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Blog: Kim Lemmon

Draft horse paparazzi

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By Kim Lemmon

Cody is my favorite draft horse. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for more photos of Cody and his teammates.

Some people watch TMZ or read In Touch magazine to follow their favorite stars. It can become a hobby or sometimes an obsession for some folks to follow their favorite movie and television or sports stars.

My favorite pass time is attending draft horse shows and watching draft horses. For the past two years, my favorite draft horse  — besides my own mare — has been a famous Percheron gelding whose barn name is Cody. He and his teammates won a lot of classes at the 2010 World Percheron Show and have had a lot of success in the show ring since then. Cody is amazing in harness and it is obvious that he loves to be shown.

I see Cody several times a year because he is part of the Flat Rock team that is located in Bellevue, Ohio, so he and his teammates are often shown at the draft shows I attend.

An added bonus is that Cody is a half-brother to my draft mare, Julie. They share the same father. Although Julie was a champion halter horse in her day, I’m not naive enough to believe that she ranks in the same class as Cody but it sure is fun to feel like you have a small connection to such a famous horse.

I met Gary Rowe, one Cody’s handler’s, last fall at an Ohio Percheron Breeders meeting so  when I saw Gary at the Ohio State Fair this week I reintroduced myself to him and asked if I could take a few pictures of Cody for my blog. Boy was I surprised when he invited me back to the farm’s stalls and allowed me to watch as they readied Cody for some of his classes.

The highlight of the day was when I got to help water the horses and of course that included Cody.

Enjoy these photos of Cody from my day serving as the draft horse paparazzi.

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Author: Kim Lemmon

Kim Lemmon has been a member of the Ohio’s Country Journal staff since 1999. She is currently the manager editor. This position requires her to position the advertisements and articles in each issue. She also is required to write a weekly blog and oversee the “Horse Sense” section of the paper.

Kim graduated from The Ohio State University in 1999 with a major in Agricultural Communications and a minor in Equine Science. Kim and her husband, Mark, reside in Morrow County.

The Lemmons currently own a Percheron mare and several mini horses. They raised pygmy goats for several years, and although they no longer own or breed goats they have several friends that still do so they manage to still stay fairly active in that portion of the livestock industry.

Kim has owned horses since she was a child and has been involved in many aspects of the horse industry since that time. From 2002 until 2010, Kim operated her own riding lesson program that included coaching 4-H members, adults and a college equestrian program. She is also a former 4-H horse judge.

10 thoughts on “Draft horse paparazzi”

  1. Julie

    Reply

    Kim, it was nice visiting with you last week at the Ohio State Fair Draft Horse Show. It was also a treat to watch the youngest members of my family gain experience in the draft horse show by participating in the youth classes. In fact, they caught the attention of a local Columbus t.v. news station, who happened to air a story on them. The link is attached. Showing horses or livestock; it is definitely a family tradition! The kids love it!

    http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/jul/30/ohio-state-fair-draft-horse-competition-26658-vi-43783/

    • Kim

      Reply

      Julie,

      Thanks for sharing the video. It looks like there was more than one member of the press that enjoyed the draft horse show. I hope you are able to make it back next year. Be sure to say hi if you do!

  2. Sharon Dawson

    Reply

    I was there Mon., Tues., and Wed. night to watch hitch classes. I loved Cody too (but I didn’t know his name then). We have Percheron horses too and I’d love to have a team of dapple greys.

    • Kim Lemmon

      Reply

      Sharon,

      It is great to hear that there are more folks than just me that love the draft horse shows. Be sure and let me know if you plan to attend any other shows, I’d love to meet you if I’m also going. The next show currently on my schedule is the Indiana State Fair. It is a great show.

  3. Marla Kay

    Reply

    Kim,

    Hey! This is Marla, Beth’s daughter! I am so jealous that you got to see and help get Cody ready for the show at the State Fair! I LOVE LOVE LOVE draft horses! I have heard and read that you have one also! We have to set up a date for me and my mom to come visit you and of course the horse! I would love to see her! :)

    • Kim Lemmon

      Reply

      Marla,

      Thanks for the comments. You are welcome to come see Julie anytime. I need to start driving her more because the fair is coming up. Maybe you can make it before you go back to school and we can get her out and drive her. I hope to see you soon!

  4. madison

    Reply

    cody looks gorgious, greg you do an amazing job with the big boy:)

    • Kim Lemmon

      Reply

      Madison,

      Thank you for your comments. I’ll let the Rowe brothers know how great you think Cody looks.

      Look for a complete article on Flat Rock Farm and the Rowe brothers in the October issue of Ohio’s Country Journal.

  5. Pingback: FFA project leads to lifetime showing draft horses « Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal

  6. Pingback: At Flat Rock Draft Horses, family makes for a great team « Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal

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