Farmer Teaches How To Work With Draft Horses

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #2, Page #22

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Walt Bernard works with draft horses on his own farm and also teaches others to work with them. From 3-day introductions to week and month-long programs, Bernard loves to pass on his passion for draft horses.
  “We will train 30 to 40 people each year,” says Bernard. “Working with draft horses has become way more popular the past few years.”
  Bernard and his partner, Kris, use horses daily on their Dorena, Ore. farm. The horses are used for haying, tillage and cultivation, including inside the farm’s twelve 150 by 20-ft. high tunnels. The workshops grew out of that use.
  “People kept asking me to teach them how to work with horses,” recalls Bernard. “About 10 years ago, I started doing a workshop, and they just developed over time.”
  Students can choose from a 2-day introduction for $350, a 3-day private instruction for $1,500, or a week-long program with up to 5 other participants for $2,000. A month-long program runs $4,000.
  “The short workshop is a good way to find out if you like it; then the follow up programs can make you a decent teamster,” says Bernard. “The longer programs involve more hours, but not more hours per day. Students have more time on their own to practice and absorb the concepts that have been presented.
  “I love it when students come to learn, but also brings their own horses,” says Bernard. “I will teach using my horses to learn plowing, for example. Then they will work with their horses plowing, and then we may put my horses and their horses together.”
  One thing all workshops have in common is the opportunity to actually do work with draft horses. Classes aren’t just for the purpose of teaching the student. They also complete work around the farm.
  “It is learning with a purpose,” says Bernard.
  The classes themselves are broken up into steps. Each step has to be mastered before the participant can move on to the next one.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Walt Bernard, P.O. Box 119, Dorena, Ore. 97434 (ph 541 510-2359; walt@workhorseworkshops.com; www.workhorseworkshops.com).

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Farmer Teaches How To Work With Draft Horses AG WORLD Walt Bernard works with draft horses on his own farm and also teaches others to work with them From 3-day introductions to week and month-long programs Bernard loves to pass on his passion for draft horses “We will train 30 to 40 people each year ” says Bernard “Working with draft horses has become way more popular the past few years ” Bernard and his partner Kris use horses daily on their Dorena Ore farm The horses are used for haying tillage and cultivation including inside the farm’s twelve 150 by 20-ft high tunnels The workshops grew out of that use “People kept asking me to teach them how to work with horses ” recalls Bernard “About 10 years ago I started doing a workshop and they just developed over time ” Students can choose from a 2-day introduction for $350 a 3-day private instruction for $1 500 or a week-long program with up to 5 other participants for $2 000 A month-long program runs $4 000 “The short workshop is a good way to find out if you like it; then the follow up programs can make you a decent teamster ” says Bernard “The longer programs involve more hours but not more hours per day Students have more time on their own to practice and absorb the concepts that have been presented “I love it when students come to learn but also brings their own horses ” says Bernard “I will teach using my horses to learn plowing for example Then they will work with their horses plowing and then we may put my horses and their horses together ” One thing all workshops have in common is the opportunity to actually do work with draft horses Classes aren’t just for the purpose of teaching the student They also complete work around the farm “It is learning with a purpose ” says Bernard The classes themselves are broken up into steps Each step has to be mastered before the participant can move on to the next one Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Walt Bernard P O Box 119 Dorena Ore 97434 ph 541 510-2359; walt@workhorseworkshops com; www workhorseworkshops com

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