Mighty Hoofbeats Shake Up Sandpoint Draft Horse Competition, Sale Is The Mane Event In Town
With a tug on a handful of leather reins, Jerry Hammon Jr. had four tons of horse in a graceful stride.
Atop a wagon and behind a team of massive draft horses is where Hammon, 24, is most comfortable.
“When these horses are stepping in unison it feels like an earthquake, like you could move the world,” he said as he drove a foursome of Shires around the Bonner County Fairgrounds. “There’s not a feeling like it. It’s better than sex.”
Hammon works in San Diego as a handler for the Budweiser Clydesdales. He took vacation to come to Sandpoint for the Idaho State Draft Horse International show.
The Sandpoint show is the largest draft horse gathering west of the Mississippi. Some 300 of the gentle giants were brought in for the 21st annual event.
“Everyone thinks I’m crazy,” Hammon said. “I took vacation from working with horses to come up and work with horses. But how many people, at 24, are doing their dream?”
Hammon said he wanted to do one of two things in life: become Amish and give up everything or drive the Budweiser Clydesdales. “You can tell which one I chose,” he said, grinning.
The draft horse show draws about 3,000 people to each performance at the fairgrounds. The event also props up Sandpoint’s economy until the ski season arrives.
“It means lots of money for the town,” said Lynda Kremer, one of the show organizers.
Horse enthusiasts come from all over the Pacific Northwest. Many camp out at the fairgrounds to tend their horses, polish harnesses, meet old friends and swap tales and horses.
For 17 years Dan Cramer, of Lynden, Wash., has hauled horses to Sandpoint. This time he brought eight Percherons. It took three trucks - one to pull the family camper, one to pull the horses and one to pull the harnesses, hay and other equipment.
“The challenge is getting here and not forgetting anything,” Cramer said. “I don’t know why I keep doing this. It’s a hell of a lot of work.”
The horse aficionados compete in pulling and driving competitions and show off restored carts and wagons. But the center of attention is always the gussied-up draft horses. “The horses are wonderful, and it’s a great group of people. It’s like a family reunion out here,” said Cheryl Kooch, of Enterprise, Ore.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HORSING AROUND The Idaho State Draft Horse International show continues today and Sunday. A horse and mule sale is planned Monday. The fairgrounds open at 9 a.m. today, with performances at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday’s performances begin at 12:30 p.m.