Heavy horses working in Harbridge

By Roger Finn
BBC South Today

Heavy horses display traditional farming in Hampshire

Robert Sampson is the fifth generation of his family to farm at Harbridge on the Somerley estate in Hampshire. His father introduced Percheron horses to the business to help with many jobs around the farm.

The first horse was bought from the Chivers Jam factory in the 1950s. It travelled down from Cambridge by train, was walked across London, and then put on a train for Ringwood.

Robert grew up with them and, though he does use a tractor, the Percherons are too close to his heart to give up. He still uses them for regular jobs such as hauling out the winter feed or dragging a four-tonne roller to flatten ruts in the fields.

Percherons come from France and were originally brought over by William the Conqueror. Robert and his wife Barbara have made a strong name for themselves by training Percherons for farm-working.

Customers who buy them from the Sampsons use them for ploughing competitions, driving trials or general work on small holdings.

They have trained 350 Percherons over the years and it has become quite a business. Robert describes it as a vital farming diversification because growing food produce on their small farm does not provide enough of an income.

Barbara is heavily involved in further diversification. The Percheron stallions are used for mating with New Forest pony mares because the resulting cob makes for a very sturdy and compliant riding horse.