A reflection from one of our hosts – Johanna Hakkert from Nacka Gård
Once upon a time, workhorses could be found on almost every farm in Sweden. They were the heart of rural life – strong, reliable, and indispensable. But with the drive for efficiency, larger farms, and powerful machinery, the workhorse gradually lost its natural place.
After World War II, the number of working horses in Sweden dropped dramatically. Historical records show that the national horse population fell from several hundred thousand in the late 1940s to only tens of thousands a few decades later. Many were removed from farm work or sent to slaughter when they were no longer needed. The exact percentage varies across sources, but the decline was undeniably steep.
Today, the North Swedish Draft Horse faces an uncertain future. It’s an incredibly strong, gentle, and versatile breed that risks disappearing. Even though it could play a key role in a more sustainable agricultural system!
Because the truth is, no machine can replace what a horse gives us: resilience, sustainability, and circularity in one living being.
🌿 Preparedness: Horses don’t need diesel to work. In times of crisis or war, they can continue to cultivate the land with simple means.
🌱 Gentle on the land: Horses cause far less soil damage than heavy machinery. In forestry, they can access areas without clearing new tracks and they don’t compact the soil the way tractors do.
💩 Natural fertilizer: Horse manure is a high-quality, local resource that keeps the nutrient loop closed. In our case, the hay comes from our own fields, and the manure goes back to the soil.
🛠️ Versatility: A workhorse can haul timber, plow and sow, hill potatoes, cut hay, move bales, trim grass, level gravel paths, and of course even carry its human from A to B. And they’re simply wonderful companions. 💛
So yes — I’ll say it again: every farm should have at least one workhorse.
Not out of nostalgia, but because they’re part of a sustainable future. 🌾
Pictures by Johanna Hakkert / Nacka Gård
🐴 Want to learn about farming with horses during your WWOOF stay? Did you know you can search for keywords to find the right host for you? Try “horse” and discover farms that work with these amazing animals!
🐴 Want to learn about farming with horses during your WWOOF stay? Did you know you can search for keywords to find the right host for you? Try “horse” and discover farms that work with these amazing animals!
