Despite the neverending weed-pulling, fencing, harvesting and other chores around our place this summer, we managed to get away a few times - and even suceeded in picking some of the rare days where we actually had nice summery weather!
One of our trips was to Cape Clear off the West Cork coast to visit friends living on the island. They keep a small herd of Kerry Bog Ponies, which, of course, we were curious to meet.
Kerry Bog Ponies were used over the centuries as draught animals in the Kerry bogs. However, the ponies we visited have a pretty pleasant and layed back life of hanging out in the fields all day. But there are plans to train these ponies in years to come - some still too young for any serious draught work at the moment - and work with them around the island.
The Kerry Bog Pony Co-operative Society has a great website if anyone wants to find out more about these animals:
www.kerrybogpony.ie
Another day out was spent in the Traditional Farms in Muckross near Killarney, Co. Kerry. We had wanted to go there for some time to see what it was all about. We found an impressive collection of horse-drawn machinery tucked away in a nice shed, which is located amongst the beautifully kept traditional farm buildings. The horses appeared to have a day off, as one was grazing in the field whilst the other one had a snooze in the stable. But we were able to find some of the fruits of their labour - a golden yellow field of nearly ripe oats. So soon the reaper binder will need to be taken out and dusted off and the horses will have a go at bringing the harvest in - I don't think we'll make it for that event, as we will be busy ourselves harvesting...
Of interest to some work horse enthusiasts is probably the website, in particular the page of some of the horse-drawn machinery - have a look:
http://www.muckross-house.ie/farms/machinery.htm
One of our trips was to Cape Clear off the West Cork coast to visit friends living on the island. They keep a small herd of Kerry Bog Ponies, which, of course, we were curious to meet.
Kerry Bog Ponies were used over the centuries as draught animals in the Kerry bogs. However, the ponies we visited have a pretty pleasant and layed back life of hanging out in the fields all day. But there are plans to train these ponies in years to come - some still too young for any serious draught work at the moment - and work with them around the island.
The Kerry Bog Pony Co-operative Society has a great website if anyone wants to find out more about these animals:
www.kerrybogpony.ie
Another day out was spent in the Traditional Farms in Muckross near Killarney, Co. Kerry. We had wanted to go there for some time to see what it was all about. We found an impressive collection of horse-drawn machinery tucked away in a nice shed, which is located amongst the beautifully kept traditional farm buildings. The horses appeared to have a day off, as one was grazing in the field whilst the other one had a snooze in the stable. But we were able to find some of the fruits of their labour - a golden yellow field of nearly ripe oats. So soon the reaper binder will need to be taken out and dusted off and the horses will have a go at bringing the harvest in - I don't think we'll make it for that event, as we will be busy ourselves harvesting...
Of interest to some work horse enthusiasts is probably the website, in particular the page of some of the horse-drawn machinery - have a look:
http://www.muckross-house.ie/farms/machinery.htm
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