Pulling wood

DAPNET Forums Archive › Forums › Draft Animal Power › Horses › Pulling wood

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • May 10, 2009 at 2:15 am #40522
    Ed Thayer
    Participant

    I know this is the wrong time to be pulling wood, however I had a great day with Oz and my new log arch attachment. I like how it lifts the log of the ground alittle to ease the drag on the horse. I copied this from a design I saw on this site.

    May 10, 2009 at 10:08 am #52216
    Donn Hewes
    Keymaster

    It looked like the right time to me. Oz thought so too. Nice work, Ed.

    May 10, 2009 at 11:19 am #52218
    Ed Thayer
    Participant

    Thanks Don,

    I have been walking Oz up to the log and stopping him. Then I get off and go to his head and slowly back him to the log and tell him whoa.

    I then walk back with the lines in my hand and hitch the log, get back on and release him.

    I did this several times yeterday and had no issues with him lunging forward or becoming impatient.

    So my guess is I may be doing something wrong or confusing OZ when I remain on the cart and back him to the log.

    May 10, 2009 at 12:20 pm #52220
    Rod44
    Participant

    Looks like the chain hitches quite high on the forecart. Do you have trouble with the shafts wanting to go up? You might on a heavy log??? I don’t know, I have just dragged them off of the forcart hitch. Looks like a a good idea though.

    May 10, 2009 at 12:41 pm #52214
    Rod
    Participant

    I made a modified pole for mine based on a suggestion by Carl.The pole raises the pull point up the the same height as the chain hooks on the back. Should solve the problem of the lifting of the pole. I think an adapter for the shafts would do the same thing and an thinking about making one so I can use mine as a single. Thanks for the photos and narrative.

    May 10, 2009 at 1:01 pm #52217
    Donn Hewes
    Keymaster

    Hi Ed, That is interesting about backing him up. Good to identify the thing that is getting him excited rather than focus on what he does when he is excited. When I back a green animal I go very slow. I will stop every few steps and let them settle. I do this for a few reasons. One, backing isn’t natural and they are unsure about were they are going. Two, for me backing is almost always precision work of trying to put something in a shed or such. To keep stopping is easier than having to pull forward a bunch of times. Finally, stopping while backing can be a hard signal to learn; and by stopping often I make sure they will stop just were I want them. Perhaps you could try backing him this way. Just a thought. Donn

    May 10, 2009 at 3:46 pm #52219
    Ed Thayer
    Participant

    @Rod 8744 wrote:

    I made a modified pole for mine based on a suggestion by Carl.The pole raises the pull point up the the same height as the chain hooks on the back. Should solve the problem of the lifting of the pole. I think an adapter for the shafts would do the same thing and an thinking about making one so I can use mine as a single. Thanks for the photos and narrative.

    That is a good idea. I have found the pioneer forecart to be heavy on the shafts (horses back) regardless of what I do with it. Whether I drag the harrow or a trailer with wood. I did stop Oz and lean back on the hitch and asked my neighbor to try and lift the shafts at the horses back. There was still weight on them.

    My guess is it might be an issue as you mentioned when hooked to a large log. I will hve to try and see what happens.

    Ed

    May 11, 2009 at 1:03 am #52215
    Plowboy
    Participant

    Any day is a good day to skid wood provided it’s not haying time or conflicting with planting crops. Dry wood is better than cutting it just ahead of the stove. Glad you are getting him straightened out on your own. Congratulations things can only go up from here!

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.