‘A Job Well Done’ Found on Mackinac Island

Editor's Note: Peggy Rowe of Baltimore, Maryland, wrote the following piece after visiting Mackinac Island in August. She is happy to share it with our readers.

In the spirit of television's "Dirty Jobs," where Mike Rowe celebrates our country's blue collar workers, I've taken a look at a work force of a different type -- those heroes in brown leather collars.

In a time of record high unemployment, there is one segment of our country’s work force that does not worry about job security. Nor are they concerned about out-sourcing or the loss of benefits and diminished salaries. These dedicated workers who have never filled out an employment application, composed a resume, or taken a career development course, are on the job every morning, bright and early. Rain or shine, they lean into the harness and willingly display a work ethic that would impress even Horatio Alger.

When my son, Mike Rowe, told us "Dirty Jobs" was filming on Mackinac Island, I took out a map. When he exclaimed over the breathtaking beauty of the island, I added it to our list of places to visit someday. But when he mentioned that there were more than 600 horses on the six-square-mile island in Michigan, I started packing.

I’m one of those adults who has never outgrown her childhood passion for horses. People are drawn to "Dirty Jobs" for a variety of reasons, but for me, the most gratifying episodes are those involving horses. Mike gives me a heads-up before they air.

"Be sure to watch tonight’s show, Mom," he'll say. "It’s a horsy story for my horsy mother."

In the segment filmed at the Babcock Quarter Horse Ranch in Texas, Mike worked as apprentice to a veterinarian. She was not only accomplished in her job, she helped Mike to appear almost competent as he collected semen from a champion stallion, then inseminated a mare.

When our son worked with a farrier in Ohio, learning how to shoe a horse, his father observed, "He looks like he knows what he’s doing -- like he’s been around horses all his life."

I knew better. Our oldest son has had a long history of avoiding horses.

Like most parents, I wanted to share my passion with our children, so for Mike’s seventh Christmas, I fulfilled my dream and found him an ideal pony -- a Shetland-Welsh cross. She would be perfect for our younger sons later on when Mike moved on to a horse. Right!

Too excited to sleep that Christmas morning, I rose early and rushed through the wintry Baltimore air to our brand new stable. I ran a brush over the bay mares thick coat, tied a red bow in her forelock, and left her munching hay in the paddock.

My eyes were misty as John and I led our oldest son to the kitchen window and pulled back the curtain.

"Merry Christmas, Michael," I said with a catch in my voice. "Your very own pony."

He watched the mare silently for a moment as she ate, steamy puffs of air floating from her nostrils. He was obviously overcome with emotion. I understood.

"Gee, thanks," he finally mumbled, with all the fervor of a rambunctious young boy who had just received his very own set of knitting needles and a hank of yarn. Sadly, our son’s enthusiasm for horses never quite reached the fevered pitch it did at the window that Christmas morning. He has spent more time with horses on "Dirty Jobs" than he ever did at home.

Our trip to Mackinac Island was enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable -- not just because of the quaint atmosphere, and not just because of the friendly inhabitants and mouthwatering fudge. Mackinac Island has the largest concentration of working horses in the world.

It was touching to watch the powerful draft breeds -- mainly Belgians, Clydesdales, and Percherons -- as they went about their jobs. From sun-up to sun-down, the hard-working horses are on the paved streets, pulling the drays that off-load freight from the ferries, delivering supplies to businesses, and hauling garbage and other waste. As I watched these big, steady horses getting the job done, I realized that they are the heart and soul of the Island. Since the prohibition of motorized vehicles in 1898, life here would be virtually impossible without these service animals.

There are other horses on the Island, as well: high-stepping carriage horses, saddle horses, and mixed breeds used for taxi service and carriage tours. Enough to keep an army of road sweepers busy, as Mike and the "Dirty Jobs" crew could attest to. In large, horses are responsible for the oldworld atmosphere of the village. We stayed in a hotel in the heart of town, where the clip clop of hooves on the street below greeted us in the morning, and lulled us to sleep at night.

It was gratifying to see the respect shown these workers, and the value placed on their service. Numerous watering stations serve thirsty animals throughout the town, and fly spray is used liberally to keep them comfortable on hot summer days. Tourists are reminded that the horses are not pets, and discouraged from giving treats and petting them.

Without exception, these hard-working animals appeared healthy and well cared for. At the end of their daily shift, they relax in a paddock. They all benefit from an efficient health care plan. Veterinarians and farriers are at their beck and call, and when the season ends, the horses are ferried to the mainland for several months of rest and relaxation. Approximately 30 horses remain on the Island during the winter months to provide taxi and dray service for the 500 residents.

To be certain, there is no 401K or gold watch in the future of this workforce, just the satisfaction of a job well done.