There has always been a lot of horses in Robeson County. Prior to the early 60s, most of the farmers in the county used horses or mules as work animals, and there were about as many dealers selling these animals as there are car dealers today.

These animals pulled farm implements through the fields for tilling, planting, and cultivating. They pulled stumps as new ground was cleared. They pulled logs from the forest for new buildings, for firewood for homes and wood curing tobacco barns, and for sale as another source of income for the farmers. They pulled wagons to haul farm products to town and often pulled wagons or carriages as the only form of transportation for the farmer and his family.

During the early days of gathering statistical information about North Carolina farms and farm products, horses and mules were seldom counted. These animals were not often sold as were pigs, cows, and chickens. They often became almost like members of the farm family. Because of this it is difficult to find good statistics that give information about the numbers of horses and mules on farms in years past.

But today it is fairly easy to find information about horses in North Carolina, because they have become a very important part of the agricultural economy. When tractors began to replace draft animals during the early 60s, people began to place more emphasis on horses as pleasure animals.

Recent statistics indicate that there are more than 122,000 horses in the state valued at over $519 million. In addition, there are more than 6,200 ponies valued at almost $12 million, 1,700 mules valued at almost $2 million, and 1,500 donkeys valued at $1 million.

I cannot find the breakdown for the exact number or types of animals for Robeson County, but the statistics indicate that the value of horses in Robeson County is more than $20 million. Virtually all of these are pleasure animals.

Many people in the county are involved with various horse clubs or other organized groups that participate in various events and activities including horses. In doing so, they spend a tremendous amount of money right here in Robeson County to provide for their animals and for food, gas, and motels as they participate in these events. This equates to a very big boost to the local economy.

Many youth are fascinated by horses and, when given the opportunity, will quickly become attached to these animals. This provides the opportunity for parents and adult volunteers to provide education to these youth about caring for animals, responsibility, and competing in events. There is even a 4-H Horse Club in the county, which allows youth without horses the opportunity to learn more about these animals and how to care for them.

With the increased popularity of horses, there has been an increase in the number of organized activities for horse owners. There are five major horse clubs in the county, and virtually every weekend a horse show will be going on somewhere in the county. Horses are seen in virtually all local parades and festivals. Overnight and weekend trail rides have become very popular for both individuals and entire families that own horses.

With the increased number of activities involving horses, it is easy to understand that horses are more frequently associated with large numbers of people. Most horses weigh well over 1,000 pounds, and if they become excited and difficult to manage while around crowds, it is very possible that someone could easily become injured.

Grover and Pat Soesbee, the owners of Carolina Grain and the local Purina feed dealers in Lumberton, will be providing a clinic for horse owners in an effort to help them learn how to better handle their animals around crowds. This clinic will be held at the Robeson County Fairgrounds (Highway 41 South, Lumberton) on Wednesday, April 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

There is no cost for this clinic. Since safety is so important when handling horses and the fact that the owner has to assume the liability of his animal, I would highly recommend that all horse owners make an effort to attend this clinic.

Brian Dees, a well-known horse trainer from Georgia, will conduct the clinic. He will provide instructions on how to teach your horse to come on command, lead, load, clip, bathe, stand still for the vet or farrier, tie, and to accept a saddle or bridle. He will also demonstrate how to overcome problems with your horse, such as pulling back, spooking, being hard to load, kicking, and biting.

If you need more information about this clinic or about horses in general, please feel free to call me at my office at 910-671-3276.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 4/15/03