hooked my mules today

@J-L 23851 wrote:

I was actually going to ask how you got along with that rope and pulley set up. I have one on it’s way for my mules and horses and was going to use it on a bobsled and if it works well enough might use it dragging meadows.
John (jac) may have hit on the problem. I looked again at the photo and you would have some downward pressure on the collars and may wind up doing what he said. It may not matter when they get used to it. In looking at several photo’s of Amish using that system they had a straight line of draft so you might want to try that.
By the way, beautiful team of mules and I really like your harness too. What kind of mares are your mules out of? I really like a mule that size and those black mules w/rootbeer noses are sure pretty.

These ae out of percheron mares. The pictures make them look smaller for some reason. They weigh 1100-1300lbs.

Anyone think I should just hook another double tree to the end of the tongue and try that for a while? What about hooking the lead team double tree to a chain or cable that hooks to the front of the wagon.

@jac 23854 wrote:

Only problem with hooking straight to the tongue with a double tree is the old draft angle thing again. If the tongue runs low on the neck yokes so that the line of draft runs thru to the wheelers point of attachment then it should be ok, otherwise you end up with downward pressure again.
John

Ya, I’ll have to watch that. Thanks

@OldKat 23858 wrote:

Nice hitch. Very impressive setup & animals. Looks like you are in someone’s indoor rodeo arena.

Thanks,
It’s an arena about 10 miles away from us. Very handy to ride in on cold winter days. It was -25 yesterday. I drove them 4 abreast for 3 hours and in a 4 up for 20 minutes before we ran out of time. That was my wifes grandfather sitting with me. He used to haul frieght with teams in our area, he got a kick out of it.