There is no “I” in Team
If you ever had a coach say, “there is no “I” in team,” you know they were telling players that a team has to work well together to play well. One of the best teams at Mount Vernon’s Pioneer Farm is Harriet and Henrietta. Both these big girls are Shires, which are the tallest of all the draft breeds (bred for heavy work). Harriet is 12 years old and 16.3 hands tall, and Henrietta is 12 years old and 17 hands tall. A hand is four inches, and horses are measured from the shoulder, or withers, to the ground (Classroom idea: Have students measure their height in hands). Harriet and Henrietta plow the fields of the Pioneer Farm and pull wagon rides for visitors. GWW interviews Lisa Jackson, a livestock handler, on behalf of Harriet and Henrietta.
GWW: Who is the harder worker: Harriet or Henrietta?
LJ: Harriet has asthma and sometimes has a little trouble breathing. Henrietta happily pulls more than her share to help her half-sister.
GWW: Do they always get along with each other?
LJ: Yes. They were raised together and are best friends. They eat from the same hay pile and gallop out to the field together to join the other horses when their work is over. Both girls are very sweet and gentle. They never fight!
GWW: How long does it take to get their harness on and hitch them to the wagon or plow?
LJ: Their harnesses are very heavy and, because I am small, the hardest part is lifting it onto their backs. One of my fellow livestock handlers helps me with this. In addition to being heavy there are many buckles and clips. It is important to fit it properly so that they are comfortable and safe. It takes about 10 minutes to get it on. They are usually very good about stepping into place and standing still while being hitched to the wagon. It too, takes about 10 minutes. So a grand total of 20 minutes to get them ready for work!
GWW: What do they do when they are not working?
LJ: Their favorite activity is eating. They love their two meals of grain, and graze on grass or hay pretty much all day. They like to play with the others horses as well. They like to nuzzle and nip each other, kind of like wrestling!
Article written by Wendy VanWoerkom.
