The Lawrence Museum horse and sulky can soon be together, thanks to Bob Hood from Camden.

Eighty-five-year-old Bob has lived and worked with horses all his life. He started with Shetland ponies and around fifty years ago developed a passion for Shire horses, so much so, he won many awards at the Sydney Royal Easter Show exhibiting his Shire horses. Bob has won best stallion, best mare, and best exhibit of the Show and from showing, moved to judging.

When Bob heard from his sister in law, Kath Trim of Lawrence, that Lawrence Museum was looking for a harness for their horse and sulky, Bob knew he could help.

With a boot load of horse harnesses Bob and daughter and son in law drove almost 700kms from Camden to Lawrence to personally deliver and fit the harness.

The Lawrence Historical Society has restored a 1900’s sulky, which was donated by the late Coral Ensbey, and believed to belong to the Want family prior to this. One of the Society members, John Ibbotson kindly donated a fibre glass horse to go with the sulky several months ago, and the Society has been searching for a harness ever since.

Roz Jones, vice president of the Lawrence Historical Society, was quite overwhelmed by Bob’s gesture. “We are often surprised by people’s generosity and donations, but it was quite special for Bob to come all this way to donate and fit the harness for us.”

“Our horse, Ibbo, is quite large, luckily Bob brought Shire horse size harnesses.”  Bob wasted no time in fitting the harness and demonstrating his skills.  Roz asked Bob why the passion for Shire horses, and Bob explained, “The Shire horse is a big, strong horse, with a good temperament, and will work all day long for you. Once they learn what you want, they are quite capable of working without instruction.”

Bob was keen to see the new developments at the Lawrence Museum, and looking forward to seeing the horse and sulky on display in the future as a feature in the main display room.