Come spend the afternoon outdoors with some of Middleton Place’s four-footed friends. Learn how to measure the height of a horse; tell the difference between a pullet and a hen; feel the lanolin from a sheep’s fleece; and much more. The heritage breed animals found in the Stableyards are indicative of those that would have been cared for by the enslaved and free people in the 18th and 19th centuries. Programs and demonstrations will be on display all afternoon. Come join the fun and learn more about the Middleton Place livestock. (Included in General Admission, free for members). Masks may be required for portions of the event.
Program Schedule (subject to change)
11:00 Cow Milking (Stableyards – Outback Shed)
Dairy Cows are usually milked 2 to 3 times a day and can produce up to 6 gallons per day.
11:15 Horse Walk (Greensward)
11:30 Rabbit Grooming / Spinning (Stableyards – Outback Shed)
Grooming a rabbit not only contributes to the health of the animals, but their soft and strong hair is excellent for spinning into yarn.
11:45 Water Buffalo Walk (Greensward)
12:15 Horse Grooming (Stableyards – Outback Shed)
Horses are generally groomed before being worked. Grooming a horse improves the health of the animal’s skin and coat.
12:45 Lamb / Sheep Talk (Sheep Pen)
What is a female sheep called? Are lambs born with tails? Learn the answers to these questions while meeting some of the newborns and their Mommies.
1:30 Sheep Shearing (Outdoor Education Center)
Sheep are usually sheared once a year and the average fleece can weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 lbs.
1:45 Horse Walk (Greensward)
2:00 Horse Hoof Trimming (Stableyards – Outback Shed)
Hoof Trimming is one of the most important tasks in keeping a horse healthy and sound.
2:30 Cashmere Grooming (Stableyards – Outback Shed)
Cashmere isn’t shorn from the goat the way wool is shorn from a sheep; instead, it must be brushed out and away from the guard hairs.