You’re always looking to improve if you’re not improving you’re not gonna stay at the top. Richard: It’s like a professional football team basketball team it’s a sport basically.

IT’S TRAINING DAY FOR RICHARD DERRER’S TEAM OF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS.

Richard: We’re starting our basic training right now on these horses we’ve let ‘em off since November our last show was in November..

STEUBEN COUNTY ISN’T A PLACE YOU’D EXPECT TO FIND WORLD CHAMPIONS OF ANY STRIPE BUT THAT’S WHAT GREAT AMERICAN CLYDESDALES OF ORLAND INDIANA HAS PRODUCED..A STABLE OF PUREBREDS WHOSE BLOODLINE AND DAZZLING PERFORMANCE WON THE COVETED 2007 CLYDESDALE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY, THE GOLDEN SPURS. BUT THIS IS NO TIME TO REST ON ONE’S LAURELS.

FS HOOVES

Richard: I’m working them with weight now to build muscle to get ‘em to driving good and then we’ll go to just driving ‘em on a wagon to build their respiratory system up for endurance.

RICHARD DERRER GREW UP WITH DRAFT HORSES, HE’S BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE CLYDESDALES AT GREAT AMERICAN SINCE 2001, BUYING AND BREEDING ANIMALS, BUILDING A DREAM TEAM OF THESE MAGNIFICENT CREATURES.

Richard: But you definitely have to let ‘em know who’s boss. Like kids I guess, they know they can take advantage of you they will.

GREAT AMERICAN WAS FOUNDED BY A STEUBEN COUNTY COUPLE WHOSE DREAM WAS TO RAISE CHAMPION CLYDESDALES, AND RICHARD’S IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE OPERATION…FROM FEEDING TO WORKOUTS, BUYING AND SELLING ANIMALS, SELECTIVE BREEDING…ALL WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND.

Richard: In another four years we’re gonna have another world show so my goal is to go back and retain the title. I’m just very fortunate I get to do something I have a passion for and that I love to do. I get paid to do what I love to do. This is my love.