Shires ready for the Deloraine Show

Deloraine Show attracts one of the largest displays of heavy horses in the state and Riana draught horse lover Emma Post is ready to show off the beauty and versatility of her impressive Shires next weekend.

The veterinary nurse, her draftsman husband Isaac and their two little boys, Oliver, 6 and Henry, 4, live in the middle of dairy country on a small property and their horses certainly stand out in the paddock as well as the show ring.

Last Monday a colt named Jack was born to mare Viewfield Faye, taking the herd to four along with Victorian-bred Toora Bennison and locally bred brother of Faye, Viewfield Stamp.

The horses are taller than average at around 17 hands high but actually small for a Shire, although Emma is grateful it’s not quite as high to haul the heavy harness up onto their big bodies.

The Shires are versatile, just as happy out on a trail ride as they are pulling the family around on a sled or working a plough.

“I also use the horses for carriage driving and, when I’ve got the time, to do some harrowing or fertiliser spreading on the paddocks,” Emma said.

“I’ve collected a variety of harness over the past 15 years, and it all had a specific purpose to use with specific farm implements,” Emma said.

Among her horse-drawn implements are spreaders, a horsedrawn mower, two drays and a rabbit exterminator – a rare contraption built in South Australia in 1933 that was designed to carry a fire pot and pump carbon monoxide into rabbit warrens.

As a Pony Club kid and then a showjumping on a thoroughbred, Emma always loved the heavy horses and harness.

It was the support she received from two draught horse stalwarts, Debbie Buckland and Joe Jetson, who helped her get a start and then things became supersized.

Now Emma is wanting to do the same to support others to help preserve the breed and the knowledge that is fast dying out with past generations.

“Deloraine Show is such a supportive show for any newcomers, I’m certainly more than happy to help anyone wanting to start out,” she said.

“I also rely on plenty of help at the shows with the constant gear changes between classes.”

Deloraine Show’s history with promoting heavy horses goes back to local legend Ian Atkins, part of the community-minded Atkins family which has a show pavilion named in their honour.

After many years of organising the heavy horse section his sudden death in 2013 resulted in his daughter Leanne Atkisn and 24-year-old granddaughter Leah Woolston taking on the job.

Leah said that while most equestrian events will be happening on the Saturday of the Show, there will be some new events, including carriage driving, on the Sunday.

The heavy horses will start out with led and flat classes, Clydesdale and Shire handler classes, saddle classes and then they’ll be harnessed up for the working classes and sled obstacle course which is sponsored by the Atkins family and the winner receives some beautiful brass from the UK.

Also on this year’s Deloraine Show program is Cressy trials champion Chris Bayles putting on a motorbike riding demonstration and the new Tasmanian Mountain Cattlemen’s Association Barambogie Challenge.

Cattle, poultry, home industries and historic tractors will all be prominent and the sheep section has been allocated more room to cope with increased entries.

The 2025 AWPA Heene Tasmanian Whipcracking Championship will also include the Australian Bullock Whip Championship which will attract entrants from around the country.

The 74th Deloraine show runs on November 22 from 9am to 4pm, with gate entry for adults at $12 and children at $5.