Belgian Draft Horses at Primrose Farm

Saint Charles is home to an abundance of treasures, so many that we still have new territories to explore eleven years into our residence. 

A recent park district brochure offered the most enticing new class: 

“Hold your Horses...get up close and personal with the gentle giants at Primrose Farm. Learn basic horse grooming techniques with Belgian draft horses in an historic setting.”  

We signed up immediately! 

Primrose Farm is a living history museum and working dairy farm, operated entirely with the technology of the 1930’s.  Visitors have the opportunity to watch, and even to participate in farm chores and to interact with the animals.  

We knew we were in for even more fun than we expected when these three little calves greeted us and licked Paul all over!

It was soon time for our class. Surely we would get to pet the Belgians, but would we get to groom them or just watch?  

Thanks to this handsome and patient fellow, Doc, the experience far exceeded our expectations. Not only did we groom him, but we also took Doc for a stroll!

Okay, Paul wasn’t really leading Doc all on his own. The class instructor was just out of this frame, but Paul got a kick out of seeing how he looks with the big fellow. 

Doc and his team mate Bob both came to Primrose Farm upon retirement from the Amish farms where they were raised. Bob is in his teens, and Doc is twenty-one! 

I would not have guessed Doc’s advanced age by his appearance. The artist in me loved the way that Doc’s chestnut color continued so richly from under his head to an abrupt stop just behind his chin. 

Our class came to an end with that all important job, and Paul was happy to help. 

We only had a bit of time to explore the farm that day. The cows were out, but some cute stand-ins with squishy udders reside in the milking parlor for exactly these occasions. 

Paul and I weren’t expecting to see anyone we know, or might know, but then we learned that eggs hatched in every St. Charles kindergarten come from Primrose Farm, and the resulting chicks return to the farm when the units are complete. Two years ago, Paul named “his” kindergarten chick “Rockstar.”

Rockstar...? Is that you?

Joe had other plans on the day of the “Hold Your Horses” class, but he was very envious when he learned about our wonderful time. We were more than happy to make a quick trip back and we look forward to many more visits to Primrose Farm.

Thank you, Doc and Bob!  See you soon!