By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – One thing you can plan on seeing a lot of at the Berrien County Youth Fair are animals. Swine, sheep, beef, llamas, chickens, horses and other friendly animals will call the fairgrounds home this week, as the 63rd annual fair is under way.
Most of these animals and their handlers have interesting stories. Some may have been rescued from unpleasant situations, others may help those in need when they aren't at the fairs. This week, we will look at some of the stories that lie behind these animals. Of course, they couldn't tell them, but the owners and handlers can.
A gentle giant
At a glimpse, Tom may put a bit of fear into the eyes of those smaller than him. After all, he is a draft horse, who towers over most who stand next to him. But as his owner and handler explained, Tom is a quiet, gentle horse who loves the company of people and is as harmless as they come.
"He is just a sweetheart. He's a very large horse, but we like to call him the gentle giant," Vicki O'Neil, club coordinator for the We Can Ride 4-H Club said Monday afternoon.
Tom is a Belgian draft horse. On average, they can reach anywhere from 1 ton or 2,000 pounds. While Tom's size may make some a little skeptical, his handler, 10-year-old Chet Vines, of Niles, said there is nothing to be scared of.
"He's such a good horse and he is so nice," Vines said while gathering hay for Tom. "I really like him. He's very calm. And another thing about him is that he's 30 (years old)," Vines added, which is something very uncommon for horses Tom's size.
"Usually 25 is the life expectancy of a larger horse like Tom. But he is in good health and it's just amazing," said Lisa Myers, Tom's current owner.
Myers' mother originally owned the lightly tan colored "sweetie," but she has since taken over care for him and her nephew, Vines, shows him.
"You couldn't ask for a more kind, gentle horse. He's so quiet. He would never hurt a soul," which is why Tom, through the We Can Ride 4-H Club, gives horseback rides to disabled children every Wednesday throughout the summer months. Tom was nominated for horse of the year through the North American Riding for the Handicap Association (NARHA) for his kindness to children involved with the program.
"They ride at Buchanan Westerners. They really enjoy it and I know Tom does too. On Saturday, the disabled children will actually be showing him here at the fair," Myers said.
NARHA centers offer the chance to demonstrate their excellence in providing quality, professional equine assisted activities to children who cannot ride on their own. The relationship between disabled children and animals seems to have a number of therapeutic effects, which makes Tom a very special friend in the eyes of many children.
"Tom has been with We Can Ride for 10 years now and he is just an amazing horse," O'Neil added.