Skelding returns to Daviess County for Horse Progress Days

By Dan Emmons, T-H Correspondent

July 01, 2009 10:13 pm

— Bob Skelding, also known as “the wagon-teamster,” is again on the road, for what he calls part two of fulfilling his dream. His dream is to see America slowly, by looking over the backs of draft horses, as he is pulled along by them in his home made wagon-camper, and meeting new friends.
One may recall Skelding was in the area last winter pursuing this same dream. He had been on the road since Aug. 15 when he left his home in Deerfield, N.H., before arriving in Elnora on Dec. 30. He liked the people so well in Elnora, he thought he would stay a few days. He made many friends, and when he mentioned the tongue was bent on his wagon, Chuck Stedman gave him a ride to Graber Steel and Fab, in the Amish community, south of Odon, to have it repaired.
While Marvin was repairing the tongue, his father Nick custom-made some horse shoes as a gift for Skelding. Then brother Phillip gave him some mineral supplement that he said was sure to make his horses feel a couple of years younger. Nick also invited him to come back in July for the “Horse Progress Days.” The show, set to begin Friday, was to be held on the farm of Nick’s brother, Marvin Graber.
After a few days in Elnora, Skelding continued his journey south. He passed through Plainville where he was treated to a meal at the Iron Kettle, and then made his way to Washington where he was treated to a meal at the Black Buggy. On his blog he called that day, “the day of restaurants and really good eating.” When he left Daviess County many kept track of his journey by visiting his Web site at www.wagonteamster.com.
Then on Feb. 10, news reached Daviess County that Skelding had been in a bad accident. While traveling on a two-lane highway in Mississippi, a semi had slammed into the back of his wagon. Two of his beloved Percheron draft horses were killed and the other two badly injured. Skelding was in critical condition with multiple broken bones and contusions. His poodle, Clementime, was unhurt. Many thought that would be the end of the wagon-teamster’s dream.
But Skelding has a philosophy about dreams, and his philosophy does not include quitting or entertaining negative thoughts. After three months of healing and recuperating, he was ready to start working on the second part of his dream.
He had accepted an invitation to stay in Bentonville, Ind., with a friend while recuperating to prepare for the continuation of his journey. A fellow adventurer and wagon-teamster, Bernie Harberts, (www.riverearth.com) heard of Skelding’s plans for Part II, and sold Bob a new wagon-camper for the grand sum of a biscuit.
Skelding knew his surviving two Percherons, Joyce and Doc, though healed, could not hold up under the constant duress of pulling a 3,800-pound wagon, so he found new homes for them with friends and purchased two Belgian draft horses to be his companions on this part of his journey. They are “Bill” and “Bob” and are 2,000-pound half-brothers.
Skelding’s plan was to be ready in time to take Nick Graber up on his invitation to visit the “Horse Progress Days” this weekend. After hearing from Skelding, Nick Graber promptly recruited him to be a guest lecturer during the show. After redesigning his wagon-camper a bit to include a stove and refrigerator and shower, what Skelding calls, “a greater level of comfort,” he was ready.
Skelding left Bentonville on June 15 and arrived in Elnora on June 29. This week he’s been visiting old friends in Elnora before heading to the home of Nick Graber, south of Odon.
Skelding hopes many local folks will come out to Horse Progress Days. He says, “It’s a chance for both Amish and ‘English’ folk to get out, and meet people, and watch these great horses and mules do what they are bred to do — Pull.” The web site of the show is www.horseprogressdays.com.
He’s unsure about his plans for after the show, but he does plan to continue his dream of seeing new places, meeting more nice people, and “enjoying this great country of ours like it’s meant to be enjoyed.”

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.