Nice campsite
When we arrived, I was directed to our campsite. During the weekend of The Draft Horse Classic (DHC), the RV Park
is for the exclusive use of season ticket holders. I was pleasantly surprised to see my last
name on a card that was attached to the utility post. The campsite was very nice, with full
hookups, close to the entrance to the fairgrounds. This was the result of paying early for a
season membership with the DRC organization. The membership came with two, greatly-discounted tickets for each equestrian
performance during the weekend.
A campsite close to a fairground entrance gate
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Ground transportation
Even though we had a campsite next to an entrance to the fairgrounds, the arena was located
across the main area of the fairgrounds. If needed, shuttles were provided to make it easier
to get to various locations around the fairgrounds. The transportation was very simple. One
shuttle consisted of a farm tractor pulling a passenger trailer. Another shuttle was nothing
more than a big golf cart that held up to seven passengers.
One form of shuttle used to get around the fairgrounds
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The other type of shuttle used to get people to the show
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It was a comfortable walk to the arena, however, it was nice to leave early enough for a
show such that we could check out the food court and the many booths of art and crafts along
the way.
There was one time when Lynn and I had been sightseeing in the local area. We returned to
our motorhome too late to be able to walk to the performance in the arena in time to see the
beginning. So we took advantage of a nearby shuttle to get us to the show on time.
We took the shuttle to get to the show on time
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Making horse shoes
One of the favorite demonstrations is a show of horse shoeing. This includes a
competition between two or more farriers to see who can make a horseshoe and install
it on a horse’s hoof in the shortest time.
The making of a horseshoe begins with a bar of steel. A farrier uses blacksmith
skills to heat and shape the steel bar into a horseshoe. The first time I saw
this I was amazed to see how a bar was transformed into a horseshoe with all the
little grooves and holes necessary to attach the shoe to the hoof of a draft horse.
While forging a horseshoe, the maker of the shoe is dripping wet with perspiration.
It amazes me that they have to do three more to finish the job. I’ve seen
these demonstrations several times and it never gets old.
The horseshoe compitition gets hot in more ways than one
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