subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 05 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


BOB SKELDING of Deerfield, N.H., drives a team of horses down Route 20 in Saybrook Township late Friday morning.
WARREN DILLAWAY


Published October 31, 2008 11:15 pm - Valerie Dunne knew she wanted to meet Bob Skelding as soon as she saw his horses and wagon.

Wagon teamster lives life in the slow lane


By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Valerie Dunne knew she wanted to meet Bob Skelding as soon as she saw his horses and wagon.

“I think it’s kind of neat,” she said.

Dunne was one of a handful of Tractor Supply employees who came outside Friday morning to see the horse-drawn wagon owned by Skelding, 49, who stopped at the store for a little rest and relaxation. The store also donated some food for Skelding’s horses.

Sick of paying taxes and working at a nuclear power plant, Skelding quit his job and sold his house in Deerfield, N.H., to live life in the slow lane.

“It’s fun,” he said. “No bills, no taxes and I get to meet lots of nice people.”

On July 28, he hitched up his four Percheron draft horses to his homemade wagon/house and embarked on his dream — to travel across the country.

Percherons are one prominent large draft horse breeds in the United States. Other large draft breeds are Belgians, Clydesdales, Suffolk Punches and Shires.

With high gas prices, horses seemed to be the way to go, Skelding said.

“I don’t know where I’m going, but I will probably head south next week,” he said, noting the recent cold snap drove him into a pair of long johns and winter coat.

Snow would make camping a bit more difficult and the road hazardous for the horses: Joyce, Deedee, Dolly and Doc.

Joyce and Deedee are 15 years old, half sisters, and were bred by his grandfather Jake Sheaffer in Muir, Mich.

“I’ve had them since they were fillies,” he said.

As for the wagon, Skelding built the wagon from scratch on a running gear. It’s 7 1/2 feet wide and 16 feet long.

“Since it’s my home, I designed it as one,” he said.

Inside the wagon Skelding has a full size bed, bathroom with shower and commode, a kitchen area with stove, refrigerator and sink, a small kitchen table, and a reclining, stuffed chair. It has 12-volt and 120-volt power, hot and cold water and propane for cooking and heating.



print this story    email this story   


More from the Archives section



Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

PREMIUM JOBS

DRIVERS WANTED
DEDICATED
ROUTES
   • Consistent Home Time
   • $1,100 per wk./avg.
   • Health + 401k
Class-A-
...>MORE

QUALITY CONTROL
Earn up to $100 a day. Evaluate retail stores. Training provided. No exp req. Call 877-218-6203....>MORE

Direct Care Staff
Residential Treatment Center Hiring part time direct care staff. primarily evenings & weekends. Must be able to pass bac...>MORE

PRODUCTION - FIBERGLASS
Production - Fiberglass
Must be able to transfer shift
with short notice
Recent verifiable fiberglass exp
...>MORE

Dispatcher Needed
in a fast paced busy environment. Must be available for various shifts.
Apply within City Taxicab,
1753 West
...>MORE

CLERICAL
Collections $12-15/hr
Customer Service $10-15/hr
Office Asst $10-1
...>MORE

MEDICAL DELIVERY DRIVER NEEDED
Seeley Medical, a respiratory services company, has a full-time opening for a medical delivery driver to setup home resp...>MORE

ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS
BUSINESS OFFICE

CUSTODIAN, LAKESIDE
HIGH SCHOOL
2nd Shift, 2nd Floor,
2:00PM - 10:00PM
...>MORE

NURSING - LPN
Full-time position in a 20 bed residential facility serving the MR/DD population. Apply in person:
The Gables,
...>MORE

SECURITY OFFICERS
Come Join the World’s Largest Security Company!Securitas Security is now hiring full Time Officers for the Perry, OH Are...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

‘96 OLDS 88 LS
3.8L, V6,
auto, 4dr, full power, 130K, well kept, great car. Asking $2,200 obo. Ash. 319-5510 lv msg
...>MORE

1995 BLAZER
4x4 from Texas 175,000 miles $1500..
(440)812-8139
...>MORE

1998 Malibu
4dr, auto, all power, runs good, $899. Call (440)224-3323 / 319-7007...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES

OPEN HOUSE
Sat. July 11th, 12-2pm.
1008 Norwood Dr, Ash. Brick ranch w/att 2 car gar, many updates incl kit & windows, lg mas
...>MORE

JUST LISTED!!
East Conneaut: 2BR 1BA
245 Lee St. Newly updated, priced to sell $57,900. 813-3168
...>MORE

1996 SKYLINE
Exc. cond. 3BR 2BA air, big deck. Crestlawn Village 18,500 obo. 812-2404...>MORE

Buckeye House for Sale
Buckeye Remodeled 2BR Ranch, new siding, roof, bath, gar. 2 sheds $49,900. Darla 440-992-3399...>MORE

Buckeye Rent to Own
Renovated 4BR 2BA $65k. (440)812-5398...>MORE

1967 GLOBEMASTER
14x70 decent condition $1,000, new furnace
440-466-7885
...>MORE

Cottage for Sale
GOTL 4908 Sunset, 2BR winterized cottage, many updates, $40,000. 440-361-1072...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

Tires
Lots of good used tires
992-6050
...>MORE

PAINTING
Interior/Exterior painting, satisfaction guar. Free estimates Reas. rates. 25 yrs. exp. (814)873-5207...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS

Williamsfield House for Rent
Williamsfield 5 room house $450/mo.
5422 W. Slater Road (216)431-3245
...>MORE

TWO BEDROOM
2nd flr apt. $525/mo incl ALL UTILITIES,
quiet park setting - NO PETS. 440-466-7885.
...>MORE

APARTMENT RENTAL
New 2BR/1.5ba w/den upstairs unit $600. A-B credit.No pets. A/C
E. 17th All appl, W/D (760)598-9366
...>MORE

House for Rent
1113 west 38, 3 bedrooms,
new paint, carpet section 8 approved.
$575, (440)964-7770
...>MORE

House for Rent in Jefferson
Jeff Village 3BR ranch $600; Adams St. or for sale 474-3339...>MORE

House for Rent
2BRs full bsmt, 2 car gar., 2 acres of grass, $725+utils. elect, city water & fuel oil heat. Appls. incl. w/d, fridge & ...>MORE

OFFICE, MEDICAL & RETAIL
SPACE AVAILABLE
(440)997-5676
...>MORE

Rent to Own
Saybrook Twp. 3BR 2BA near golf course. 813-2676...>MORE

SAYBROOK APARTMENT
2Br ranch duplex, $460 + utils & sec. dep. No dogs. Sec 8 ok. 440-969-1593/440-473-2934...>MORE

ONE BEDROOM
1st flr apt $495/mo incl ALL UTILITIES quiet park setting. -NO PETS;
440-466-7885.
...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index