Did you feel the thunder on this past Saturday and Sunday? The 12th annual Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show was held last Saturday and Sunday. The Friday night show had to be canceled due to the excess rain on Thursday.
As a result of the abundance of water, the annual old-time farming demonstration turned into a parade instead. The grounds south of the arena traditionally used to host the demonstration was too wet for exhibitors to use. Instead, those in attendance were treated to a parade of the equipment making its way around the arena.
Following the old time farming parade, attendees were encouraged to wander the fairgrounds to experience what it takes to get a draft horse ready for a show. The horses are all given baths, dried, hooves painted, hair braided and then the equipment is put in place in preparation of the show.
Prior to the beginning of the show, the Draft Horse committee paid tribute to longtime exhibitors Jerry and Gwen Fleace.
For as long as they’ve been together as high school sweethearts in the class of 57, Jerry & Gwen Fleace have always been horse people. Gwen was the 1st Minnesota State High School Rodeo Queen.
Gwen’s father Melvin ‘Fat’ Pigman raced Chuckwagons and Jerry soon joined to participate in the sport driving his own team of horses all around Minnesota and Iowa for about 15 years. At these events, Jerry also raced both 2 horse and 4 horse Ben Hur style chariots and still has a room full of trophies today from those competitions.
As members of the Spafford Saddle club for many years each of Jerry & Gwen’s four kids were sitting on a horse before they could walk. Starting with ponies Gwen & Jerry and their four kids (Jackie, Patti, Steve & Stacy) attended hundreds of horse shows over the years. Each participated in everything from costume classes wearing costumes Gwen made by hand, to timed game events like pole bending & barrel racing.
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