You’ll never guess how this Devon farmer ploughs his fields
BNPS Jonathan Waterer uses huge horses to plough his 100 acres of land
Jonathan Waterer has spurned expensive agricultural machinery and relies on his magnificent heavy horses to work his 100 acres of land. The five Shires and Dales pony are a throwback to a bygone era of farming, before the invention of the internal combustion engine. The trusty steeds weigh nearly a ton each and stand at well over 18 hands tall. They are much cheaper to run than gas-guzzling tractors, requiring only oats grown by Mr Waterer and grass to fuel themselves.
The work horses take the lead with the 57-year-old farmer directing operations with tack equipment and traditional agricultural machinery bought from the Amish people of Ohio, US. Mr Waterer, who has owned Higher Biddacott Farm in Barnstable for 21 years, breaks in 30 to 40 heavy horses a year for other owners. The horses' remarkable stamina also mean they can work well into their 20s and can mow an average of 10 acres of grass in one day on the arable farm.
BNPS Jonathan say it is cheaper to use horses than tractors
Why is organic best? Tue, May 3, 2016 We take a look at the benefits of organic farming Play slideshow Getty Images/Cultura RF 1 of 19 The best type of eggs come from free-range chickens. They roam freely and have a natural diet, meaning their eggs and meat are of a higher nutrional content
There are only a few of us still ploughing with Shire horses Jonathan Waterer
In a stark contrast between old and new, the next door farmer uses four tractors and the same number of workers to do the same job. As well as low running costs, the environmental benefits of using the traditional methods of farming are obvious. His horses may appear familiar to film and period drama fans as they have made appearances in Pride and Prejudice, Vanity Fair, Lark Rise to Candleford, Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Poldark.
BNPS Jonathan doesn't mind that the process takes longer because he keeps his identity