By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
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.”
