WASHINGTON DRAFT HORSE EXTRAVAGANZA

The first Extravaganza was held in 1971 as a competition started by horsemen for horsemen. In 1971, the amount of draft horses and draft horse owners were abundant in Washington State and the Extravaganza was created as a way for these horsemen to show their beautiful animals and compete to see who had the crème de la crème of the industry. In recent years though, the ownership of draft horses in Washington has seen a sharp decline due to expenses and the lack of land, especially in Western Washington. We as an association have worked hard to seek out horsemen who still have draft horses and use them for a variety of purposes such as riding, logging, plowing, and leisure driving.

Presently, the WDHMA and horsemen who exhibit their animals at the Extravaganza have decided to start a new chapter and present this event as an educational showcase rather than a competition. As a whole, we have decided that it is more important to educate the general public of the historical significance that draft horses played in the development of Washington State and North America.

One of the many reasons that the Extravaganza differs from many draft horse shows is the fact that we strive to accurately represent the versatility of draft animals. When someone in the general public is asked about the draft horse, they typically think of the Budweiser Clydesdales and their ornate harness, decorations, and wagon. While many draft horse owners do opt to show in this fashion, we present multiple ways one might use their draft animal. We offer farm classes where ornate decorations are not allowed so the horses’ natural ability is on exhibit as well as classes like log skidding where one or two horses and their handler are judged solely on their ability to maneuver through a course. This replicates the horsemanship required in the large horse logging industry that was historically present in Washington. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, we now have draft horse riding showcased at the Extravaganza to pique the interest of people who may not be interested in the driving aspect of the draft animals.

Committee Chairman, Austin Witman