​Bucks County Farmer Is Using "Horsepower" For Farmwork And Fun

PIPERSVILLE, PA — Sweetwater Farm, a new venture in Pipersville, is offering unique farm and entertainment services “utilizing authentic horsepower.”

Powered by two Percheron horses, “Rex” and “Rocky,” the farm offers an array of services that horses were relied upon for in the 19th century.

Owner Barry Witzer established Sweetwater Farm in 2008 during his career in the water well industry. After retiring from the industry, he has taken up tending to the farm full-time. He describes the mission of Sweetwater Farm as “Offering an experience of a bygone era.”

Witzer says, “We live in such a fast-paced world. If I can allow the opportunity for the general public to experience a slower pace for 30-45 minutes as they listen to the beat of hooves on the road, experience the breeze on their face and quiet that surrounds them, then I believe my mission was fulfilled.”

But Sweetwater Farm isn’t just about the historical or sentimental. It’s also practical and environmentally friendly.

The services Witzer provides include spreading manure, field mowing with a 1938 sickle bar mower, and dragging fields with a harrow. Utilizing the power and maneuverability of the horses, Witzer can access areas that many machines cannot.

The horses also cause minimal disturbance to the natural settings without the noise, tracks, compaction, and pollution caused by industrial equipment.

Rex and Rocky are Percherons, a breed of horse named for the French town of La Perche, where they were first bred. They each weigh approximately 1,700 lbs. and stand 17 hands high. They have a combined towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds in a wagon on a hard surface. They are very willing workers with exceptional intelligence. And they were the most popular draft horse working the American farm up until the 1940s.

Witzer adds, “They were very popular in both the agricultural development and industrial development of our country. They were the UPS of their day, taking loads off the trains and dispersing goods and packages through the towns and cities.”

In addition to farmwork, Witzer uses Rex and Rocky to provide charming and relaxing wagon rides on the backroads of Tinicum Township. He also transports the horses and his wagon to special events, where they can pull either a 12- or 25-passenger wagon at various venues. The horses are accustomed to the passing of cars or trucks on the roads and clearly enjoy their work.

About Sweetwater Farm

Sweetwater Farm in Pipersville “utilizes authentic horsepower” to conduct farm work, fieldwork, and entertainment. Established in 2008 Sweetwater Farm provides a bridge for modern society to
experience the 19th century. More information can be found at www.sweetwaterfarmpa.com