blue star equiculture

In addition to Blue Star Equiculture instructor, Justin Morace, the Draft Horse Program at UMass would not be possible without the assistance of four Blue Star horses, currently in residence at UMass – Hadley Farm Equestrian Center. We firmly believe that our equine partners are the greatest teachers!

Bob is a grey Percheron gelding in his mid-teens who came to Blue Star after his most recent home discovered that Bob had no interest in being the riding horse they wanted him to be. Bob loves working in harness, and has lots of skills to share with students that he learned in his previous career as a logging horse.

When the sun rose on Bob the morning after his late night arrival, the crew at Blue Star just stared. There are few horses as beautiful as this boy, or as well trained. Bob knows almost everything there is to know about pulling. Ironically, he came to Blue Star because his former home was trying to use him as a riding horse. Bob, not having had any training in the riding department, was less than cooperative. Pam and Paul went to visit Bob with good friend Dave Bradham, long time teamster. Dave showed Bob a collar and Bob lowered his head into it...first sign that we were on the right track. Dave verbally commanded Bob to turn right and left and stop and over and even tricky logging steps...Bob did them all! Bob seemed to say FINALLY you are all speaking my language! Poor Bob would have shown his owners how smart he was if he could – an unfortunate miscommunication for both parties. Now Bob is at UMASS. Look out for Bob, and be prepared to have your breath taken away!

Mark came from John Conkey, Jr. to be with his old friends Iceman and Tony B.  Mark and a teammate used to compete in shows with Iceman and Tony B. as a four-horse hitch. Since Mark’s teammate passed away, he had been living by himself and was rather lonely. Since coming to the farm, he has a whole set of friends, most notably admirer Chyna.  He is a redder color than his other “Big Belgian” friends. Mark won't do anything for the student that he/she hasn't yet earned. He is an experienced and excellent teacher.

The newest additions to the equine faculty are Ruby and April. These Belgian mares have “been there, done that” when it comes to all kinds of work in harness. Ruby and April were donated to Blue Star Equiculture when their owners read about us in the Boston Globe and wanted their girls to teach future generations of teamsters. April and Ruby are a very skilled team and excellent teachers.

My approach has been referred to as “Grassroots Horsemanship.” This is a philosophy based on a natural horsemanship, and begins with love, respect, and an understanding that connects the teamster and the team in a productive partnership. I believe we horse-people are being called to teach our future horse-people this good way of being with our four-legged partners.

I firmly believe that the horse comes first. When working with any horse we should always work in a way that is safe for both the horse and horseman. We must also consider the horse’s nature before we make any communication, verbal or physical. It is so important be present and train ourselves to listen to the horse. Horses cannot speak words to us. Likewise, we cannot ask a question and have them answer us, but we can gather information if we pay attention. A horse can tell us if she is lame, or if she feels more comfortable with her foot held 2 inches more forward, or if her saddle is pinching. This is the beauty of working with horses. They force us to be present in the moment and they can communicate with us if we are present. Horses can help us become more fully awake, more human, and can reconnect us with mother earth only if we are present and open to the experience.

I have been driving horses since 2001 and had many incredible teachers: old teamsters, trainers, and farriers with several hundred years combined experience. However, my most influential teachers have been horses (Lancelot, Bubba, Duchess and Chyna to name a few). I had never been so deeply moved by the connection we can have with horses until I began standing behind them. When you drive horses you reconnect with parts of yourself, your community’s history, and the environment. We all have teamsters in our bloodlines, and have been partners with work horses for thousands of years. I believe it is the horse that teaches the student how to drive, ride, etc. A great instructor translates what the horse is saying and communicates it to the student in a way they can understand. I have come to realize that horses are excited to share with us what they know – their talents and skills – they are so proud of them, and all we have to do is ask!

I am a proud carriage driver from Philadelphia, PA. The Philadelphia carriage horses taught me how to drive with city traffic in some pretty intense moments, and showed me that I would have to stay completely calm in those situations. The Philadelphia carriage horses taught me how to drive, tell stories, and fight off taxi cabs all at the same time, while still paying close enough attention to catch them in any trouble they were trying to get into. There is a very public movement against the carriage/work horse industry. While these misinformed radicals may believe they are doing a great service to horses, I believe they are doing a great disservice. I will go even further and say that they are killing the horse as a species. Horses have been bred for thousands of years with specific qualities, like having the desire to work, and liking interaction with people. Horses have an innate physical and psychological need for a job and human contact. We are depriving the horse if we take this away from them. We are striping the horse of a purpose, and in turn we create disposable luxury items.

At Blue Star Equiculture we work to dispel these anti-carriage/working horse myths. We provide horses with loving homes, the social interaction with both horses and humans they yearn for, and a job or retirement. Blue Star is working to restore the bond between horses, humans and mother earth. No horse is unwanted and every horse can be useful.