State’s best draft horse hails from Ryburn farm in Chartiers
State’s best draft horse hails from Ryburn farm in Chartiers
{child_byline}Barbara Miller{/child_byline}
A horse who calls Washington County home has won several accolades at the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Houston’s Belle, who is 10 years old, first won her age division class, Belgian mare 5 years and older, before being awarded senior champion Belgian mare, grand champion Belgian mare and the best of breed title over the weekend.
She’s been there before: Houston’s Belle was supreme champion two years ago at the Illinois State Fair. Belle is also the lead horse of a six-horse hitch of registered mares.
“We use her up front,” explained owner Mark Ryburn of Chartiers Township, who exhibited the mare Friday before the Farm Show officially opened to the public.
“The lead horse is usually the most athletic, prettiest and energetic animal.”
In addition to Illinois, Houston’s Belle has also competed in state fairs in Iowa, Indiana and Michigan.
Other than recognition, Houston’s Belle received no special reward for winning the state’s top draft equine honors.
“She’s my wife’s favorite,” Ryburn said of his spouse, Niki. “She gets fed pretty well and taken care of pretty well.”
Houston’s Belle is not the first draft horse to return from the farm show with honors.
The Ryburns also showed a Belgian draft horse in 2000 that became state supreme champion.
Raising draft horses is a family enterprise.
“My grandfather got me started in them in late ’80s,” Ryburn said. “He pulled horses in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s and judged for years.”
“My mom, Phyllis, was also at the farm show,” Ryburn said. “My dad, Don, would’ve been with us but he passed away in February. He was there with us in spirit.”
Houston’s Belle and the Ryburns returned home Sunday. Appropriately for a breeding animal, the 10-year-old mare is expecting her third foal March 1. Houston’s Belle weighs about 1,850 pounds, Ryburn estimated, and her foal will likely have a birth weight of 80 to 100 pounds when he or she joins the 20 horses at the Ryburn farm.
The state Department of Agriculture reports that also in the running for supreme champion draft horse were a Percheron from Centre County and a Clydesdale/Shire from Adams County. The show runs from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Check for more Washington County 2016 Farm Show results at: http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/Results_Counties.aspx?Y=2016&County=63&CountyName=WASHINGTON