The inaugural Moni Wender Horse Pull will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, on the family farm. Henry Wender, the only surviving sibling, will host the event on his property, 1 mile off Upper Pine Creek Road in Breitung Township.

Thirteen teams — five local and eight from Wisconsin — have committed to compete.

“We had a great response — I think it’s going to be the biggest pull in the Upper Peninsula right here in Pine Creek,” Tom Wender said. “We have good teams coming — you can expect to see a great show.”

Moni Wender was a well-known and successful area teamster.

THE LATE MONI Wender leads one of his prized Belgian draft horses out of his barn in the Upper Pine Creek area. The photograph appeared in a 1983 edition of The Daily News.

“Around here, if you had draft horses you knew Moni Wender,” his nephew said.

Moni began entering his team of horses in pulling or show competitions at the local and state fairs in the late 1930s, winning countless ribbons. He also held the record at U.P. State Fair for 43 years.

“The guy that broke his record, Frank Dubord, will be at the pull,” he said. “Uncle Moni was the first guy in the arena to congratulate him.”

Wender noted Moni might have been only 5 feet 6 inches in height but could handle a team of horses as well as anyone and better than most.

“I wish I was half the teamster he was,” he said.

TOM WENDER WILL compete with his Belgian team, Doc and Dewey, for the first time at the inaugural Moni Wender Horse Pull, planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, in Pine Creek in Breitung Township.. The competition was organized in honor of Wender’s uncle, Moni Wender, a long-time successful teamster. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Moni bought his last team of Belgians at age 86 and pulled in his last contest at 90.

“That’s one tough guy,” Wender said, adding his uncle also used his team to farm and log throughout his lifetime.

Moni passed away in 2000 at 92. He was the oldest brother of eight boys and one girl, with a span of 27 years from the oldest to youngest.

“He had a good life — all he did his whole life was work — his true enjoyment was his horses,” Wender said. “A lot of people like horses, but uncle Moni loved horses and anyone who knew him well knew that about him.”

Moni had a special fondness for Belgians, as they were more calm and easy to work with. “He also had some Percherons as well,” he said.

Over the years, Wender attended many of those contests with his uncle and developed a great interest in horses. He had riding horses since he was young.

His father, Edward, who passed away when Tom was 10 years old, also had a team that often did pulls at the country fairs.

“I can remember they would host a pull occasionally at the former Taboo Bar in Quinnesec that was across from the Big 10,” Wender said.

About five and a half years ago, Tom Wender decided to pick up another set of reins and acquired two draft horses.

“It was my 70th birthday present to myself,” he said. “I knew I wanted a pair of Belgians because that’s what uncle Moni mostly had.”

Doc and Dewey, 10-year-old half-brothers from Bonduel, Wis., were already “well broke” but not taught to pull.

He noted the matched pair is one of the lighter teams, as they weigh about 2,000 pounds.

They began training in mid-April, putting in at least 10 hours a week, which doesn’t include harness time, cooling down, etc.

“They are in a five-day-a-week program, with two days of rest,” he said. “But they really like being worked.”

Feeding is a constant job as well, as they eat 40 pounds of hay and 12 pounds of grain a day each, and go through 20 gallons of water.

“Really it’s not work if you love it — and I do,” Wender said.

He explained how he came up with the idea to organize a local horse pull. “Being an old football coach, I look at it this way — we are practicing all the time and never get to play a game,” he said. “I was tired of just practicing.”

This will be his first competition, as well as for several other locals.

In preparation for the pull, he set the date in early June so he didn’t conflict with the competition dates in Wisconsin.

“It’s also another chance for a bunch of horse pullers to get together to compete and have fun,” said Wender, adding he will compete June 21 and June 26 in Wisconsin as well.

The Moni Wender Horse Pull will not be a one-year deal. “I’m going to do it as long as I can,” he said.

Wender will have some of his uncle’s old equipment on display at the farm, which has been in the family since 1917.

“A horse pull has never been held on the farm that I’m aware of,” he said.

Spectators are reminded to bring their own seating and to arrive early, as pulls will start promptly at 1 p.m. They will have some concessions available.

While admission is free, donations will be accepted for future events.

Signs will be posted near Pine Creek Woodworking directing traffic to the event and parking area.

Wender expressed his appreciation for the 22 sponsors that helped to make the first Moni Wender Horse Pull a reality.

The community is encouraged to come out and enjoy an afternoon of old-time horse pulls.