Horse plowing contest on tap at Review

LONDON, Ohio – Horsepower of a different kind will be on hand at the Farm Science Review for Ohio’s first ever horse plowing contest.

The event will be staged Sept. 17 by the Ohio Horse & Mule Group.

Nearly 30 contestants are lined up for the event.

All participants will use draft horses – 1,600-plus pound horses or bigger.

Plow categories. Contestants will participate in one of four categories: one-bottom walk-behind plow pulled by two horses; sulky-riding plow pulled by two horses; a three-horse sulky; and a two-bottom gang plow pulled by four to six horses.

Each contestant will have his/her own lot to plow.

For the gang plow, the lot will be 25 feet by 200 feet, and all others will be 25 feet by 100 feet.

Contestants will be judged on 10 categories ranging from depth of furrow and straightness to teammanship with horses and the throwing out of the land. Prizes will be awarded to all of the contestantsby a three-judge panel.

Goal to go national. “Right now we want the whole state to become interested and involved,” said Gary Hopkins, who is working with his cousin, Dean Hopkins, to produce the show.

“Our ultimate goal is to have a national contest by 2007, and there has already been a great deal of interest from other states.”

The event will be held Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about the competition, visit the Farm Credit Services booth at the Farm Science Review, #355 Friday Avenue. Farm Credit is helping sponsor the event.