Aleks Berzins, a 36-year-old farmer from Exeter in New South Wales, is dedicated to traditional farming methods, using Australian draught horses in all aspects of his operations. Berzins, who breeds these horses, believes in maintaining the practices of his grandfather. "We really like to keep it traditional," he said. His farming activities include ploughing, harrowing paddocks, sowing, cutting hay, and harvesting crops.

Each year, Berzins prepares a section of his farm for cropping with a single furrow plough. He finds the process peaceful when conditions are right. "It's a pretty nice, peaceful thing to do," he noted. He also emphasized that the horses enjoy the work as much as he does. "They are herd animals; they do like to work together, and they really enjoy what they're doing," he added.

While Berzins acknowledges that using heavy horses and antique equipment is slower than modern farming methods, he believes it benefits the soil. "The way the soil is turned over with horses in general is slower, and I think it's better for the soil," he explained. He prefers an organic approach, using a moldboard plough or scarifying the paddock to manage weeds.

Working with horses requires time and patience, according to Berzins. "They're not like a tractor — you can't just put a key in," he said. Managing a team of horses involves understanding their different personalities and placing them where they are happiest.

Berzins developed his passion for heavy horses while working alongside his grandfather, Sidney Samuels. "It's nice to go out and plough a paddock that I remember him ploughing, and it certainly keeps his memory alive," he reflected.

He recently participated in a record-breaking event in Barellan, where 62 heavy horses were harnessed to pull a wagon. Berzins trained 30 of these horses, using voice commands to control the lead horses from the wagon. "Following behind a small horse team on the farm is different from seeing 62 horses out in front of you," he said. "It's something I will never forget … I'm proud of the horses and what they have achieved."

Another teamster, Steve Johnson, also utilizes heavy horses on his farm near Lake Cargelligo in Central West NSW. Johnson's journey began as a hobby but evolved into a passion and ultimately a way of life. He uses a horse-drawn reaper-binder to cut his crops and stacks the sheaves into haystacks. He then makes chaff using a horse-driven machine, completing a cycle where the horses eat the chaff and the process begins anew.

Both Berzins and Johnson exemplify a growing trend among farmers who are returning to traditional methods, valuing the connection to the land and the animals that help them cultivate it.