Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule Show

Every fall, they come to Sandpoint from Canada and states throughout the West. Clydesdales, Belgians, Percherons, Shires, Suffolks and American Creams, from the draft horse breeds, and various mixes of mules take temporary homes at the Bonner County Fairgrounds for almost a week. And with them come the carts, the wagons, the shiny harness and the doting entourage of owners, helpers and fans.

The Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule Show started yesterday approximately a mile away from my home. Last year, I took in the entire show because I had a writing assignment for Sandpoint Magazine. This year I'm visiting the show with less pressure to perform and more incentive to enjoy. Today I'll take my mother, as I did last year.

Today I'm also including the results of my research and observations while completing last year's writing assignment. It turned into a wonderful memory. Hope you enjoy, and if you're in the region, go take in the show. It's well worth the time and the $8 ticket.

Idaho Draft Horse International

by Marianne Love

for Sandpoint Magazine

March, 2005

Last fall, I confessed to my editor that I’ve lived near the Bonner County Fairgrounds and had never----in 28 years----attended an Idaho Draft Horse and Mule International (IDHMI) performance.

“You’ll do so this year,” she said, “and report on it.”

I accepted my penance happily. Career commitments had never allowed me time to attend a performance, but now retired, I could embrace this assignment with gusto. The assignment culminated in an unexpected but thrilling Clydesdale experience.

I spent six days (including Monday sale) meeting longtime participants who shared memories of a mule pushing a Chevy Vega or the time Tim Cramer of Lynden, Washington’s Cramer Classics first tipped his hat to the crowd as a 4-year-old. He’s continued that gesture for 20-plus years. Tim even met his wife at the show. Dan Cramer says his sons, Tim and Andy, first came to draft horse shows in diapers. Now, they serve on the show committee.

During my visits, I surveyed tasty caloric offerings at food booths like The Klondyke (ribs), Feast in the East or a booth where GIANT letters advertise GIANT sausages, elephant ears, corndogs and chicken fajitas for GIANT horse lovers. I strolled barn aisles where sparkling-clean stalls, adorned with exhibitor colors, housed contented, impeccably-groomed gentle giants.

Outside, temporary pens featured sale horses and mules. Rows of farm equipment, buggies, or carts kept streams of potential buyers studying where they might place bids at Monday’s sale. Vendors touted Western art, custom hats, harness and multitudes of rural books.

Chills rose up my spine during each show’s opening anthems as Linda Steadman’s rich voice aroused American and Canadian patriotism from the depths of every soul. I marveled at the delectable menu, including French entrees, offered by Chef Pasco (Steve Passinetti). He cooks three squares daily for several exhibitor families at his Ate-Up Cafe.

While attending several performances, I never tired of watching mules, draft horses and drivers display their talents in carts, a variety of horse/mule hitches, barrel-racing, gambler’s choice, or pulling contests. This annual autumn event definitely turns the fairgrounds into a bustling, colorful community with a culture all its own and a multitude of reasons to hang out for the day.

Tuesday, Sept. 21: Drove to the fairgrounds looking for someone in charge. As semis with Washington, Montana and Canadian license plates pulled in, exhibitors and vendors were setting up. Maintenance supervisor Bob Snider stood in the warm-up ring, raking muck from two weeks of rain. A group catching up on a year’s worth of news said they’d just seen Sherri Remmers, show treasurer and one of the behind-the-scenes queens. She soon appeared, and with her unique brand of down-home folksiness, Sherri explained how to obtain a show pass.

Wednesday, Sept. 22: Met Lawrence McGibbon from Cranbrook, B.C., visiting with Dan Cramer. Dan sat atop his yellow hitch, holding reins to his team of Percherons. I quickly learned that Lawrence jumps at any opportunity to crack a joke.

“We’re friends today but enemies on Friday,” he announced, pointing toward Dan, “unless he’s got some good whiskey. We’ve got the best horses here---bay Clydesdales.” Lawrence attended his first IDHMI show in 1977 out of curiosity and been bringing horses ever since.

Like most other exhibitors, the McGibbon family share responsibilities. Lawrence washes horses. Wife Caroline drives in cart classes and prepares the harness. Son Doug competes with most hitches. He also drives truck and performs general maintenance. Doug’s girlfriend, Cathy, feeds, tends to health care and drives in some classes. Friend, Shannon, helps as official pooper scooper. Lawrence hinted that if I was good, I might get to join them in a performance.

During our visit, Bear drove up, pulling a horse trailer aka store front. Yup, he’s just “Bear,” styler of custom-made hats who travels the mule, draft horse and single-action shooter circuit. He’ll tell you everything you ever want to know about a hat and more. He’ll also sell your unique model for $150. Throughout the show, he held a captive audience and measured many heads.

Thursday, Sept. 23: Saw show chair Linda Stutzman. We promised to connect sometime. I learned about the role of sheriff’s emergency services at the show from volunteer, Tom Green. Met Lawrence outside the main exhibit building, chatting with mule owner, Mark Schmidt, from Whitefish, Mont.

Mark has competed here for nearly 15 years. He and wife Shirley brought eight Belgian draft mules. The Schmidts farm with their mules. Mark says they put up about 100 tons of hay with horse-drawn mowers. They also compete in 3-day eventing, which includes combined driving/dressage, marathon (cross country with hazards) and maneuvering around cones. Later, I saw the mules and one of the carriages Mark uses. He builds most himself, but this German model ($28,000 new) was crafted in oak with blue leather seats and brass accessories.

“I got it reasonable,” Mark told me. “It’ll be a good part of my estate sale. It’s like a Mazaradi.” Mark offered me my Thursday thrill after hitching up and asking me to climb aboard. We took a nostalgic spin down Woodland Drive past my childhood farm near the fairgrounds.

Friday, Sept. 24: Took my mother to the 2 for 1 (seniors) afternoon performance. The scene sent Mother down memory-lane to her childhood farm in Michigan. She reminisced about riding Queen or Bess as they plowed fields. A gold mine of nostalgic stories sat waiting to be tapped among that silver-haired audience. If only youngsters could sit by every senior’s side and listen! Karlen and Margo McBirney stopped by to tell us they loved standing near the out-gate where, as tons of horse power and hitches thunder by, “the ground literally shakes.”

Saturday, Sept. 24: The McGibbons were actually serious about including me in a Sunday afternoon performance.

“Meet us here at 12:30 in black pants, white shirt and vest,” Cathy said. “You’ll ride with Doug on the 4-horse hitch.” I then strolled around the barn and caught Debbie Porcarelli feeding her Percherons. Her driving finesse and beautifully-trained horses had taken both my eye and the judge’s the day before. First-place ribbons hanging near the sleek, black beauties told the story. This, though, would be her last show. Debbie, a former ski racer and educational consultant from Fairfield, Mont., said she’d be selling her Percherons and moving on to a light-horse discipline.

Caught Linda Stutzman taking a break. She and husband Marv enjoyed good fortune when their 2-year-old Percheron filly, High Country Trish, won the Supreme Champion halter mare. Linda saw her first draft horse show in 1985.

“It was awesome,” she told me. Since then, she’s served on the show committee and now, president. “Until you get up close and personal with these horses, you don’t realize the magnitude of what they can do, how beautiful they are and their size.” The Stutzmans raise Percherons at Kootenai where they used to bring pumpkins to the school in their horse-drawn wagon and take kids for rides.

Sunday, Sept. 25: Saw photographer Jon Shaver. He’s already taken 400 digital shots. He’ll ride with us (Doug, me and CJ, the deaf Dalmation mascot) to snap pictures before our class. Visited with Andy Cramer who explained setting up the Gambler’s Choice obstacle class.

After sampling some fresh mini-donuts, I went home and changed into jeans, shirt and turquoise vest. Excited but nervous, I hoped I wouldn’t fall off the hitch. No shock absorbers when these big horses thump the ground.

I survived. The class floated by too fast as we circled the arena both directions at different speeds. Trying to spot individuals in the crowd brought back memories of merry-go-round days when you blinked, and motionless souls would seemingly zip past. The power of those eight tons of horse flesh with their long strides made me feel like we were in a rowboat drifting around the arena. Occasionally, Doug calmly cued his horses. They listened. We won second place with Debby Porcarelli taking first.

After thanking the McGibbons, I drove home, fully satisfied that I’d served the best penance ever. With the show-ending sale the next day, I had a notebook filled with wonderful memories and a newly-purchased set of used harness waiting for a cart and horse.