Fourwinds Farm

Nova Scotia, Canada

 

    The residents of Fourwinds Farm are yours truly, Katharine Locke, my husband Michiel Oudemans, the horses and poultry, dogs and cats, and whoever else may be around.  We are nestled close the northern coast of Nova Scotia on the Sunrise Trail which runs along the Northumberland Straight in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.  In the summer the sea is as warm as the Carolina coast!  In winter the north wind brings arctic air and Snow Buntings who come south for the winter! 


    Irish Draught horses seeped slowly into my awareness as I followed Three Day Eventing through twenty years away from horses.  After a five year crash course in horse breeding - where I produced some lovely Irish Draught Sport Horse foals - I now focus on breeding pure bred Irish Draught Horses.  The environment here and the simple care I provide - grass, hay, minerals, hoof trimming, and a little shelter and worm medicine - grows horses who are healthy, hardy and happy.  Correct and consistent handling from birth builds on the lovely Irish Draught temperament to produce good citizens with respectful manners.

    My goal as an Irish Draught Horse breeder is to produce a horse that is true to the Breed Standard in conformation, ability and temperament.  My aspiration as a breeder is to produce top notch breeding stock and get them into the hands of other committed Irish Draught breeders. 


    Then there are the birds.  Along with providing us with delicious eggs and meat, they have contributed enormously to my education as a breeder.  With each year bringing a new generation, I receive rapid feedback about breeding decisions and husbandry practices.  While flock breeding is different from horse breeding choices, I can extrapolate from the birds things I have learned about line breeding, out crossing, adaptation, culling, and so on.  And in addition to their utility, they are beautiful and amusing.