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Horse Breeds

Percherons: Draft horses with spunk

Ruth Nicolaus
Dec 25, 2025
Dec 25, 2025

1 of 3

John and Molly Hahn. The couple, who live near Hay Springs, Neb., raise Percherons.

Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

Hahn’s Percherons can be found pulling wagons for parades and weddings.

Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

John and Molly Hahn’s grandsons, Riggen and Rowdy, take a ride on Percherons.

Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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Ruth Nicolaus

The “oohs” and “aahs” of the crowd can be heard as the big horses, the Percherons, pass by on parade with hooves the size of dinner plates clopping as they go down the street.

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4 - 20241214_142735~4.jpg — Hahn feeds with a Hydrabed, pulled by a team of Percherons.
Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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2 grace and joy.jpg — Hahn on the mower with a mother/daughter team of Percherons, Grace and Joy.
Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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3 bob (stallion at the time), grace, joy, ruth.jpg — The team: Bob, Grace, Joy and Ruth, with John Hahn at the reins, pulling an Amish-made horse mower.
Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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5 current stud benny.jpg — The Hahn’s Percheron stud, Benny. Percherons are known for their go-getter attitude and muscle.
Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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6 - 20240829_121608~3.jpg — Colts are cute, no matter what breed they are. These Percherons are on the Hahn ranch near Hay Springs, Neb.
Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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7 -- 20240711_151016.jpg — A Percheron mare and colt. Photo courtesy Molly Hahn.
Photo courtesy Molly Hahn

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This article is part of a monthly feature on horse breeds. Freelance writer Ruth Nicolaus loves the Great Plains and its people. She lives in eastern Nebraska. Reach her at editorial@midwestmessenger.com.