Healing Harvest Forest Foundation, a nonprofit based in Floyd County, will conduct a demonstration of “worst first” single-tree selection and timber harvesting, along the riding trails at the Virginia Horse Center this Thursday afternoon.
Horses will be used for skidding logs, with modern log arches and professional timber cutters, performing and demonstrating safe directional felling.
Starting at 1 p.m. at Mead Hill, a short introduction and instruction of these techniques will be provided for individuals who are interested in safely doing this work. This instruction is provided by a certified professional “Game of Logging” instructor. Virginia Department of Forestry personnel will attend.
This harvesting will be focused on standing dead trees that are ready for harvesting. These trees will be felled, extracted, and donated to the Mission Committee at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Rockbridge Baths for distribution to needy families in the area, as firewood. Any local resident in need of firewood may contact the committee.
This harvesting is part of a larger three-day event held at VHC. It is the annual international gathering of the North American Suffolk Horse Association.
The Suffolk Punch is the oldest and rarest draft horse breed in the western world. It is estimated that there are fewer than 1,200 left in the world. There will be many horses from several states attending.
Judges will be from England, where the horses originated, and from local draft horse groups.
Starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, halter classes of all age groups and sexes will be shown in the Bob Reel Arena in the East Complex, followed by workshops and lectures by Dr. Phil Elsea, DVM, an expert in equine reproduction.
On Saturday, there will be competitive driving classes including obstacle course, logging skidding contest, precision pull contest, and a weight pulling contest as the finale to the event.
Though attending the event is free, a $20 donation would be appreciated and applied to the travel cost of the participants.
This event is co-sponsored by Healing Harvest Forest Foundation and the Virginia Horse Industry Board. Any questions may be addressed by Jason Rutledge at (540) 798-1828.
