Wisconsin’s only full-sized hospice therapy horse will make an appearance at the Dodge County Fair this week. He’ll be in the Uncommon Horse Sense Arena next to the small-animal building.
“His name is Levi, and he’s a former race horse,” said Dave Kluge, from Uncommon Horse Sense. “He will be here on Wednesday (Aug. 14), and people can come and watch demonstrations.” During his visit, Levi’s owner will talk about his therapeutic work at Angel Grace Hospice, Oconomowoc, Wis., where he provides comfort to those nearing the end of their time on earth.
On Thursday, the Uncommon Horse Sense Arena will feature horses in the early training stages. Demonstrations will include how to teach directional control, transitions, and lateral movement. A mini horse will be showcased on Friday.”We’ll teach about how to prepare a horse for driving and pulling a carriage,” added Kluge.
“A very rare breed of draft horse, called the Suffolk, will be at the fair on Saturday.” There are only about 600 Suffolks registered in the United States. The Suffolk breed is generally shorter than other draft breeds, but they have an extensive amount of muscle and stamina. They’re built for heavy farm work. Fair goers can see the Suffolk draft horses during the horse pull on Saturday, though they will not be pulling. “After the horse pull, they’ll be at the Uncommon Horse Sense Arena,” added Kluge.
Trail obstacles provide opportunities for horses and riders to challenge their skills. During the final day of the Dodge County Fair, stop by the Uncommon Horse Sense Arena to learn ideas for developing horses to be trail savvy.
For those interested in learning about the inner workings of a variety of horses, visit the Uncommon Horse Sense Arena when you arrive at the fair, and check out their daily demonstration schedule.
The Dodge County Fair runs Aug. 14-18, 2019.
Written by Dori Lichty — farm wife, 4-H Mom, and full-time communicator
