By Violet Li
Berwick Show will see a new attraction this year, as the award-winning farm Sandy Creek Clydesdales will travel from afar to showcase their rare and magnificent horses.
Owners of the farm, Jaimie and Matthew Thompson, have been operating their horse-drawn farm in the central part of Victoria for 15 years. This year will be their first time at the Berwick Show.
“We just like to go around to as many shows as much as we can spread the word about the declining numbers of Clydesdales and the history of them and the history of farming and blacksmithing,” Jaimie said.
“It’s important that we get as many avenues as possible.”
Clydesdales are a breed of large, powerful draft horses originally from Scotland. They are known for their strength, endurance, and gentle temperament, making them ideal for heavy farm work, logging, and pulling wagons. Historically, Clydesdales were used for agriculture and transport, but today, they are often seen in parades, shows, and promotional work.
Jaimie said the breed’s number in Australia was about 3,500 and up to 10,000 worldwide.
“Being able to contribute to their population is one of our passions,” she said.
“We also like to do historic farming and things with some horses as well and harness work with some horses.”
This year, the owners will take two to three Clydesdale horses on a two-and-a-half-hour road trip to Berwick for people to interact with and ask questions about, wishing to reach the younger generations that haven’t experienced the breed before.
They are also bringing blacksmithing displays.
“Matthew is a qualified blacksmith. He’s going to be making some horseshoes and potentially doing some hot shoeing, depending on the weather and other things as well, just showing that art as well as doing farrier work,” Jaimie said.
The couple has always believed in the beauty of the breed.
“They’re just a unique breed. Many people say they built the nation. They do lots of heavy lifting in regards to building the roads, paving the roads, doing mining, cutting grain, or everything to do with how we’ve been able to evolve as a society,” Jaimie said.
“The numbers have declined because they’re not used the way that they were back then. “Obviously, we don’t use them as they were back in the day. They’re not the tractors anymore. They’re not the main form of energy that we use anymore.
“They’re also one of the harder breeds of horses to breed with.”
For the past 15 years, the core of their business has been to stay true to themselves and just share their stories with the horses, the couple said.
“There’s literally nothing magical about it. We just did that. We just worked on what people wanted.”
On 22 and 23 February, they will bring their love to Berwick Show, offering heartfelt stories and a connection with the creature that has amazed them forever and always.
