Behind every polished performance and carefully presented animal is someone who has put in the early mornings and long days. That dedication is part of what makes an agricultural fair meaningful: the chance to see the pride people take in their animals and their work.

“Giddy-Up big fellow” I say, and with a flick of the lines, I coax my dapple-grey Percheron carriage horse into a trot. I have visited many dude ranches – where you essentially rent a saddle horse for a trail ride. I’ve been on pack-trips, cattle drives, and to working ranches- many splendid places that allow you to follow your passion and ride away. Mackinac Island is the only place I know where you can actually hire your own self-drive horse and buggy. So, I tap into some