February 17th and 18th in Ethel, Washington, Happ's held their annual Horsepower Days event.

Saturday was the plowing competition, Sunday was the log skid skill course and the stoneboat obstacle course. Sunday's events were geared more toward those with a team of horses, rather than only one. Since folks have to bring their own plows and there are one-horse plows to be had, you could compete with a single rather than a team. Still, we were the only ones there with less than two horses. Some people had three or four, most had two.

One problem: we don't yet own a plow. I called Maureen at Happ's and told her that I would like to attend and perhaps borrow someone's plow when they're done with their plot - just so I can give it a whirl. I had my neighbor and friend, John Erskine, in mind. He lives just down the road from me so I am forever stopping in to ask him some question or other. I knew he would be attending and bringing his own plow. It would be a bit too big for a single horse to pull comfortably, but I figured it would at least give me the general idea of how things worked, maybe plow a couple of rounds. Maureen, however, very kindly offered to lend me her smaller walking plow for the event! I gladly took her up on the offer.

Friday evening I loaded the camper onto the truck, the horse into the trailer, coupled up and put 'er in 4wd to climb the hills out of our neighborhood. Picked Scot up at a bus stop along the way and we were off to Ethel. We got in to Happ's at about 10PM and put Luna into one of the stalls in the barn with some good hay, parked the rig and got some sleep.

As you might imagine, the plowing competition got underway rather early. Well, early for me anyhow. Breakfast at 7:30, competitor's meeting at 8:30, plowing starts at 9AM. My alarm went off and I turned on the gas light in the camper to chase off the chill. The curtained windows were further obscured with the condensation from two folks breathing in an enclosed space all night. I piled on the layers of clothes, got my hat and gloves and peeked out the door. It was sunny! Cold, but sunny! What luck! I had been fully expecting to be rained on all day.

I checked on Luna, refilled her water and gave her some breakfast. Scot and I ate, I drew #16 for my plot, then it was time to drag out the harness. The closet in the camper was the only safe place to carry the moldy, filthy harness. Hanging in the barn all winter hadn't been kind to the leather. We live in a pretty humid area and all the tack grows mold pretty quickly. Scot and I got out the vinyl gloves, the neatsfoot oil, sponges and rags and got to work. If you have to be the least skilled, at least don't also be the worst-dressed. We rubbed some life back into the harness as we sat in the morning sun.

Camp Onehorse:

Folks were harnessed, hitched and plowing by the time Scot and I got done fussing over our one harness. I went to the barn and got Luna, rode her back to the horse trailer, and we got her dressed. As we were harnessing, we became surrounded by a flock of young girls who admired and exclaimed over Luna. They asked and received permission to pet Luna, who loves to be loved. I showed them how to get kisses from Luna, but only one girl was brave enough to request kisses from the big horse. Luna obliged, gently and carefully presenting her big top lip for smooching.

Soon all our straps were strapped and all our buckles were buckled. It was time to go find out about this plowing stuff.

Unfortunately, the plow Maureen had for me to borrow turned out to be out of true. I was advised that it would be a poor and discouraging introduction to plowing, so I decided to bide until someone completed their plot and I could perhaps borrow their plow. We stood in the warm sun and watched folks plow.

We also became something of a petting zoo/information booth, as ours was the only horse not actively working. Spectators came up and asked questions about Luna, who basked in the combined effects of a full belly, warm sunshine and the admiration of strangers.

Greg Johnson had a 12" walking plow that he graciously volunteered to lend me. He helped supervise the hitching process, talked about the different ways in which the plow could be adjusted for depth and center, then left us in the knowlegeable hands of Art Sporsene. Art told me to tip the plow onto its side and drag it down the field and back.

When we got to the far end of the field, Luna wanted to turn and burn for "home" (Scot). This was the first time I had ever worked her in a closed bridle (that's a bridle with blinders, Mom) so I think she felt kind of all-alone out at the other end of the field with no people or horses visible. I got her turned around and stopped and we stood there for a little bit.

Back at the head of the field, Art stood the plow up and we started talking plow physics. Up is down, right is left... Hmm. Art decides to handle the plow for a bit while I drive Luna, so I can watch how the plow is supposed to behave.

Once more we reached the far end of the field and once more Luna wanted to turn and speed for home. I was glad to have both hands on the lines to rein her in. We re-set the plow and started the next furrow.

After a couple of rounds of this, Luna had settled down - although she still is walking to fast for me to knot the lines together and try driving her with the lines wrapped over my shoulder. Brilliantly, Art turns to Scot and offers him the plow handles. Bingo! Scot makes dubious sounds but it is obvious that I can't drive and plow at the same time, so he follows me as I turn Luna around to line up the plow for the next furrow. Previously, Art and I had been driving alongside the neighboring furrows to use them as a guide for our own. Don't know what came over me, but I set the plow up to open a new furrow right down the center of our plot. Scot grabbed the plow handles, I stood off to his left with the lines and Art reminded: "Up is down, right is left..." and off we went.

I have been assured that this is what one's first furrow with a walking plow usually looks like. We dubbed it the "drunken mole manouver" and everyone had a good laugh, especially Scot.

Well, at that point, Scot was too busy wrangling the plow to take any more photos. Fortunately, there was a professional photographer at the event. Unfortunately, I haven't bought the photos from her... yet!