Hall of Fame Inductees - North American Classic Six Horse Series

The Classic Series Hall of Fame honors past and present members whose contributions have impacted the organization. These individuals dedicated their time and effort to benefit the organization.

Class of 2024 Inductee:

Craig Hammersmith | Hammersmith Belgians

From humble beginnings with Belgian draft horses in the back woods of Vermont with ol’one-eyed Jack and a mare whose name eludes, to the Classic Series Finals, Craig Hammersmith’s love and passion for the Draft Horse has been ever apparent. Craig’s involvement with Belgian horses began with a logging opportunity in Vermont. Craig was told that he could have the timber for free if he logged it out with horses. Craig being the businessman that he was, immediately asked for the phone number of someone who would sell him a broke team with harness and give him lessons on basically which end of the horse to feed, and which end to clean up after... and, by the way... he would need those horses delivered as he didn’t own a trailer.

When Craig returned to his birthplace of Defiance, Ohio, his logging Belgians also made the westward trip and the Hammersmith Belgians, as we know it, was born. Craig drove up to a six-horse hitch for many years at local County Fairs on up to a couple of State Fairs. Craig often commented that it was obvious that if his hitch was going to make it “big” it was going to be with someone else driving the Six!

The Hammersmith Belgians, under the management of Jason Honsberger have showed in the Classic Series continuously for 20 years with multiple trips to the finals. The Hammersmith Belgians Six Horse Hitch was decorated with the Reserve World Champion red flowered sashes on two different occasions. Consistency has always played a key role in the Hitch’s success. Such consistency in a Family-Owned Hitch pays tribute to Craig’s drive, determination, and attention to detail.

While Craig’s passion was his six-horse hitch with Jason Honsberger on the lines, Hammer also enjoyed personally driving in the Men’s Cart Class and watching his granddaughter Oakely Demar drive in the Youth Cart Classes graduating up to the Ladies and Classic Series Cart Classes. The Hammersmith Belgians placed many horses in the Classic Series Cart Finals and have made numerous trips to the ring in the Youth Cart Finals.

Craig’s dedication to the Draft Horse did not begin and end in the show ring. Hammer’s concern for the horses’ safety and comfort while being transported to the various Classic Series Shows, fueled innovation to improve trailering conditions. Craig built, repaired, improved, and upgraded many of the semi-trailers that fellow Classic Series competitors use to transport their horses and equipment throughout North America. It was not an uncommon site while traveling US 24 through Defiance to see a semi-trailer from out west or parts of Canada at Hammer’s shop for upgrades. Not only did fellow competitors bring their equipment for Craig for scheduled repairs, but many was also the time that Craig was able to get a temperamental truck repaired along the road or at the show grounds. If Craig couldn’t get the required parts to the broken-down truck’s location, he would have one of his trucks brought to site so that his friends and competitors could continue to make the show or get their horses home safely.

Building the future was important to Craig as well. He was never too busy to give suggestions and pointers. To some that knew him very closely, those suggestions might come in the form of calling a dumb-*** but we all got the point and his lessons definitely stuck with you. The list of drivers, assistant drivers, and barn team members that have passed through Craig’s program is long and successful! Classic Finals Drivers that cut their teeth in the Hammersmith Program include Ross Honsberger, Scott Love, Lane Westerfeld and Cody Woodbury just to name a few.

With the interest of building the future and growing the Draft Horse Industry, Craig hosted many weeklong classes with the great Dick Sparrow and his Crew. At these classes, brand new draft horse enthusiasts learned how to harness and drive horses while others with more experience were able to improve their skills... possibly with Classic Series competition in mind!

Hammer loved the showring and was always there when a struggling show was unable to gather the funding they needed to make the show go on. Making sure the Youth Classes had the finances they needed was always high on Craig’s list of priorities.

With many of the Spring sales behind us, it is becoming ever apparent just how much Craig Hammersmith will be missed throughout the Classic Series Family. Hammer was a magnet to friends and strangers alike. Where Craig gathered, others gathered. Stories were told, information was shared, lessons were learned, and friends were made. (And most likely, more stories were told. Some even true!)

Class of 2023: Fred Rovenolt

Fred Rovenolt | Rovenolt Stables

Al “Fred” Rovenolt along with this wife Donna raised and showed Percheron horses including a hitch of six black geldings for 25 years.

With their six they competed at two Percheron world congresses and in one Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series World Finals.

A few of their results in the showring with the six was winning over-all breeds championship at the Michigan State Fair two consecutive years, overall breed champion six at the Big “E” and reserve Champion the following year.

In 1999 the exhibitors and organizers of the six-horse hitch show in Ocala, Florida. For a great many years which at the time was known as the Live Oak Invitational, passed the word our that they wanted a new group to take over the championship competition for six horse Hitches.

Six Horse exhibitors across NORTH AMERICA submitted Names to Vote for and form a board of Directors and form an organization to continue this six-horse competition.

An election was held by those six-horse exhibitors and resulted in Jim Westbrook, Shannon Cobbs, Steve Lewis, Fred Rovenolt along with the late Dick Bartlett (who stayed on the board from the previous group for one year for a period of transition) forming the board. Fred served a total of 8 years on the board both as Secretary and President through 3 different elections to get a rotation of the elections.

Fred was chosen to chair and form a by-law committee to govern this organization. In September 2000 at the BIG “E” site of the First World Championship, these By-Laws and the official name was voted on and approved by the membership present.

Fred is very much dedicated to the draft horse industry and six-horse hitches. He still does judging and has ring-mastered the Great New York State Fair and the Grandview Invitational in Ocala.

Fred was hired to Judge the first big money six-horse hitch class at the BIG “E” of $30,000.

To those of you younger exhibitors and members those first 7 years of the classic series was very stressful making it continue including finding host shows and getting members to join. BUT, look what it has become, it was well worth it. No more $125 prize money.

If anyone would like to learn more about the early days of getting the Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series in motion he would be glad to share with you.

Class of 2022: Bob Funk and Larry Honsberger

Bob Funk | Express Ranches

It is an honor and certainly a privilege to nominate Bob Funk to be inducted into the Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series Hall of Fame.

When I think of a Hall of Fame for any organization I think of a person who has gone “above and beyond” to enhance and grow the organization involved. Bob Funk certainly fulfills all of the qualities included in any individual receiving such an induction. Over the years I have been fortune enough to get acquainted with Bob to the point I consider him to be a great friend. It was easy to recognize from the very first meeting Bob is a very compassionate person who leaves no leaf unturned in accomplishing his goals.

It is also easy to recognize Bob includes everyone around him when navigating the path to success. While working on short term goals Bob is certainly thinking of long term strategies to enhance and better the entire industry. Not only has Bob incorporated a “touch of class” to the Finals, he has certainly added excitement and prestige to every Six-Horse Hitch event in North America. And, all the time he has focused on the Six-Horse Hitch Series he has never forgotten the Youth of the draft horse industry. Bob not only injects ideas, he has consistently invested financially to insure the building blocks of this and other livestock industries are always challenged to be better citizens of any arena in life they choose to participate.

Larry Honsberger | Lake Shore Percherons

Larry has been involved with the Classic Series since its inception. He has competed in the finals many times over the years and has helped to change the organization through his service on the Classic Series Board of Directors. He served six years as the Secretary of the Classic Series Board, and after a mandatory term limit, he was re-elected again and served as the Vice President until his passing in 2021.

Having shown a hitch all over the United States and Canada for over 35 years, he understands what it takes to make things happen. Larry has been a mentor to many of the fine, young drivers in the business today and has given many an opportunity to be successful and to become professional drivers.

After the Honsberger Family stopped exhibiting a six-horse hitch, he remained involved in the industry. Besides selling horse mineral, he judged horse shows and ring mastered many State Fairs. He has even organized and run a few Classic Series Draft Horse Shows and encouraged many other shows to get involved over the years. His experience has been a big plus to Classic Series.

Larry was very proud of what the Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series has become, but he never believed that improving the organization is finished. Since the days of his showing for $100 to win the six, the Classic Series shows now have purses of at least $2,500.00 and that will continue to increase. The Shows and Finals have become spectacular with television coverage and an added biweekly podcast this year.

Larry has more than done his part to make Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series the great organization that it is today.

Class of 2021: Dick Ames

Dick Ames – Ames Construction

Many words can be used to describe Dick Ames, hardworking, dedicated, and charismatic just to name a few. His family had a long history in the draft horse industry. Dick’s great-grandparents had immigrated to America from England in 1874. On that voyage Dick’s great-grandfather, John had made the trip without the family so that he could transport six Percheron draft horses, which would become their farming foundation. Dick’s grandfather, Charles and great-uncle, Georgie continued the legacy as the next generation to farm together with their horses. They also began raising the showing Percherons at state and county fairs where the Ames’ prized Percherons captured top honors.

As a child Dick worked the family farm, where he learned the value of hard work, honesty, and a commitment to “family first” that would carry through a lifetime. During the miles of field work with his team of Percherons the love of horses was instilled in Dick. In 1952 he followed his father Chester’s advice and left the farm to work as a laborer for a highway construction company. After 10 years of learning the business he started his own company and, together with his brothers, grew Ames Construction from a small, local earthmoving company to a leading, full-service heavy civil and industrial general contractor headquartered in Minnesota, with reginal offices located throughout the United States.

With the success of Ames Construction Dick had a vision, to revive the family tradition of raising Percheron draft horses. Four decades after the Ames family had retired its last two dapple grey Percherons, Dick purchased a team of Percherons at auction and renewed the Ames relationship with draft horses. In 1993, the Ames Percheron Farm became a division of Ames Construction and the Percherons became the official ambassadors for the company. Driven by teamwork, the Percherons served as fitting ambassadors. Although mechanical equipment had long replaced the use of draft horses in both farming and construction, the concept that teamwork is at the core of getting things done drove Dick to see his dream through. Dick was once quoted as saying “Success comes from working smart, working hard, and, most importantly, working together to get the job done.”

Class of 2020: Dr. John Weber and Ted English

Dr. John Weber

John Weber and family were the owners of the Live Oak Plantation Clydesdales. After competing a couple of years with the newly formed Live Oak Clydesdales, Dr. Weber found the prize money at the horse shows to be inadequate. He felt that the sport would also benefit from a year-end Champion hitch as well. Being a man of action he formed a committee of draft horse advisors and started the Classic Series. He arranged the first Championship classes at three shows that were held in conjunction with the Washington International Horse show, in DC; the National Horse Show, held at that time at the Meadowlands Arena, NJ, and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Thus the North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series was born.

Ted English – Country Lane Belgians

For many years Mr. English and his family exhibited Belgian Horses in Ontario, supporting shows both large and small. Their operation started very much as a family hitch, showing at the small Ontario Fairs first, then moving up the ladder over the years to where they had a team good enough to compete at the North American level.

Mr. English never lost sight of the importance of the small local rural fair in spite of having a team competing in the finals. Only 4 months prior to his death he proudly arranged for his hitch to be taken to the one day Schomberg Ontario Fair where his crew headed by Kyle and Marcia Forsyth demonstrated to an interested public everything from rolling and braiding, harnessing and hitching, finally culminating with a six horse hitch driving exhibition. In spite of having already started treatments for cancer he stood proudly on the sidelines that day with tears in his eyes and the biggest of smiles on his face.

Ted English never strayed from an opportunity to promote Belgian Horses in Canada and in his community. His horses participated regularly in the Sunderland Christmas Parade, and the annual Horse Drawn Implement and Threshing Day. At Lindsay Exhibition's annual "All About Horses" demonstration weekend when the hitch was performing to a full grandstand just prior to the evening rodeo, (only months after winning the "World" title at the Calgary Stampede), Ted stepped over to the announcer and quietly said... "Don't say much about me. Talk about Kyle. He deserves the credit". That was Ted English.

No one was prouder than Ted when he slipped behind the wheel of his semi and headed towards a competition big or small, near or far accompanied by his family and people he considered to now be his extended family. He enjoyed his horses and the friends he made along the way. He loved to welcome Draft Horse Exhibitors to Toronto's Royal Winter Fair which he considered in many respects his "home show". He never missed an opportunity to promote enthusiastically the Six Horse Hitch series, and I believe participated in every final to which his horses qualified in spite of having to travel for days at a huge cost.

It speaks volumes to his character when his family and crew chose to take his hitch to his "final finals" in Oklahoma only weeks after those same horses brought his casket to its final resting place.

In every respect Ted English was a gentleman, and the kind of owner every horseman should be. For these, and many more reasons, he is an ideal inductee for the North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series Hall of Fame.