MELVILLE, Sask. — King and Queen might bear royal names, but they don’t get to rest on their laurels.
The pair of red roan Brabant draft horses work regularly on Wayne and Lorna Nagy’s Diamond Horseshoe Ranch north of Melville, as do the other heavy horses in the stable.
However, this pair holds a special place in the household. They are the 2012 Canadian Western Agribition heavyweight division winners in the horse pull competition.
As well, they placed second at the 2010 Calgary Stampede as middleweights.
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They are also special because few teamsters use Brabants. The breed is considered the original Belgian and is smaller and sturdier than the typical North American-bred Belgian. It has thick legs and is usually red or blue roan.
The Nagys also raise chickens, milk a cow and work with horses on the farm.
However, the operation is also firmly into modern times with 350 Black Angus cross cows and 1,800 acres of cropland.
Wayne built it from scratch.
He grew up not far from his farm, which he bought in 1984. Much of his family is still in the area.
“There was one old run down barn and a small house,” he said. “No paint on anything.”
The yard is not recognizable from those days, with a larger house, two barns, corrals and other buildings.
The first draft horses arrived about nine years ago after a sale at a pregnant mare’s urine barn netted six colts.
“Dad always had a team,” Wayne said, and he had always driven his saddle horses.
Both he and Lorna grew up riding horses and they both have draft horse teams now. There are five teams on the farm, including some Belgians.
“I just chore with mine,” said Lorna. “I feed round bales, clean the barn.”
The couple makes sure their teams are fed good quality feed and vitamins and that the horses work every day or every second day to stay in shape. Horses can pull for decades as long as they are in good condition.
However, the Nagys are looking ahead to when they might have to replace their Brabants and are seeking a stud to breed Queen.
