By Anna Erickson
On a farm outside of Mabel, Minn., a team of Belgian draft horses rose to fame earlier this winter after a video of them went viral on the internet. Molly and Prince are a 13-year-old brother and sister who are very well accustomed to pulling heavy loads. In December 2018, truck driver Josie Swartzentruber’s semi truck became stuck when the slippery road caused it to be unmovable. Pulling it with a tractor or any machinery seemed implausible due to the ice. That’s when Jake Hershberger struck up the idea to use his two trusty draft horses to free the truck. The team had never attempted to pull anything like that before but everyone was willing to give it a try. They were doubtful the team would be able to move the semi up the slippery drive, but within a matter of minutes, they were safely at the top. Thousands of people watched the video in awe as the horses easily heave the truck up the slippery slope. Swartzentruber is an experienced truck driver and horseman whose careful handling behind the wheel ensured the horse’s safety.
The video was posted by Lizzie Hershberger on her Facebook, it spread across the internet and has been viewed almost a million times. People were intrigued by something that seems to be a thing of the past. Countless news outlets did stories on the video, including the Star Tribune of Minneapolis and they were even featured on ABC World News Tonight with David Muir. Lizzie says she posted the video for her friends and family to enjoy and never would have imagined it would spread across the internet as quickly as it did. She looked for help from Dani Bruflodt, a social media strategist and owner of Thyme is Honey, as the video became an internet sensation. It is rare nowadays to see horses being used for such purposes, most horses now are light boned and bred mainly for riding and showing. Horses being used for physical labor or to make a living is a thing of the past, although it is common in the Amish community.
Lizzie and Jake Hershberger are no strangers to the power of horses as they both have Amish heritage. In the video, her husband Jake Hershberger is handling the reins as the two horses eagerly do all the work. Even though pulling a semi truck is not part of their normal routine, their owner says they are very accustomed to this type of weight and pulling. Neither Molly or Prince were harmed in the video and an experienced horse person would even say that they clearly appear excited for the challenge.
Many people were skeptical and worried that the horses were being mistreated, however, the Hershbergers reassure that this is exactly what these horses are bred to do. Belgians are among some of the strongest horses in the world. This team regularly pulls logs and loads of manure and during the winter they give sleigh rides. In the summer they participate in the Friendship Wagon Train which raises money for the Special Olympics.
The video is available for viewing on Youtube. You can also meet Molly and Prince during the 2019 Winterfest on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Horse-drawn sleigh rides will be available on the History Center grounds in Rochester, Minn., from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Come out and take a sleigh ride to help the Rochester Area Special Olympics.
Anna Erickson is a student at Mabel-Canton High School. She is one of eight area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 20th year.
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