-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Twins Hailey (standing) and Holly Herschberger, age 16, of Hersch Belgians of Milan, Missouri, prepare their mare Trixie for Sunday afternoon's events. Trixie received the Supreme Halter award during competition on Sept. 2.

BRITT — The 42nd annual Britt Draft Horse Show was held Sept. 1-3, 2023, at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Britt. By any measure it was a success, but there was no doubt that weather had an impact on the weekend and it held the attendance numbers down.

“It was very warm,” said board member Melodie Hiscocks, who serves as secretary-treasurer.

Indeed, it was warm as temperatures during Saturday and Sunday afternoon shows were in the mid-90s. Some of the people in the stands had the forethought to bring umbrellas. Not because of rain, but to provide shade from the sun, which was intense. A steady breeze from the southwest all afternoon did provide some relief.

Three different exhibitors were asked if there were any special provisions made for the horses because of the heat. All three gave the same answer: No provisions were made for the horses because of the heat. The horses were in good shape and could handle the high temperatures.

When the first show was held in 1982 by a small group of horse enthusiasts, hitches were invited to attend. Later the hitches had to apply to participate, and now 18 hitches are chosen with three hitches put on a waiting list in case a chosen hitch is not able to attend.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Natalie Royce, standing on the barrel, Jaylon Herschberger, at the mane, and Loren Mast, at the tail, ready one of the horses owned by Express Ranches of Yukon, Oklahoma, for Sunday afternoon's competition on Sept. 3. This was Express Ranches' first time at the Britt Draft Horse Show.

Express Ranches of Yukon, Oklahoma, was on this year’s waiting list. They were showing in Nebraska when they got the call asking if they could make it to the Britt show, as another exhibitor was not able to attend. This was the first time for the Express Ranches hitch to participate in the Britt show.

Another first-time appearance was by Goldsmith Belgians of Chatfield, Minnesota. With 42 years of shows, there are both exhibitors who are long-time participants, along with hitches who are at the show for their first time. Children, who came to the show as youngsters when their parents exhibited, are now adult exhibitors bringing their own children with them.

Melodie Hiscocks told of Tim Sparrow, who is part of the crew for Young Living Percherons of Mona, Utah. He is the grandson of Dick Sparrow, who created a 40-horse hitch for Schlitz Brewing in the 1970s. Tim Sparrow came to the Britt show as a little boy and now his own children are participants in the show.

The Britt show is part of a competition of a season-long series of 60 draft horse shows that will finish in Shipshewana, Indiana, Sept. 21-23 at the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series.

Points are accumulated by how the hitches place at each show. The four highest point hitches in each of three breeds are invited to compete at the show that has up to $100,000 in premiums.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Jeff Goodell of Goodell Clydesdales, Gilmore City, readies one of his draft horses for Sunday afternoon's show on Sept. 3.

At this year’s Britt show, the first-place award of Supreme 6 was given to Young Living Percherons of Mona, Utah. Second-place award of Reserve 6 was given to Blue Ribbon Days of Bradgate, Iowa; Farmington, Missouri; and Lobau, Germany.

The exhibitors have fun with the theme that has been in effect for several years, according to Melodie Hiscocks.

Part of Saturday’s show included hitches being decorated around a theme. This year’s theme was “It’s a Circus Out There.” Last year’s theme was “Puttin’ On the Ritz.”

Melodie Hiscocks said that Saturday evening the hitches, crew and people are guests of the Britt board at a special meal prepared for them.

Young people abound during the show’s run. There are young people throughout the barns, preparing horses, harnesses, and wagons for the weekend competition.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
The weekend draft horse show builds to the finale on Sunday afternoon when all 18 teams of six-horse hitches (that's 108 draft horses) are assembled in the show ring to hear who will be awarded the top prizes of Supreme 6 and Reserve 6 hitches.

A junior and amateur show is held Friday evening with competition in six categories — junior and senior cart, junior and senior team, four-horse hitch, and senior driver.

Saturday morning includes competition in junior and senior groomer and junior and senior showmanship. Twenty-three young people, age 19 and younger, participated in these events.

With the 2023 show completed, Monday was cleanup day as the Hancock County Fairgrounds was returned to becoming a fairgrounds and preparations began for the 2024 show. Melodie Hiscocks stated the board’s goal simply: “We do anything to make it better.”

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Jade Ridgely is at the reins for Roby's Belgians, of Rockwell City, at Sunday afternoon's six-horse hitch competition on Sept. 3.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Mark Sparrow is at the reins of Goodell's Clydesdales of Gilmore City at Sunday afternoon's six-horse hitch competition on Sept. 3.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
The classes were broken down into heats of three to five horses to let the judge do a better job of evaluation.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Haley Schubert is at the reins for Young Living Percherons of Mona, Utah, placing first at Sunday afternoon's team competition on Sept. 3.

-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Dean Woodbury is at the reins for Blue Ribbon Days of Bradgate, Iowa; Farmington, Missouri; and Lobau, Germany. He placed first at Sunday afternoon's competition in the men's cart class.