Draft Power: Big Zeb and the wagon at the farm

Zeb the Percheron is our draft horse. He does a lot of work at the Museum. He pulls the plow in the field, cultivates the crops, and draws visitors around the Museum in our wagon. Zeb has been with us for more than 12 years. A gentle giant, he endures both hard work and the petting from hundreds of children.

Horses wear horseshoes for a number of reasons. Increased traction for work is one. Correcting equine orthopedic issues is another. Zeb gets his hooves trimmed and new shoes as he needs them every 6 weeks. Here is the Farrier setting a new shoe.
Throughout the summer Zeb is harnessed to pull the wagon from 11:30 until 1:30. He usually works 5 days a week, rain or shine. As we head into fall he will pull the plow to turn under the stubble from the summer crops. That will help prepare the soil for planting Winter Rye, which will be our first crop harvested next spring. The agricultural cycle of preparing the soil, planting, and harvesting will continue to turn with Zeb’s help.Throughout the summer Zeb pulls the wagon from 11:30 until 1:30. He usually works 5 days a week, rain or shine.