The Yass men are certain to make an appearance at the Woo Back world record attempt next month and can recall a time when their dad would come home exhausted after days of work walking beside the plough.

“After two days he wasn’t too bad,” Mr McGrath said.

“But after the third day he used to come home and soak his feet in salty water… it was hard going for him and it took him a while for him to recover from it.”

Speaking at the ‘Willow Vale’ property where the record attempt will take place, Mr Rayner recalled constantly asking his father for a ride on his plough, which will feature in the event this year.

“Kids these days, they want to drive the car but back then I’d say ‘hey dad can I drive the plough’,” he said.

“But if you hit a rock or something it would throw you off the seat if you weren’t careful.”

Most ploughs, like Bruce’s 90-year-old Clyde Plough, were towed by two horses that walked in each furrow and two horses that walked next to the land being ploughed.

Mr McGrath said back then the heavy horses were well-trained. He is worried things won’t be all smooth sailing at ‘Willow Vale’ on May 4.

“The furrow horse was trained to stay in the furrow.

“This is where I think things might fall apart when the big day comes here because back then the horses really knew what to do and I don’t know if they do now.”

Organiser Max Hedges agreed and said to address this, most horses would only have to tow a single harrow plough, usually used to make a seed bed, to be part of the event.

He said no matter what the Woo Back record attempt would be a good day out.

“Everything is shaping up pretty good,” he said.

“There has been a lot of interest in it … most people you talk to in the district have heard about it and they all reckon they are coming so hopefully we get a good crowd.”

The Woo Back Heavy Horses Ploughing World Record attempt is on May 4 at ‘Willow Vale’ on Hardwick Lane and kicks off at 11am. For more go to www.wooback.com.au.