Martin Clunes: Heavy Horsepower

For Martin's two young and adored Clydesdales, Ronnie and Bruce, life is soon to change, as they start working hard for their supper under expert trainer Robert Sampson in preparation to work on Martin's Dorset Farm. Whilst the youngsters are under intense training, Martin is free to travel Europe and America to discover how working horses earn their keep and finds out how these wonderful creatures with their tremendous power are proving their value again in the modern world. Martin meets the Household Cavalry in training their heavy horses for ceremonial duties; travels to a beautiful vineyard in northern Italy and discovers why farmers there are convinced that heavy horses are much better for the soil than the mechanical tractor; takes part in a traditional equine competition joining the British Team with their Suffolk Punch Horses in the French port of Boulogne; joins fishermen in Oostduinkerk, Belgium in the 500 years old tradition of using horses to trawl for shrimps and in the US meets world famous Budweiser Clydesdales and takes the reins of one of the spectacular horse and wagons' as they parade through the streets of New Orleans. Back home Martin welcomes Ronnie and Bruce home from hoof camp and back in harness discovers what they have learnt …