ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Valerie Dunne knew she wanted to meet Bob Skelding as soon as she saw his horses and wagon.
“I think it’s kind of neat,” she said.
Dunne was one of a handful of Tractor Supply employees who came outside Friday morning to see the horse-drawn wagon owned by Skelding, 49, who stopped at the store for a little rest and relaxation. The store also donated some food for Skelding’s horses.
Sick of paying taxes and working at a nuclear power plant, Skelding quit his job and sold his house in Deerfield, N.H., to live life in the slow lane.
“It’s fun,” he said. “No bills, no taxes and I get to meet lots of nice people.”
On July 28, he hitched up his four Percheron draft horses to his homemade wagon/house and embarked on his dream — to travel across the country.
Percherons are one prominent large draft horse breeds in the United States. Other large draft breeds are Belgians, Clydesdales, Suffolk Punches and Shires.
With high gas prices, horses seemed to be the way to go, Skelding said.
“I don’t know where I’m going, but I will probably head south next week,” he said, noting the recent cold snap drove him into a pair of long johns and winter coat.
Snow would make camping a bit more difficult and the road hazardous for the horses: Joyce, Deedee, Dolly and Doc.
Joyce and Deedee are 15 years old, half sisters, and were bred by his grandfather Jake Sheaffer in Muir, Mich.
“I’ve had them since they were fillies,” he said.
As for the wagon, Skelding built the wagon from scratch on a running gear. It’s 7 1/2 feet wide and 16 feet long.
“Since it’s my home, I designed it as one,” he said.
Inside the wagon Skelding has a full size bed, bathroom with shower and commode, a kitchen area with stove, refrigerator and sink, a small kitchen table, and a reclining, stuffed chair. It has 12-volt and 120-volt power, hot and cold water and propane for cooking and heating.
“I’ve been on the road 10 to 11 weeks now, and everywhere I have gone, people have been friendly,” he said. “This horse-drawn wagon seems to have a way of bringing out the best in people.”
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Wagon teamster lives life in the slow lane
- Local News
-
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
Ohio’s Scenic Rivers program, which protects stretches of 14 waterways — including three in Ashtabula County — is the focus of a new movie by a Dayton-based independent filmmaker.
-
Red Cross holding breakfast for ‘Community Heroes’
The Red Cross Community Heroes Breakfast will honor 12 county residents March 3 at the Bernard Vacca Community Center.
-
County’s 2-1-1 even helps birds get home
Even the birds depend upon Ashtabula County 2-1-1 when they get into a bind.
-
Need for jobs tops county survey
Unemployment tops the list of community needs identified in a survey conducted late last year by the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency.
-
Students can donate clothing to Goodwill
Many Ashtabula Area City Schools students will find themselves cleaning out their closets this week.
-
5 homeless
Five people were left homeless Monday afternoon as fire ripped through a two story home at 1861 Footville Richmond Road.
-
2 meth labs in 1 home
Acting on a tip, police found two working methamphetamine labs under one roof in an early Sunday morning raid at a Main Street house, said Police Chief Charles Burlingham.
-
More money woes for the Lake County sheriff
The Lake County Sheriff’s Officecut another five cars from its road patrol division last week.
-
Scamming for puppies
Pat Payment doesn’t have any puppies.
-
Consultants to assess contaminated land
A consulting firm hired by the city to assess unused commercial and industrial land is fairly confident a study of the contaminated Astatic property can be properly completed, City Council learned at Monday’s work session.
- More Local News Headlines
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
