Family Generations Stay With the Gentle Giants Kelly McCarthy, Writer Louisville, KY - November 16, 2013 – Today at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), the Draft Horse Show came to a close after two days of impressive competition. Alternating with the action-packed Cowboy Mounted Shooting Classes, draft horses and their exhibitors provided spectacular entertainment for audiences in Freedom Hall. After the first round of Ladies Mounted Shooting, a two horse hitch entered the arena pulling more than just a carriage and its passengers… but also a legacy. While the Minniear’s Belgian horses are beautiful in all their glory, the family’s history with Belgian draft horses is something beautiful as well. Mike and Glenna Minniear, competing in the North American International from Goodland, IN, have made showing their draft horses a family affair. The Honey Locust Belgians began with Mike Minniear’s grandfather and uncle in the 1950’s, who started using horses in competitive pulling. Since then, Mike and Glenna have taken over and, after showing competitively themselves, have ignited a passion for draft horses in the rest of their family. The couples’ grandsons, Austin and Joel Huff, have also become involved in the draft horse showing community, making them the fourth generation since the founding of the Honey Locust Belgians. Appearing together while showing in horse hitch classes, the brothers take the reins for certain events. Austin Huff, 18, drives the carriage for the six horse and unicorn hitches, while Joel, 16, takes the lead during four horse hitches and the cart classes. Since their start in the draft horse community, the Minniear’s have always kept Belgians in their barn. Mike and Glenna continue showing Belgians, because the breed is a family tradition and Belgians are easily trained. With draft horses being known as “gentle giants”, it comes as no surprise that Glenna enjoys working with Belgians because of their mild temperament. The Minniear family stays busy showing their prized draft horses throughout surrounding states and hopes to keep the tradition of Belgian showing in the family for generations to come. The Draft Horse Show included halter and showmanship classes featuring a Belgian class, along with Clydesdale, Percheron, and Shire classes. Other events included the two, four, and six horse hitches and men, women, junior, and mare cart competitions. There were also opportunities to compete in youth showmanship events. - 0 - .