd has grown and changed. Tomahawk was joined by Quinny, a young Belgian, Moonshine, a mini-hinny and Chief, a seasoned Percheron. We’ve done meaningful carriage work in our community. More recently, I’ve navigated profound loss — saying goodbye to two beloved older drafts, and facing injury and uncertainty with the younger one. These hardest parts are often experienced quietly, yet they are part of the promise we make to these animals who give us so much.
The momentum of beginning my work with draft horses was life-changing, and there is much I still hope to do. For now, I’m in a quieter, liminal space — uncertain of what’s next exactly. Still, every day I spend with these animals is a gift. Each challenge and success makes me a better horse person. Sharing these remarkable creatures with others who are drawn to them is deeply rewarding. They connect people to something larger — something felt rather than explained. The horses sure work their magic, whether I’m on the lines or on the ground. And this, I know, is at the heart of the work I will continue with them.
-Towner Smith
Welcome to the DAPMap!
This month we are introducing our DAPMap places in Germany!
NEW- Johann Oemler's Zugrinder- Johann works with an old German breed. Red Highland-Cattle. They are somewhat comparable to Devons. Johann started with logging firewood as a hobby. Johann is always willing to show and teach people the ways of working with draft cattle that I learned. You can contact them here.
Zugrinder Döring- We breed the endangered Rhaetian Grey cattle and harness the cows. We also have a team of oxen, which is used for all kinds of events (parades, medieval markets, farmers' markets, etc.). We enjoy training people and animals and offer internships. You can contact them here.
Kuhnweiler Hof- PhD written on modern draft horse use in organic farming; international networking; still engaged in science concerning draft animal use. Contact them here.
Arbeitspferde Höbel- Farming and forestry with Bavarian draft horses. Further we offer services with our horses: carriage rides, events for schools and groups. Contact them here
Starke Pferde- Magazine to promote the use of draft horses and other working animals. Visit their website here.
Want to be featured on the map? Fill out the form today!
This month the education committee is beginning to hone ideas from the December board retreat. Our current focus is on collaborating with partnering organizations. We want to understand their needs and goals, and creating open dialogue so that we can find new opportunities to work together and strengthen one another.
Events :
This month the events committee appointed work groups for specific needs such as coordinator roles and streamlining the form for potential field days teamsters and educators. Discussions were had on intensives and other topics of interest to bring to the table for this year's field days.
Executive :
Alongside ensuring that every committee is fulfilling its mission in support of draft animal power education, the Executive Committee has been very busy this month. We have been preparing interview processes for upcoming hiring, while ensuring alignment in our shared perspectives and expectations regarding contracting. We also worked on strengthening connections with past board members by creating a dedicated webpage and meeting with them directly. Following these discussions, we agreed to establish an Emeritus Committee to provide additional guidance and support in board decision-making.
We have also been reflecting on how the board continues to evolve in a rapidly changing environment and how we position ourselves publicly. Conversations have begun about transitioning to a new email system once we are more fully familiar with the CRM implementation, which has already proven to be highly beneficial.
Communications :
The Communications Committee has been busy getting ready to attend events in the summer of 2026. This year we are excited to have teamsters in the logging section of the Common Ground Fair. We are also working with new consultants on podcasts and an educational video series.
Finance :
We’re finalizing the 2026 budget and meeting with the bookkeeper at Morning Ag Clips (MAC), to streamline things between the network, the bookkeeper, and make sure all of our categories match to bring clarity on both sides.
It's February and that's the perfect time to become a DAPNet member or renew your membership!
Your support last year helped young people and their teams (as well as 300 other participants!) come to Field Days, paid for the web services that brought 4 DAPChats to community members around the globe, and revamped our website to facilitate more online programming.
By being a member you show us that this culture and community is important and relevant! Thank you for being a part of this community! We couldn't do it without you!
Members receive some perks as well - including 10% off an order of $100 or more at High Mowing Organic Seeds - just in case you've been dreaming of Not Winter.
Have you had a chance to listen to the Draft Animal Power Podcast? We have published several different episodes with interviews of people working with draft animals in the USA and Germany! Find us on any podcast listening platform and subscribe to be the first to know of a new episode!
Becky Frye, Julia Ramsey, Maggie Smith, Michael Glos and Donn Hewes examine each cultivator brought to Northland Sheep Farm for the workshop and assist each other in the task of repairing the hundred year old machines. Marathon, NY
It always amazes me that some of the horse equipment I use is likely close to 100 years old and is still working. My McCormick Deering cultivator(s) are no exception. This cultivator is very versatile and a pleasure to operate. I have tolerated a lot from my cultivator over the years just assuming that since it was old that I shouldn’t expect much more from it. Although not every individual machine has stood the test of time, some routine maintenance and repair can keep many working for another generation or more.
Last March a group of teamsters assembled at Northland Sheep Farm to spend two days working on cultivators. I brought two that I thought were fully functional and didn’t need much. Maggie Smith brought hers, that while functional, needed some work. Becky Frye worked to make one cultivator out of the half a dozen non-functioning “parts” cultivators she had parked outside.
As the wind blew and the snow fell outside, six of us worked together to take the wobble out of the wheels and make the many levers move again. Wheels were scavenged from parts machines and new springs and washers were installed. We even built a new metal tongue so the cultivator designed for larger breeds would work better with my smaller horses (Fjords).
Shovels and Discs set up for potato hilling.
Photo Credit: Michael Glos.
Michael Glos and his Norwegian Fjords hill potatoes with his recently tuned up sulky cultivator.
Photo Credit: Michael Glos.
We will be doing it again on April 4th and 5th at Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon, NY and I invite you to join us. Visit www.teamsterschool.com for more information.
The Southeast Teamster Gathering would like to thank our following sponsors:
Branch Mountain Farm
Agricultural History Society
Turner Farm
A. A. Carriage
The Berry Center Farm and Forest Institute / The Bookstore at The Berry
Speckled Hen Garden
Registration is open for this event! We are still accepting sponsorships. You can find out more here.
Troy with Bruno as a calf in 2020.
Photo Credit: Anna Knapp-Peck
Learning from Bruno- The Process of Training an Older Animal
By Anna Knapp-Peck
Bruno came into my life in December of 2020. It was the middle of the pandemic and that was a rough time for my kids, especially my son Troy. He’s a social guy and very active in sports. The loss of contact with his friends and teammates was hard. One day, while he was supposed to be doing remote work, he found a calf for sale on a buy/sell group. He asked if we could get him, expecting me to say no. Occasionally, I say yes, and we went on a two-hour road trip to get a weaned Holstein steer with poor conformation.
Troy taught Bruno to lead some and spent a lot of time with him during that first year. Then the pandemic was over, and life resumed. Troy finished high school and went to college and Bruno was left out to pasture. Eventually Troy moved into his own place, and the question of what to do with Bruno had to be decided. I acquired a four-year-old steer with no education. Bruno and I went back to school.
The first thing I realized was that working with an older animal needed a different approach than I use for training calves. The first few months were spent tying Bruno to a tree and putting the harness on and taking it off. He learned to be comfortable with the weight of the harness and trace chains making noise and bumping his legs. He began to wait at the gate, and liked being groomed and eating hay while wearing the harness.
After Bruno became comfortable with the equipment, we took walks around the pasture wearing the harness. These walks helped teach him and reinforce the basic commands, ‘whoa’ being the most important. I always work with him in a fenced area, if he gets away, he can’t hurt himself or others. He is a large animal, as much as I trust him, I am always cautious. I added a single tree on to the traces, so he would become accustomed to the noise.
Eventually I added a small car tire and then a small log. I didn’t use an ox goad or a whip while working with Bruno, just the halter. He became comfortable and a little complacent. He wouldn’t run away, but he didn’t always want to move either. I found that he likes horse treats, and I began using a practice dog trainer’s call luring. I put the treat in my hand, and he would follow the movement. After he pulled the log a distance he got the treat. That was just a training tool; I no longer use treats when I work with him. It was an effective method early on to get him to move forward.
With time I introduced the stone boat and the ox goad, and Bruno began the important work of clearing the pasture. We have no grass and feed hay year-round. The pasture was thickly forested when the fence was built, now the trees are dying, and the ground is covered with dead branches. I use Bruno to collect the branches on the stone boat and move them to a brush pile. The load is light for the size of the animal, but the work is meaningful.
Bruno at work.
Photo Credit: Anna Knapp-Peck
I went into this process with few expectations and Bruno has surpassed them all. He is the biggest ox I have, but he is gentle and willing. He always tries to do what I ask. For liability reasons I don’t plan on taking him to off-farm events, he isn’t comfortable with new people. I have realistic goals for his progress. Bruno has taught me more than I have taught him. With patience and creativity older cattle can be trained to do useful work.
Welcome to the DAPMap!
This month, we are diving into our DAPMap Club, Associations & Fair section!
NEW- Prommata-PROMMATA is a french non-profit organization wich support and encourage farm agriculture, through the development of modern draft animal uses , by carrying out research and innovation in Modern Animal Draft Agricultural Equipment (MADAE), by promoting animal traction, by offering as many people as possible equipment adapted to high-performance, agro-ecological farming, and by passing on our know-how through a wide range of practical training courses and international missions. You can contact them here.
B & B Carriage Service- We offer wagon rides to the local churches and other nonprofit organizations. Weddings, Anniversaries, and many types of farming... plowing, mowing and raking hay, harrowing, stalk cutters, etc. You can contact them here.
European Brabant Registry of America- The mission of the European Brabant Registry of America is to preserve and maintain purebred European Brabants through the use of existing registry information, ancestry tracing and DNA profiles of imported European Brabants and their offspring, thereby providing enthusiasts and breeders the ability to search for and register purebred horses in North, Central and South America. Contact them here
Broken Yoke Ranch- Cattle farm, Oxen for work/movies. Contact them here.
Want to be featured on the map? Fill out the form today!
Planning for this year’s Field Days is well under way! This month we are smoothing out details for tent rentals, a potential dance floor and other down and dirty details! Coordinators have been assigned to their roles and applications are open for Teamsters and Presenters to apply. If you have animals and or something you’d like to bring to the table at this year’s Field Days, you can fill out the form here.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is working out the details for the upcoming video project. We are reviewing applications and will begin to interview people for the role of web designer. The committee is also improving the process of putting out the newsletter, and planning for upcoming events at the World Draft Cattle Symposium and Common Ground Fair.
Executive Committee
This month the Executive Committee hired three new people to work with us on various projects.
We now have a videographer working with us to produce innovative educational content featuring members of our organization. We also brought on a podcast producer who will help us put more episodes out there...we know many of you have been waiting for them impatiently!
We also welcomed a project manager who has already been putting a lot of work into making the organization better, especially when it comes to communications and backing up our shared drive (and the million folders and pictures in it).
While this organization already has many years under its belt, the amount of information we’ve gathered over time has grown exponentially. Because of that, a bit of cleaning up and organizing is definitely needed.
Education Committee
The Education committee is working on developing resources and support for member-led educational opportunities as well as exploring partnership opportunities with other educational facilities later this year.
2026 Draft Animal Power Field Days Art Contest!
ART SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 23, 2026
Submit your art now, we love to see it!!
Classifieds
Horse Teamster / Farm Hand
Sanborn Mills Farm
7097 Sanborn Road • Loudon, NH 03307
www.sanbornmills.org
Position Overview
Sanborn Mills Farm seeks a highly skilled and experienced Horse Teamster & Working Farm Operator who brings their own well‑trained draft horse team. This mission‑critical role supports the farm’s agricultural, forestry, and educational programs through the safe and effective use of horse‑drawn equipment. The teamster also contributes to broader farm operations beyond horse work and serves as a core member of the Farm Team. Work includes field preparation, logging, transportation, and public‑facing activities such as wagon rides, sleigh rides, and special events, as well as routine farm tasks—garden work, fencing, animal chores, and seasonal projects completed without horses.
The ideal candidate demonstrates a deep commitment to animal welfare, strong situational awareness, and the ability to assess and respond to horses’ needs in real time. This role also supports the farm’s mission by teaching and mentoring students, interns, and guests in traditional horse‑powered skills. Experience in hay production, animal husbandry, and horticulture is required.
Key Responsibilities
Feed, water, and groom horses daily.
Drive draft horses for farm work, logging, wagon rides, sleigh rides, and special events.
Maintain tack and all related draft equipment in safe working order.
Provide a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for students, visitors, and workshop participants.
Follow all safety protocols for animal handling and public interaction.
Assist the Farm Team with animal chores, garden maintenance, fencing projects, and hay production.
Perform grounds and seasonal maintenance.
Support cross‑department operations as needed.
Qualifications
Proven experience training and safely driving draft horses.
Working knowledge of both conventional and historical farming practices.
Ability to operate conventional farm and logging equipment (e.g., tractors, chainsaws).
Experience with animal husbandry for multiple species (chickens, sheep, pigs, cattle).
Mechanical and carpentry skills are preferred.
Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions.
Willingness to participate in rotating weekend coverage.
Experience teaching or engaging with the public through workshops, demonstrations, or outreach.
Work Environment & Schedule
This position is based on a historic, working farm that operates year‑round in a variety of weather conditions. Work is primarily outdoors and involves physical labor, interaction with animals, and engagement with students and visitors. The role requires comfort working around draft horses, farm equipment, uneven terrain, and active workshop environments.
The schedule varies seasonally based on farm needs, program activity, and weather. Flexibility is essential, including early mornings, occasional evenings, and rotating weekend shifts. Seasonal demands—such as haying, logging, and public events—may require additional hours. Sanborn Mills Farm maintains a “one mission, one team” culture where staff support one another across departments as needed.
Compensation & Horse Care Provision
Salary of $55,000 annually
Stalls and/or paddock housing for the draft team
Hay and grain consistent with farm standards
Routine veterinary care
Routine Farrier Services
Bedding
Participation in professional development opportunities
The provision of horse housing and care is contingent upon active employment and compliance with the Draft Horse Use & Liability Addendum.
The DAPCast!
Have you had a chance to listen to the Draft Animal Power Podcast? We have published several different episodes with interviews of people working with draft animals in the USA and Germany! Find us on any podcast listening platform and subscribe to be the first to know of a new episode!
Headed home from a month of working on ranches in Colorado and Wyoming, I was thinking of adding some light horses back into my herd of drafts. Midway through South Dakota I got a text from fellow DAPNet member Derek O'Toole; “Interested in a 2yo standardbred filly?”.
Derek was one of the first people to point out that drafts are a funny choice for a guy with a predisposition for adrenaline seeking behaviors. Although I have proven to him we can get pretty cowboy in the woods with draft horses, he got me thinking that maybe I should return to my roots a bit and find some new challenges. (One idea we threw around was adopting a bunch of mustangs and logging with them green broke!) I thought this standardbred might just be the midlife crisis I needed. Little did I know this standardbred would be the most calm level headed horse in my herd.
I was rushing my drive back east to get home in time for my wife’s birthday. Perfect, I'll give her a horse for her birthday. Well she wanted a dishwasher not a horse, but luckily for me she said I was welcome to get another one.
After some back and forth, Derek’s dad Steve delivered “Ada Shelby” to our farm early August 2024. Steve has spent a lifetime breeding pacers and his no-nonsense horsemanship showed through immediately. Ada already knew how to communicate with humans, which made my work much easier. Now I just needed to decide if I wanted to street-race local amish boys, or start hunting small game off horseback?
Ada had a lot of track time on a jogging cart and drove like a dream, so I decided to start working on saddle training first. On our third ride and second time on the trails, we flushed a flock of turkeys. To my surprise Ada likes hunting turkeys almost as much as I do. She asked if she could chase them and I agreed that sounded like some fun. She took off like a border collie puppy in the lamb pen. We had an awesome time and rode home looking forward to our next adventures.
Now it was time for her to learn how to lean into the collar and push a load with her shoulders. I started with the stone boat for hauling simple loads and we moved on to small logs. Ground skidding was a new sensation, but after a few minor hissy fits she started to enjoy the feeling of short skids with lots of breaks. We added wheels and mechanical advantage and she could haul a decent load.
“Standardbreds aren't draft horses.” Well…… the standardbred is the preferred buggy horse for most Amish and old order Anabaptist communities. Judging by my Amish friends, they collect buggy horses like my redneck buddies collect squarebody pickup trucks. Often over a 3:1 ratio. With more than 400,000 Amish in the US that makes for a lot of buggy horses. These horses regularly get hitched for farm and garden work as well. The standardbred is by far the most common draft horse in the US.
Standardbred horses are common, level headed, affordable, super friendly, and most often trained by no-nonsense professionals. Why aren’t more DAPNet members driving standardbreds? Yeah they are a little light, but that's a great excuse to get a few more! All I know is when I walk into the barn to grab a horse, I struggle to walk past Ada.
Raising My Own Team
By: Maggie Smith
Spring feels extra hopeful this year, with a colt running around kicking up his heels.
My draft colt Hank was born at 6am on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 after an unseasonably warm night. He was welcomed into the world from the start, by the weather, by the intense interest of his future herdmates, and by my friend Liz Brown and me, who carefully attended his delivery by the veteran Percheron mare, Lady.
At five weeks, his charmed existence continues: from evading getting shocked by the electric fence despite my attempts to teach him what it means, to countless naps flaked out on snow-flattened, sunwarmed grass. His windswept legs have straightened out, and the muscles are rounding out his little body, so incredibly angular when he was born. There was a moment this morning that took my breath away. The bedded pack in the nursery stall is getting pretty thick, and he must have jumped out into the larger barnyard because I found him at morning chores, quietly surveying the valley with his big sister, Hazel. Since he hasn’t been trained on single-strand electric fence yet nor fully integrated with other three horses in the herd (which has run-in stalls emptying into a barnyard that opens onto a mile-long narrow circular track), my first impulse was to stress – but something about the way they stood together, Hank looking so tiny and yet so calm next to his fully grown, three-and-a-half year old full sister, stopped me in my tracks. Hazel was gently and calmly resisting the advances of the huge curious gelding Reno, and Hank was completely comforted by her presence. Lady, who could see her offspring from her vantage point in the stall, was watching them but not at all distressed. It was as if she knew this was the future team. Hazel and Hank together, that’s the whole plan. Might as well start now.
I didn’t always plan to raise my own team. When I first fell in love with driving horses seven years ago, I thought my first team would be an older, experienced pair. I tried a couple different combinations of older horses for a couple years, hovering around that holy trinity of experienced, affordable and sound. This was a great learning experience for me, teaching me about what’s available and giving me numerous opportunities to grow my skills as a teamster. By the summer of 2023, I was ready to let myself be talked into taking on Hazel, who had been born on the farm in late summer 2022. I still worried I would screw up her training terribly, but my friend and mentor Donn Hewes assured me he’d help when I wanted it and reminded me how much time I had to get her ready to work. Importantly, I also knew I had the ever-gracious Liz Brown, on whose farm this was all taking place (I live there in a tiny house, just through the trees from the barn), whenever I needed an extra set of hands.
Fast-forward two years of playing and training, tears and joy as that wonderful filly grew into a powerful mare and I figured out that two steps forward, one step back is the name of the game. Hazel was dragging sleds and things around the farm by the winter, and it was so much fun that we bred Lady to Northland’s Red Oak again last February. Fast forward another year, and Hazel skidded 4000 board-feet of spruce in her first real log job this January. She pulled with so much heart. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, that first job off the farm. And 348 days after she was bred, the indomitable 23-year-old Lady delivered little “Hanky Panky.”
My dream is for Hank and Hazel to be as strong a farm team as they are in the woods, and good in public too. My philosophy is to integrate them as deeply into my life as I can, and make them earn their hay all year round! I work as a natural builder, and my coworkers are also excited to market horse logging to our customers. I grow ½ -1 acre of dry beans for a local bean company every year. This year’s farm team will be Lady and Hazel, and by the time Hank is ready to help, his mother will be ready to retire for real. I’m casually looking for a good people-mover, so we can give rides at public events. Looking farther ahead, I can’t tell you exactly what my life will entail, but I can say Hank and Hazel will be at the center of it. Raising your own team: it takes a while, but it sure is fun!
FUNDING AWARDED ...
Over $1 Million in Grants Awarded to Vermont Farm, Forest, and Food Businesses and Organizations
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative continues work to support and stimulate Vermont’s agriculture and forestry industries
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John Smolinsky of Earthbound Forest Services. (Photo provided)
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MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) announces 34 awards totaling $1,047,320 to Vermont businesses and organizations in 2026. The award categories are:
Service Provider & Producer Association Grants – $370,000 awarded to 10 businesses and nonprofits. These grants fund service providers and producer associations who work directly with working lands enterprises to support them as they grow, pivot, and adapt to an ever-changing marketplace. In 2026, grants will support apprenticeships for future foresters, farm and forest business advising, a Vermont specialty foods tradeshow, and more.
Business Enhancement Grants – $647,320 awarded to 19 businesses. These grants support farm, forest, and food businesses using Vermont-grown products with market development, infrastructure, equipment costs, and workforce development to advance their businesses. In 2026, grants will support cheese cave improvements, egg washing equipment, new maple taps, a timber processing forwarding wagon, a sawmill lumber carriage drive, and more.
Trade Show Assistance Grants – $30,000 awarded to 5 businesses. These grants support agricultural, food, and forestry businesses with exhibiting and selling their products at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers. These matching grants partially offset the expenses associated with exhibiting at trade shows, which provide excellent opportunities to network with wholesale buyers and expand into new domestic and international markets.
“These investments help businesses increase sales and efficiency while growing the Vermont economy, making it more affordable and strengthening our rural communities,” said Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts.
A key element to the Working Lands impact is the programs’ ability to flexibly respond to businesses most pressing needs. In fiscal year 2026, demand for grants far exceeded the available $1 million in funds. Across these three grants, 169 applications were received totaling $6,098,779 in requests. This significant demand meant that many worthy projects were not funded.
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative receives an annual allocation of $1 million and sometimes receives additional special funds as determined by the annual state budget. Applications will re-open in the fall.
Visit https://workinglands.vermont.gov to find out more about the application process, read stories about grants, and learn about the program’s impact.
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) and governing board (WLEB) were created by the Vermont Legislature in 2012 to stimulate economic development in the agricultural and forestry sectors. WLEI is a collaborative effort between the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
—Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative
Welcome to the DAPMap !
This month, we are diving into our DAPMap, Farm Production section!
NEW- Earthborn Garden - I raise vegetables and herbs for market. Previously, I farmed with a team of Fjord mares. Now that they have passed on, I am training a Haflinger colt to hopefully help out in the garden and around the farm. You can visit their website here!
Angela’s Farm- We are a small market garden that sells organic vegetables at the Stockholm Farmer’s Market. We work with our two oxen for cultivating, harrowing, moving manure, snow plowing, moving logs, and other various farm chores. You can contact them here.
Wingnut Acres Inc- We are a diversified operation that raises grassfed beef, non-GMO pork, pasture raised and chicken. We also raise bees for raw honey and produce maple syrup. We use organic/sustainable practices, but are not certified organic at this time. We have a team of Belgian geldings that we use for jobs like mowing pasture, raking hay and pulling logs. Contact them here.
Tender Soles Farm- We are a MOFGA certified organic, horse-powered vegetable and flower farm in Richmond, ME. We currently have two draft horses that do all the tillage, mowing, and cultivation on our 45 acre farm with 4 acres in active production. We are currently ramping up to make our own loose hay with all horse-power. Contact them here.
Red Gate Farm, LLC- We are a horse-powered, sustainable permaculture farm, offering educational opportunities in Southern IL. We raise meat and produce, occasionally offering food for sale, and practice forest-improvement through animal rotations and selective logging with horses. We offer a variety of tours, clinics, internships, and more. In addition, we are TIP trainers for BLM wild mustangs and burros, and frequently have horses available for adoption. Contact them here.
The Communications Committee has been busy fine tuning the Newsletter; each edition is better and more efficient. We are still working on logistics for upcoming events at the Common Ground Fair, and World Draft Cattle Symposium. There is also collaboration with Nora Ballard to get the outline for the first video completed.
Events:
This month the Events Committee took data from a survey about potential new intensives as well as the information provided in folks’ interest forms, both with great feedback! The schedule for the weekend has begun forming; tentatively and carefully laid out with many edits to come.
Finance:
The finance committee is reviewing budgets and pricing for upcoming 2026 events. We’re thrilled to report that over 90% of our members donate to cover credit card fees on transactions. This is a big deal for a small organization, thank you!
Education:
The education committee is working with Tillers International to collaborate on future workshops geared toward youth teamsters.
Executive:
This month the executive meeting was overlooking some important ongoing projects . The organization is continuing to transition into Google Workspace and Neon One, including using draftanimalpower.org email addresses, reorganizing files, and improving event and membership management. The board also discussed increasing communication with members through quarterly meetings and more social media and e-blast outreach. The social media team is coming up with a better plan to make these update happen. Committees shared updates on fundraising, educational resources, the podcast, and planning for Field Days and other upcoming events.
Pasture Pine Press has released a new children's picture book that may interest those who love working with cattle and want to share that with the next generation. Oxette: The Power of Two is a 32-page, full-color book, written and illustrated by Lea Patrice Fales. In the story, a small cow named Virginia has a very important job. She is a draft animal that helps with chores on the farm. Late in the spring, it is time to clear the fields of stone. While the farmer picks the rocks, Virginia pulls a stoneboat behind her. That is, until they find a stone too big for them to move. Will Virginia ask for help? Who could possibly help her?
Have a draft animal related event you’d like to see on this calendar? Fill out our Events Submission Form and our volunteers will add your event to our calendar!
Draft Animal: Oxen Basics
April 25th and 26th at Sanborn Mills, Loudon NH
Are you considering an oxen team for your farm but wondering where to start? Join us for a two-day workshop to learn the things you need know about bringing a pair home, finding the right equipment for them, and learning how to work them. Our experienced instructors will train you in a safe and productive environment. Taught by Ray Ramsey and Tyler Allen. $288. Visit https://sanbornmills.org/farm-garden/draft-animal-oxen-basics-4-25-26/ for more information.
"Relationship-Based Cattle Training" - a one-day course with Anne Wiltafsky
April 26, 10:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Lorsch, Germany
The focus of this one-day course is the relationship with the animal. Anne Wiltafsky explains her method of cattle training and illustrates, through targeted exercises, how to improve trust and respect—the two cornerstones of a balanced and resilient relationship with the animal. Only when both are present will movements towards humans function as well as movements away from humans. Participants will learn massage techniques and how to be mindful of their personal space. Course fee: €100 per person, including meals and course materials Registration: c.kropp@kloster-lorsch.de — Registration deadline: April 20
Women and LGBTQ+ Teamsters Gathering 2026
May 2nd and 3rd at Northland Sheep Farm in Marathon, NY.
This event is free to attend and loosely structured- we intend for this weekend to be about sharing our ideas and skills with each other.
Any questions can be emailed to: WQTGathering@protonmail.com
Beginning Teamster School
May 9th and 10th. Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon, NY
This hands-on program will focus on putting the animals and teamsters to productive tasks. Small ratios of students to instructors ensures lots of participation and learning. We will mix new students and returning students. This program will include horse handling and care, harnessing and driving, How to safely hook to logs and other farm equipment. We often do seasonally appropriate work if the weather permits. We can teach each other all the basic skills, and work together to learn and have fun. $300 per new student. $150 for returning students.
May 14th and 15th at Tillers International, Scotts MI
In this two-day class for beginners, experienced teamsters share draft horse handling, hitching, and driving skills. Participants begin by building confidence with the gentle giants in the barn, brushing and harnessing. Handling skills are then honed with simple ground driving of a single horse progressing to plowing and other field work with a team. Taught by Rick Eshuis. $410 DAPNet members get 10% off.
Are you ready to put your team or a team of oxen to work on the Farm and gardens? Then this is the workshop for you. Spend two full days with hands-on experience learning about plowing, discing, planting, cultivating, and cart work. Students will gain a working knowledge of draft equipment and a needed maintenance schedule to work properly. Taught by Ray Ramsey and Tyler Allen $288.
Draft Horse Clinic with Brandt Ainsworth and Daniel Dauphin
May 23rd and 24th at Dan Seewaldt Farm 3820 Hermitage Rd Warsaw NY 14569
This clinic is for all experience levels and will focus on horsemanship, communication, ground work, bitting, line fitting, harnessing and much more. All skill levels are welcome. Fun evening activities are also planned. Come and learn together! $225 for full participation both days. $40 to audit both days. For more information DM Brandt Ainsworth on Facebook, email stihlhorse@hotmail.com, or call 585-307-2972.
Draft Animal: Oxen Basics
June 6th and 7th at Sanborn Mills, Loudon NH
Are you considering an oxen team for your farm but wondering where to start? Join us for a two-day workshop to learn the things you need know about bringing a pair home, finding the right equipment for them, and learning how to work them. Our experienced instructors will train you in a safe and productive environment. Taught by Ray Ramsey and Tyler Allen. $288. Visit https://sanbornmills.org/farm-garden/draft-animal-oxen-basics-6-6-7/ for more information.
Oxen Basics Plus Yoke Making
June 21st-25th at Tillers International, Scotts MI
This comprehensive five-day class creates skills in driving, training, and yoking in a sequence of hands-on experiences. Enjoy well-trained oxen responding to your commands. Learn to select, team, and care for oxen. Use low-stress training to teach calves. Drive teams hitched to various loads and practice field tasks. Particpants will also make a yoke with hand tools. Beginner to intermediate class. Taught by Rob Collins and Tom Nehil. $675 DAPNet members get 10% off. Visit https://tillersinternational.org/classes/ for more information.
MODA 30th Anniversary Gathering AND Draft Cattle Symposium 2.0!
June 25th-28th at Tillers International in Scotts Michigan
Tillers International and the Center for Draft Cattle Research team up for The Ox Extravaganza you’ve been waiting for. More details to come but the preliminary schedule is to have formal presentations in Tillers’ Museum on Thursday and Friday afternoons, with field demonstrations and hands-on sessions on the farm both Friday morning and all day Saturday. For more information contact tillers@tillersinternational.org.
September 27; 10:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Lorsch, Germany
Have you always wanted to get a taste of the world of draft cattle training and work? Then this course is perfect for you. The one-day course covers an introduction to cattle behavior, harness knowledge, training options, and finally, suitable fields of work for draft cattle. In addition to theoretical sessions, the course offers the opportunity to gain initial practical experience with various training cattle.
Course fee: €100 per person, including meals and course materials
October 11, 10:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Lorsch, Germany
Draft cattle can be used in a variety of ways in agriculture. Whether in arable farming, grassland management, or fruit growing, cattle can find suitable tasks. This one-day course aims to introduce the specific agricultural training of cattle and, above all, present the different fields of work and provide practical exercises. It will cover machinery and equipment operation, as well as aspects of occupational safety and economic efficiency.
Course fee: €100 per person, including meals and course materials
The DAPCast is back! After a long hiatus, we are pleased to announce a new season and a new episode of our popular DAPCast. Listen to Maggie and guest interviewer Jared Woodcock chat with Jared’s friend Taylor Van Zyl about tearing it up at the rodeo and running a successful carriage business across the West.
This episode represents an important milestone for us: Cal Hardage, creator of the Grazing Grass Podcast, has stepped up to be our audio production consultant. A farmer from Oklahoma, Cal is a joy to work with and a great addition to our team. Welcome Cal (and thanks also to Jared, who connected us)!
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