Draft horse show : a direct hit !

Maaseik - July 30 2006

The Flemish Breeders of the Belgian Draft Horse, the horse breeders of the province of Limburg and the city of Maaseik united their forces to stage an exceptional show in the historical market square, welcoming more than 3000 enthralled spectators. No contest involving exterior judgment here, just the intent to exhibit the beauty of the Belgian Draft Horse and the opportunities it may offer in the domain of recreation and leisure. That’s what the whole day was all about. The event is organised each year in one of the five Flemish provinces, Limburg hosting on this Sunday the 30th of July. Some fifty draft horses, harnessed and mounted, showed what they were capable of.

Six hooded wagons, permanently fully crammed, toured the city’s ancient centre throughout the morning. The afternoon was dedicated to the show part of the program, starting with the beautiful pyramids, constructed by the teams of Louis Van de Vijver and Marnix De Brabander, neatly behind each other, encircling the statue of the Van Eyck Brothers (world famous because of their painting The Adoration of the Lamb). The Flemish champions, crowned in Baaigem earlier in July, were next. The stallion Wisky van de Sloes (owner Jan De Boe), the mare Donna van ‘t Hengelhof (owner Jos Smeers) and the youth champion Vittel uit de Linde (owner Luc Nulens) went on parade in front of the crowd, accompanied by compelling marches while a wind band announced and waved out each participant, creating a cheery atmosphere.

Along came the harnessed mares: Paul Grauls with a single one and Herman De Greeff with a pair, Huub Hornesch with a trio and Toon Brooijmans with a foursome. All these horses behaved quietly and calmly, yet with smooth and supple movements, very much so to the taste of those watching. Luc Nulens finally presented his pair of dark brown stallions.

The province of Limburg counts two octets formed with draft horses, the Mounted Draft Horse of the Maas Side and the Riders of the Panhof. They performed jointly, Marc De Boeck commanding, each group of eight with a distinctive outfit, an extremely well prepared and more than worthwhile act. What a powerful publicity for the Belgian Draft Horse this was: such a peaceful and pleasant riding horse! Kobe Henckens and Eddy Verheyen demonstrated with Picasso d’Elewijt and Arthur van de Wijveheide just how easy it can be to ride a draft stallion.

Marnix De Brabander’s team made a renewed appearance. Two amazons, in colourful attire, executed a Pas de Deux with their mares (mother and daughter). Their nice, symmetrical movements on delightful music were rewarded with a warm applause. The horses’ gentle disposition towards children was demonstrated by four kids, the youngest aged ten, each loosely seated on a mare, without saddle, just like Indians. This dressage act won the audience’s sympathy at once.

The horse-powered agricultural machines that used to labour the fields stretching from the river Maas to the North Sea in bygone days resurfaced in Maaseik. Jos Neel’s horse pulled the cultivator, Willy Silkens advanced with the Melotte plough, Jos Neel with a sowing machine, Jan Creemers with a mowing machine, while the haymaker and the breaking plough were led by Frank Houben and Jean Deben. Frank Houben’s harvester closed the pageant.

The lots of three took their turn, six of them, bearing the colours of the Belgian Draft Horse: black, blue roan, bay roan, bay, chestnut roan and chestnut. One wonders: how soon will a threesome of genuine grey roans cross our eyes again?

Jan and Stefan Creemers, father and son, wrote the last chapter with their four-in-hand. The four mares, neatly aligned, the ones at the outside tied to a foal, were dragging some tree trunks. One could not fail to notice how experienced these horses were. Son Stefan gave the attentive spectators a remarkable example of his driving art. His mare Petra walked without reins, obeying only the spoken word, negotiating the tightly disposed cones. Such a well taught horse indeed!

The draft horse show in the good city of Maaseik became much more than a mere success owing this largely to the many collaborators and the amiable public. See you all next summer in Koksijde!

text : Harry Hesius   •   pictures : Veronique Soetaert

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