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When eight-year-old John Erskine was invited to ride along on the back of a county ditcher pulled by two Shire-type work horses in 1950, little did anyone realize that a course had been set. It was a path that took a few detours along the way, including 15 years as a Seattle firefighter, but for the most part, it seemed to keep leading him back to his interest in horses-how best to communicate with them, understanding their working relationships with humans, and how to integrate that knowledge and put it to practical purpose utilizing horses as motive power on the farm or in the woods.
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After settling for riding a wide variety of "barn-sours" during his youth and working with other people's riding horses for a number of years after that, John was finally able to buy his work horse in 1971. She was a purebred Shire mare, purchased to help him selectively log a piece of property he owned.
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As it turned out, she was in-foal with a filly when he bought her and proved to be the foundation mare of his current herd of Shire horses. Since then, John's 40 year focus has been breeding, training, working and showing Shires. He also trains other's draft and light horses to drive, while working with the owners to make sure that a successful connection between the two exists. He sees, as crucial to that success, the need to eliminate some of the trial and error frustrations that often discourage new teamsters who have nowhere to turn with questions or problems.
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John considers himself incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by some of the legendary teamsters of the draft horse world. The knowledge and skill he has gained from their counsel, in both practical settings and kitchen table sessions, coupled with the belief that there is a place for the workhorse on today's small, sustainable farm, compels him to share what he has learned with others. He has a natural propensity to teach and a strong desire to see new teamsters and young horses "started right".
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Skilled at fitting, repairing and making harness, John often helps teamsters with harness buying and fitting decisions. Having apprenticed for a decade with master wheelwright and wainwright, Ed Hewson, John is accomplished at building and restoring wagons, carriages and wheels. When he's not farming, training, teaching, or participating in draft horse events, he can usually be found working on horse-drawn vehicles and machinery.
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John has been a guest speaker at draft horse clinics and roundtables, and has judged various draft horse events. He has been featured in industry periodicals such as Lynn Miller's Small Farmer's Journal, and The Heavy Horse Magazine, an English publication.
John and his wife Heather, and their Shires farm 30 acres in Sequim, Wsahington (on the Olympic Peninsula). There, John offers both classroom style learning and hands-on experience in his school for teamsters.
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