The display of sheer strength could not have been more dramatic. Four teamsters brought two Belgians each to the job, collaborating for about a month ahead of the 2021 Horse Progress Days to make sure their animals could safely work together. Trained to walk on their own once set into motion, the team was hitched to an ingenious rig that evened the load. A straight pipe clipped to the inside of each halter ran to the sweep arm in front, keeping the horse from crowding ahead. In the back the singletree connected to a rope-and-pulley system, delivering tension that energized a belt running between the sweep and the sawmill. The hand-built sweep had to be anchored into the ground with huge wood slabs to avoid getting yanked from its moorings when the team really began to pull. During rest breaks handlers approached each horse to slowly bring it to a stop and remove the bridle. As bridles went back on this spectacular demonstration rolled along again. (Research credit: Ralph J. Rice, “A Sweeping Success”, Rural Heritage Magazine Oct/Nov issue)