Public enjoys visiting Clydesdales

Brantley Essery-Ouellette was excited to visit the farm. Wismer Clydes held an open house last Sunday afternoon.

In 1979, Gerald Wismer and his wife Barbara brought their first Clydesdale horse to their Amherstburg farm Cedar Lane Farm.

Through a lot of hard work, his love of the gentle giants was passed down to two generations and now the Wismer Clydesdales are world renowned and the legacy and tradition continues.

“It was his passion, he loved horses,” said Barbara, outside of the barns on Sunday afternoon.

For the first time since Gerald’s passing last year, Cedar Lane Farms welcomed the public to come in, stroll through the barns and realize just how special these horses are.

“When we open up the farm, people get very excited to see them. We are a breeding farm, we have babies here,” said Gerald’s son Ronald.

Clydesdales are one of the largest draft horse breed and the Wismers are proud to have yearlings, two-and-three-year-olds and mature ones that are showcased throughout shows in North America. 

Many know of the famous Budweiser Beer Clydesdales, and the Wismers have a very good working relationship with that farm. One of the mares at Cedar Lane, comes from the Budweiser stables.

Asked why people are so fascinated with the big breed, Ronald Wismer said, “they are rare in Essex County. There aren’t too many people who have Clydesdales. We call them our big brother. Everybody associates them through Budweiser.”

The horses at the local farm can weight up to 2,000 pounds and keeping them fed, happy, trained and well-groomed is a large undertaking that requires many hands doing multiple tasks.

Ronald Wismer’s son Nicholas said as part of the third generation, he is very proud to carry on his grandfather’s legacy.

“I’ve always wanted to do this. I didn’t really know anything else when I was growing up. I grew up to love it and it becomes everyday life,” said Nicholas.

Nicholas remembers being woken up at night when he was five-years-old to come out to the barn and help his dad and grandfather deliver a horse.

Being one of the best Clydesdale owners and breeders comes with a lot of responsibility as shows, including Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair are very competitive.

“We are always trying to get better and better each year. We are constantly trying to breed a better horse and come up with a competitive hitch. The pressure is definitely on,” he said.

Four of the mares at Cedar Lane Farms were world champions last year and all were sired by the king of the barn, Steele who was a world champion in 2018.

One of the reasons the Wismers opened up the farm on Sunday afternoon was to help out Project Hope. Visitors were asked to bring non-perishable goods to be donated.

The Clydesdales were very calm and most of them were delighted to have their large noses petted. Dozens of visitors came including Brantley Essery-Ouellette.

He had no hesitation in being picked up and sitting on the fence reached out to the horses.

“We love horses, he loves animals,” said his mom Nicole. “They are doing donations and it’s great for people to get out after a long winter.

According to Ronald Wismer, this is the time of year when the hard work begins as he and his team will begin picking out the best of the best for the shows to pull the big wagon.

Public enjoys visiting Clydesdales

By Fred Groves