Karen Graham
It was all part of a day’s work two of for Earl Cochrane’s two commercial horses, Clydesdale and Hockney crosses who were on hand to pull Cochrane’s horse drawn wagon for young and old visitors to the Thursday evening activities last week. Together will friends and fellow horse owners Bob and Cathy Lunn, they provided a festive and unique tour of the village.
Accompanied by former Junior Fair Ambassador Shyanna Post, Earl Cochrane’s horses gave wagon tours of the village. Photo: Karen Graham.
After a 42 year career with General Electric, Cochrane now focuses his energy on his twelve horses at his farm on Hooton Drive at the north end of the township. During the summer months, he and his horses compete in 15 to 20 agricultural fairs throughout Ontario, but these animals also work for a living. They provide wagon rides for special events, such as weddings and the Millbrook event last week. Cochrane and his animals spend 27 days during the months of July and August at Lang Pioneer village, and they are often requested to serve retirement and nursing homes including Fairhaven and Princess Gardens in Peterborough and the Centennial Place businesses in Oshawa and Millbrook. Cochrane particularly enjoys providing rides to older customers for whom the experience often brings back memories of an earlier life on the farm, or trip somewhere special. He recalls one client in Oshawa commenting that it reminded her of a trip 100 years previously. He challenged her numbers, believing she was in her 80’s, but was corrected by a staff member who confirmed that the bright and articulate woman was indeed 104 years old! Visiting nursing homes, he was often troubled because had to leave behind those in wheel chairs who were unable to climb into the wagon. He has since designed a ramp which allows three wheel chairs access so no one has to be left behind.
Last week was a particularly busy one for Cochrane and his horses as they spent two days in Peterborough working on the set of the popular CBC program, Murdoch Mysteries, which was filming in town. Most of the action took place in alleyways in and around Water and Hunter streets, but the horses also competed with local traffic on Water Street under the protection of police. Cochrane has helped on this show many times, usually as a horse “wrangler” joining a friend of his who is a regular to keep the horses calm and well-behaved in challenging circumstances.
In exchange for their services, these horses are very well looked after. Cochrane jokes that they eat better than he does, and always get their dinner first. He’s not kidding.
This was Cochrane’s third year participating in the Millbrook Christmas event, but in previous years he also provided wagon rides to downtown Peterborough during similar events. He commented that the Millbrook event was much better organized; at least all of the businesses were open for customers.
Like many who keep animals for show, Cochrane continues to raise horses out of a love of tradition, which he is eager to share with young and old. For more information about wagon rides for special events, contact Earl at 705-745-4503.
