OCALA, FL (352oday.com) – Horsepower in Horse Country means something different to everyone, but to Shannon and Karen Cobbs, owners of the Grandview Clydesdale Farm in Dunnellon, it means massive horses that have even more history than their family ranch. Their stable houses some of the largest and most notable equine breeds you’ll ever see including Percherons, Belgians, and the rare black Clydesdales.
While the Clydesdales are synonymous with Budweiser, they aren’t called “draft horses” because of their association with the beer brand.
“A draft horse is basically just a classification which are bigger, stronger, thicker horses,” said Shannon Cobbs. You can see them at the AdventHealth Grandview Invitational at the Florida Horse Park February 1-3 and at Grandview World Nights at the World Equestrian Center February 8-10.
“You’ll see the bodybuilders of the equine world,” Cobbs said, giving an insider’s view of their two largest events of the year. “They’re all big. There will be multiple horses at our events that are over 19 hands tall, and almost every horse that is there will be well over 2,000 pounds.”
The difference between the breeds is their origin. Cobbs says the Clydesdales originated in Scotland, while the Percherons are from France. The Belgians are fairly self-explanatory having come from Belgium to the United States in 1866.
One of the highlights of Grandview World Nights is the “unicorn” cart event. This isn’t a magical, horned draft horse but rather a special grouping of the horses.
“It is just a configuration of one of our classes that we show, and it actually has two horses at the back on the wagon, and then one horse right in the middle, which kind of makes the look of a point, which is why it got the unicorn name,” Cobbs explained. “It’s one of our most unique classes to actually experience and watch.”
The Cobbs also say there will be a special guest at the finale of Grandview World Nights who we don’t normally see here in Florida unless there’s a hurricane. The Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore will make a cameo at the farm on February 10.
While January and February are busy months for preparation and events, they aren’t followed by a slowdown. Foaling season begins immediately after with babies being born starting as early as March. The Cobbs also give tours at their Grandview Clydesdale Farm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
They offer a special Christmas holiday tour beginning in November as well, where you can see the majestic creatures under the lights at night.
“Karen and I feel truly honored to be a big part of [the horse capital of the world] and we try and, I guess, bring non-horse people and horse people together literally every day,” he said. “And so, we start planning for our events the week after they end for the following year. It’s never ending, but it’s what makes the overall appearance and the overall experience for everyone complete when you put so much time and effort into it.”
Tickets for both events are available at Grandview Show Tickets.
