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Log Stacking and Heavy Horse Demonstration
 Join Cecil Noakes and Sam Watson as they display the history and art of log stacking and harness work. Cecil is an aging horseman and his knowledge is a national treasure. He can’t walk too well these days but has offered to demonstrate how he used to stack big logs for burning in the early pioneering days by using Sam and his horses to do the job while Cecil commentates and points out the tricks and pitfalls. This was a very dangerous job so a team of good horses was essential. Sam is very lucky and grateful that Cecil has offered to spend one-on one training time with him in the lead up to the event. This is information that is not in books and has to be lived. Watching the process is amazing.
Read about Cecil Noakes on the ABC Rural Legends website.
email from the Brent Watson...
Dear Friends, Students, Our Teachers, Heavy Horse Lovers, History Lovers
See the email below this one as well.
Cecil Noakes is an "aging" horseman who lives in our area. His exploits and skills and experience belong in a time when lives and livelihoods depended on the horse. In our country those days are gone, and so are most of the horsemen and women of the era.
Cecil has always been kind to us, and has always been of great encouragement to Sam and Sascha as they have spent the last seventeen years building their horsemanship knowledge. In one of our conversations he was mentioning that he used to stack logs with his horses.
If you say that fast you might miss it.
He used to stack logs with his horses. These were not light pine poles, these were the real big logs from the era when land was being cleaned up for agricultural purposes and tractors were not always the best at that stage for the jobs at hand.
I had often wondered how they used to manage those big logs and stack them for burning. Now I knew. Well I didn't really know, I could not even imagine it still.
The thought stayed with me for a few years. Over the years we have had a few heavy-horse devotees as students of horsemanship. Some of them were from the Clydey Society, and one in particular was another "aging" horseman called John Griffiths. Griffo his dog calls him. One day I mentioned to Griffo that it would be great to see Cecil stack logs.
Where could you EVER see that? I thought and said to Griffo, "why don't you Clydey blokes organise a day where we can come and see Cecil stack logs, because this is history and those old blokes won't last forever"? I figured the Clydey Society might sort that out and we would all go and have a look.
Anyway, Cecil called me one day much later and said that Griffo had asked him about the log stacking but that he had some reservations about doing it because it was young man's game - it was dangerous ( ie young blokes are fit and are still on their original hips) , it should not be done without training and rehearsal, it should not be presented as something "recommended" because people might try it without proper setup and training and get killed. And so on. Fair call from a responsible and wise horseman.
However, he said, "I will do it if Sam will be my young legs, let me train him up for it, and if he will demo it." I said," That could work, and we can offer you a microphone so that you can commentate, coach Sam on the day as well, and we can do the legwork to help the display".
So that's how it started. Cecil has been out and worked with Sam once and they made a good little stack with some demo logs - not like the real big ones from real life and long ago, but good enough to make the point. Now Sam is meant to be practicing and preparing horses, and Griffo is meant to be organising the day's timetable etc.
We have decided to do it at our farm because we have some plantation logs, have some space, have a few horses that can do the demo, and also believe this is worthwhile history.
The day is open to interested horsepeople who would like to sit down and watch a demo and enjoy sharing and valuing Cecil's knowledge. Cecil might be "aging" but he can still talk so he will make a great commentary as the job gets done.
We, the Watsons, are just the hosts ie it is our property. However, Griffo is the main organiser. Call him for info re the event itself. Call us re accommodation, questions about how to get here and other logistical things.
On horse politics for the day; this is totally non-denominational. Clydey owners, any owners - Members of diverse Societies - all welcome.
Read on below for Griffo's info. His number is not there but his email is.
Kind regards
Brent Watson for the Watson Family.
From:
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Subject: FW: cecil noakes day
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:04:04 +1030
CECIL NOAKES DAY - 20 MARCH 2010 - PROGRAM
Start - 9-30 am
Cecil on the pa while Sam Watson is stacking logs. this is a very dangerous operation , you must have well trained horses, you will never see this again in WA.
Smoko - 11-00am
Jennette Newbold will be gearing a horse up in a cart , explaining the different methods, how to fit the correct horse collar, correct horse for cart, and all things related to horse and cart. This would be exellent for people who are interested in driving horses and for those that do drive because if you are like me you tend to be a bit slack sometimes and forget things, bring your collar & or horse, with you????and let Jennette look at it
Lunch break
you can bring your own or buy.[ By the way they have a great coffee machine there, made from good fresh coffee beans] remember please order meals 9757 8135, Tahita/ Brent
Instruction on log snigging [pull]
Jeanette Newbold , will explain the gearing up of the horse, starting , points score , how to ,etc while watching Griff & MrBilly, this is a must for all that are entering the Dardanup Heritage Park working horse show. If you have brought your horse, which you are most welcome to do instruction will be given don't forget to bring your swingtree, collar, chains etc . The Dardanup show obstacle course will be explained.
Bring your own horse /cart for those who would like to bring their horse and cart there is a loverly drive to a dam throught the bush may take you 30 min there ,go for a swim
BBQ
The day will end with a friendly BBQ and drinks . You are welcome to bring your own or order the BBQ pack from Tahita or Brent 9757 8135 please
Staying the night
For those staying the friday or saterday night please call TAHITA/BRENT 9757 8135 there has been quite a lot of intertest shown in this day, if you want to stay telephone 9757 8135
The cost for the day
the cost will be $15-00 pp this covers facilities, salad for BBq etc
Facilities
double bed/single bed ,/dorm beds/ Tv /showers/ fridges etc etc
Please tell Brent/Tahita and book even if you are coming for just the day, with or with out your horse then they can work out for meals, porta loos, etc etc
Phone: 97578135
No dogs pleaseworm your horse a few days before you come web site address scroll down This would have to be one of the best days to enjoy our horses, gain knowledge, and enjoy each others company forward this to any interested party/person you may think would be interested
Cecil Noakes day - 20 march 2010
Just like to tell you about Cecil Noakes, he is 88 years old and was one of the first settlers in margaret river district .
He worked horses from an early age , ploughing ,seeding, potatoe growing, clearing trees etc so this blokes knowledge is very vast .
He has most probably forgot more than I know .
He is a national treasure and if you can come to hear him share some of his knowledge [he is not going to last forever ] you will look back on this day as one of the best investments you made in horse skills .
You do not need to be a member, you can belong to any club , just come and enjoy the day , and remember its about the horse [no politics allowed ] just book your place
Brent/ Tahita 97578135 web site www.horsesandhorsemen.com or www.thehorseresort.com
Believe it or not Cecil used to ride from Margaret River to Brunswick on horse back a few times a week to court his wife to bethen get back to work the horses the next day . So this proves that Cecil was human after all ?
Cheers
Griff
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