Horses with Jobs: Logging Horses

Horses and oxen have been used to haul logs since pre-industrial times. Much of it was small scale harvesting, but it was hard and hazardous work. Unstable and snagged trees, falling branches, and loose material were the “widow makers” of a rapidly growing but dangerous industry. But as settlers arrived in Canada, more land had to be cleared for home-building, farming, and travel. Ultimately, horses and oxen were replaced with machinery and logging trucks. But today, some people have kept the heritage of horse logging alive. 

“We are using two teams to work with at present,” says Jennifer Dillman who, with her husband Delbert, runs Triple D Draft Horses in Prince George, British Columbia. “One is a team of Percheron/Canadian cross geldings. Rowdy and Tork are both eight years old and approximately 1,750 lbs. Both have fantastic personalities and temperaments. Our other team is Axle and Bobbie, both 10-year-old Belgian geldings. Axle is 2,100 lbs. and Bobbie 2,200 lbs., and both have wonderful personalities.”

Delbert is well known for his expertise and passion in the draft horse industry. He has logged with horses most of his life. He started at the age of seven with a pony when his family lived in Nova Scotia, and he loved the sport of horse pulling. When he was 14, he logged with a team full-time throughout the Maritime provinces, and moved to British Columbia when he was 19. 

“We do select logging for private land owners,” says