Driver Turns New Horses Randy and Jesse Into Seasoned Team
by Candice C. Dunnigan

It was quite easy to spot a new pair of horses this May, standing at the hourly carriage rentals below Marquette Park. Even though they had their blinders on, they were attempting to look around, dancing in their harness, while their driver was trying to keep his cool. They also happened to be a big pair of beasts, nicely put together and distinctively tricolored (white, brown, and black spotted); add to that, one of the horses had these big, blue eyes. I had heard they were owned by Arrowhead Carriages.

Early in June, as I would be biking home along the shore, the same pair of horses, driver, and carriage would pass me, headed back to "civilization." Our cottage is a good three-plus miles from the heart of Main Street, so I knew that this rig must have started out from town the longer way, or traveled the several miles down through British Landing. In any event, I got the sense this trio was not out for a joy ride, rather a working outing, complete with heavy-duty cyclers, kids on training wheels, walkers, and wind to contend with. It looked like intensive training time to me.

Dave Honeycutt, Courtnee Townsend, and the team of Jesse and Randy.

When the very busy Fourth of July rolled around, and I was going to Doud's Market to shop, that same pair of spotted horses and driver were just starting out for an hourly tour on Main Street. I watched when a little girl came from nowhere, darting in front of them, while an oncoming dray, loaded with cases of soda and cantaloupes, was attempting a delivery to the Chippewa Hotel. The upshot was, nothing happened - amen! That same kind of scenario has been played out scores of times every summer, and those are close calls. Yet, having been observing this team, what I witnessed was a trio that was now in tune with each other. I wanted to find out more.

The other day I found myself not only talking to Joe Plaza, who is the owner of Arrowhead Carriages, but to Dave Honeycutt, who is the driver of the spotted team. I also got to meet this pair of geldings, as well as go for a ride with them.

Dave, who hails from St. Ignace, has been driving and working with horses on Mackinac for decades. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, he came back to the Island to work, and has been with Arrowhead for a long time. When Joe Plaza bought several new teams of horses from Topeka, Indiana, this past winter, it was Dave who ended up with the spotted horses. He named the blue-eyed one Jesse, for the late Jesse Leach. The other smaller, thicker, brown-eyed gelding he called Randy, for the late Randy Bazinau. Anyone who knows anything about Mackinac and durable, tough, real Island horsemen will get the connection, especially the blue eyes. Like their namesakes, these horses are tough, but when they came to Mackinac, they were very green. Dave's hope was that, like the Island men Randy and Jesse, they would become seasoned, but it was going to take work. Dave has perseverance.

Joe agreed to let Dave put the miles and discipline on them. It takes a person with an innate horse sense experience and a cool head to really be a good driver. The other thing about these horses is that, unquestionably, Randy and Jesse work well together. Aside from being a good match, they move together in step. They both readily trot up, out, and have a ground-covering walk. It helps that Randy and Jesse have consistently been trained with the same driver, in the same harness that they now work in daily and the buggy that they pull.

All of the Arrowhead carriages have been made for Mr. Plaza by Justin Carriage Works, here in Michigan. They're painted an attractive burgundy, and the wheels are kept a natural blonde oak. The company has eight, as well as a fancier wedding carriage, and flatbeds. Each driver is assigned the same carriage and team and is responsible for them.

When I was at the barn, I got to meet Courtnee Townsend, who also drives for the company, as well as several of the newer horses. Mr. Plaza has some really good-looking teams. All of them were getting ready for the start of the work day when I came to visit. Dave comes to the Island every morning on the first boat. He brushes his team and cleans his harness and rig. These days Arrowhead uses a neoprene harness. Dave takes pride in his turnout, so to make that harness shine, a bit of Armor All helps. The horses have free choice of good-looking grass hay and a high quality feed in their mangers.

While the usual morning bustle was going on there, a few horses were being shod. Arrowhead's teams all wear rubber shoes. The company's shoes are of a dense, high quality rubber, with a heavier shoe on the hind feet. Randy and Jesse are big horses, with Jesse standing well over 16 hands, and both have good-sized draft feet.

It is possible that these spotted drafts may have a bit of Shire or Clydesdale in their background. Certainly their coloring could argue for that. Clydes come in bay, chestnut, black, or roan. They have a sloping shoulder and the same type of leg. There also is a slight bit of feathering by the fetlock.

There is one other pair of spotted drafts in harness in the hourly carriage trade. They're owned by the Gough family and named Bird and June, and they've been here a few summers. Next time you take a look at the morning lineup in town, or want to book an hourly, say hello to Dave and his buddies. They've been around the block a few times now, and give a good tour.

Who knows, Randy may snort in response to your greeting, and Jesse may give you a wink with those baby blue eyes.

Candice Dunnigan is an active member of the American Equestrian Association, the Waterloo Hunt, and the Mackinac Horsemen's Association. Seasonally she resides at Easterly Cottage.