It’s 8 a.m. and the overhead barn door rises, allowing light to pour over
the perked ears of a stocky horse in the third stall. His coat was once
much darker. His head is now almost completely white. This is Mikey
— an eight-year-old Percheron that was rescued by John and Janet Pucci,
owners of Springbrook Farms Inc.
Today, the Amish still use Percheron draft horses for farming, but the Puccis and
other members of Carriage Operators of North America use the gentle-natured horses
for pulling carriages and trolleys in areas like historic downtown Wilmington.
The Puccis brought Springbrook Farms to Wilmington 25 years ago. Since then,
they have rescued 16 horses that may have otherwise gone to meat processors.
Horses like Mikey are raised from birth by Amish farmers to become plow horses.
If they do not perform at the same speed as the other horses by the time they turn
three, Amish farmers sell them at auctions.
Pucci says, “It’s not their fault,” that the Amish don’t want to send them to the
meat auctions to be processed as food, but they have no choice.
Some Amish farmers first contact Pucci, who purchases horses like Mikey.
Rescued five years ago, Mikey has settled into his comfortable life as a carriage tour
horse. He hardly pays attention when Michael, today’s carriage man, loads a breakfast
of fresh hay and a bucket of water right in front of his nose. Mikey’s stall is one
of seven in Springbrook’s downtown stable. The horses reside here while they are
working and spend the rest of their time at the main farm outside of Wilmington.
Each stall has a red nameplate, soft bedding, a continuous feed of hay and water,
a ceiling fan, music and a toy hanging by a string. Mikey’s stall has an old jug
swaying; Ned’s stall has a large plastic apple. All of the horses receive a pampering
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WBM april 2012