The Lost World of Mountain Horse Farming: Harnessing History in the Fields of Appalachia. FOA Ep. 35

In the hidden hollows of Appalachia, where time seems to stand still and fog rolls down the mountains like whispered secrets, a rare tradition still breathes—a way of life that once powered an entire region. This is not a reenactment. This is not a romanticized tale. This is a real journey into the forgotten world of horse-powered farming—a vanishing practice that shaped generations of Appalachian families, one hoofbeat at a time.

Long before modern machines roared across fields, it was the steady pull of draft horses, the creak of wooden plows, and the callused hands of mountain farmers that tilled the soil. In this immersive Appalachian documentary, we walk beside Buster and Jessie Norton and their daughter, Kendra and her husband, Ethan Fortner, as they work horses on their farms today. These folks are some of the last torchbearers of this ancient tradition and refuse to trade silence for speed, or wisdom for convenience.

We’re not just talking about a way to grow food—we’re talking about a way of life that's nearly disappeared. As big agriculture and industry swept across America, these quiet mountain hollers held tight to something sacred. Through oral history and lived experience, this film captures the soul of Appalachia before it fades into folklore. Whether you're a history buff, homesteader, horse lover, or simply curious about how America used to live, this is a must-watch.

If you’d like to help us produce more episodes about Appalachian life, you can support our efforts through our GoFundMe page. With your contribution, we can continue preserving this fading way of life. Every donation makes a difference. Please visit our GoFundMe and help us keep Appalachian history alive for generations to come (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-FOA). You can also contribute directly to our channel through YouTube using Super Thanks.

📌Be sure to check out Tim Barnwell's books on our websites:
✅The Face of Appalachia: Portraits from the Mountain Farm
✅On Earth's Furrowed Brow: The Appalachia Farm in Photographs
✅Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia
✅Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas (guidebook)
✅Great Smoky Mountains Vistas (guidebook)
✅Tide Runners: Shrimping and Fishing on the Carolinas and Georgia Coast
✅Faces & Places of Cashiers Valley
✅Jewels of the Southern Coast: Architectural Gems of Charleston, Savannah and Beyond

📌 Keywords for Discovery: #Appalachia, #horsefarming, #traditionalfarming, #rurallife, #Americanheritage, #thefaceofappalachia, #timbarnwellphotography, #offgrid, #Appalachianstorytelling, #horsesinfarming, #livinghistory, #drafthorses, #plowingwithhorses, #culturalpreservation, #mountaintraditions, #Appalachianroots, #agrarianlifestyle, #handmadelife, #rusticAmerica

📌📌 Follow us for more:
🌐 Websites: https://www.barnwellphoto.com and https://thefaceofappalachia.com
📷 Instagram:   / timbarnwellphotography  
👍 Facebook:   / tim-barnwell-photography-100063064160549  

LINKS:

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-FOA

Barnwell Photography/books:
https://www.barnwellphoto.com/
https://thefaceofappalachia.com/

Fortner Farms:
   / @ethanfortner61