Upwards of 14 working draft horses be involved in a ploughing demonstration in Cloughjordan, Tipperary on the 12th April.

The event will take place on Cloughjordan's community owned farm, which takes up 10 acres of the 67 acre ecovillage site on the Step road, Cloughjordan.

This event, run in conjunction with the Irish Work Horse Association (IWHA), runs from noon until 6PM, and costs just €5 to enter, with tickets available on the day.

Cloughjordan has been chosen by the IWHA for this event because the Cloughjordan Community farm now works with its own draft horses, and is investigating the option of moving fully over to working with horses and away from tractors.

Currently, Cloughjordan Community farm has a pair of heavy cobs, eight and nine years old, which have progressed to harrowing and working as a pair over the winter period.

A hitchcart with three point linkage capable of pulling and ploughing with a one or two sod plough, for example a Ferguson tractor plough, will feature.

This is a very innovative piece of equipment, which allows existing tractor implements to be used, but pulled by horses. As well as the 3 point linkage, it has 500 and 1000 RPM PTO - power take off – allowing for the use of a sprayer or spreader.

A two sod Sulky reversible American plough will also be operational on the day.

The IWHA focuses on farms working with horses and what they call hybrid farms, which work with farms with tractor back up.

Cloughjordan Community farm feeds upwards of 40 families in Cloughjordan and environs. This event is part of a weekend of activities in the town, including a community food conference on the 11 th April called “Feeding Ourselves”.

To participate in the IWHA event in Cloughjordan with a horse, contact Pat Malone on 087 1338139.

For more see www.cloughjordancommunityfarm.ie.