[blue80]

coyote pee works too, but a bit tricky to get safely:D

Actually we gave some to my fatherinlaw for fathers day a few years ago, he said it worked….I think we got in online…

Kevin

[blue80]

fantastic Tim, thanks for your (plural, including those you work with) work and excellent explanations!

Kevin

[blue80]

With the H3 project as my inspiration,

We picked this 50 year old snow plane up at auction. BLown motor will be sold off for parts to airboat enthusiasts to pay off the snow plane and trailer.
Then a little chopping here and adding there, and we envision a snow stagecoach for work and play in the Big Horn Mountains. Stagecoach bench on top for driving, cold kids inside the cab, warm kids in an enlarged rear area with rear facing rumble seat. Will see how well it pulls, we may dress it up a little nicer and do a sweethart sleigh ride deal or something for a little winter cash. But we would rather do a “young family discount” and get some families interested in working horses.

Have to play with the weighting a little, not sure if one ski will be great or not….Thinking I’ll just look at it and dream for a couple months before getting started.

Kevin

[blue80]

I have never really worked a horse hard enough/long enough to need sustained large quantities of grain, but was taught to look at each horse individually and evaluate their hair and hoof condition; these are the horses overall wellness indicators.
One gentleman was adamant that nosebags are used so the owner knows for sure exactly how much each animal is getting and adjustments can be made accordingly.

My dad told me that when your horses have dapples, you’re where you want to be!

Kevin

[blue80]

thanks for the replies

We ended up using Supermend epoxy paste. Can be found at http://www.goopit.com I was at our local tractor/hardware supply chain and mustered up the courage to ask the equine guy what their recommendation was. He led me to the hardware aisle. $7 instead of over $50 for the stuff with the horse picture on the front.

Its been applied a week in plenty of bad weather and seems bulletproof so far.

Kevin

[blue80]

J-L Yep we are 50 miles north of Worland.

NRCS had a half price deal on trees, up to $300.00 worth. So we got almost 600 trees for 300 bucks! Not bad when a local landscaper wanted $380.00 for one supplied and installed tree guaranteed for a year…

The trees came out of the Colorado nursery.
We figured we’d have some mortality, the neighbours cows would get at some, we’d give some away as gifts, still leaving us with a forested oasis in years to come. It’s fun to watch the wind blow stuff around now, then think of the growth that may transform the property in the years to come.

After spending 10 hrs the first day shovelling pots full and getting 300 trees done, I went and picked up a little loader tractor and finished the last 300 in 5 hrs. I do not feel guilty, I was tired before I started the transplanting project, and wasn’t prepared for their arrival…..

So far they have made it through a 3 inch slush storm, the aspens popped right back up when the ice melted off them! Resilient little buggers…

Kevin

[blue80]

A teacher of mine once told me ” a real man knows his limitations, and when to quit” I would agree with him, sometimes in regards to this topic, that will in my opinion require the use of combustion type equipment.

It was interesting in S. Indiana, the group of Amish I lived “with” allowed tractors under 40 hp I think, they could use them to move equipment/hay up and down the narrow back roads. When the temperature was over 90 degrees, they were permitted to use the tractor to bale in the field as well, they would call me or another english to operate it for them while they stacked and/or unloaded. Some other local Amish groups hayed all summer, and the odd horse death would occur from heat related issues….

I haven’t been able to find it, but there was a neat article I read awhile back I think on the RH website dealing with knowing when to use a tractor for the benefit of all. Will try again to find it.

Using a machine or not also may come down to ‘whatever floats yer boat,’ persay.

Kevin

[blue80]

Well a recent two day project we just did as a family (for the 1/2 day the sun was out) resulted in fantastic lifetime memories for our family, and possibly-if the trees live- for our community.
Since the most gratifying work in life seems to be without fiscal reward, I just thougth this would be a nice opportunity to pat ourselves on the back;)….
A month ago we ordered 600 trees from the NRCS and pics below show some of the activity transplanting to pots/burnt gated pipe until we can afford a drip system irrigation system. We are thinking of an “adopt a tree” program where people/children will get their name on dog tags on the tree, the proceeds will put in the drip system. They can recheck their tree as life goes on, show their kids, etc. etc.
Too many ideas, too much fear/overhead to get started…

Wyoming may just lead the reforestation program in the US! :D:rolleyes:

Kevin

[blue80]

The lady we bought our brabants from uses a tincture found in “The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable” by Juliette de Bairacli-Levy.
She prepares a mash of garlic, applesauce, carrots, sometimes a bit of alfalfa leaves which the horses eat. Her neighbour uses a liquid form applied in a syringe and gets it in the back of the horses mouth.

Kevin

[blue80]

Hey Richard, nice to meet you. Nice also to hear I’m not the only carpenter hoping to switch- er- diversify vocations.

All the best

Kevin

[blue80]

I guess I am a sweet feed fan, because we’ve always fed it, and I am a creature of habit, new being bad…;). I asked my dad, a veterinarian of over 30 years, he believes the amount of molasses in sweet feed has little if any bearing on tooth decay issues. Proper forage fed at proper eatiing elevations have more of an influence on tooth decay according to him.

I have no problem buying a little love. Horses like sweet feed. I bring it to them, so they like me. I try to give them as a reward, not incentive, but at the end of the day, if they run to see me from the far end of the field I’ll take it!

I like letting kids and townies feed the horses a little by hand, it’s amazing to watch both parties. Molasses in the feed lets the feed clump in the little ones hands better and I figure not as much gets wasted….
Kevin

[blue80]

how do those of us without TV participate? Will they be available on dvd?

Thanks,

Kevin

[blue80]

Always keep an eye on the billboards on the highway. Well, the name of the company doing the billboard anyways. Then find out where the office/warehouse is distributed and show up in “ag” clothes, they will give you the old vinyl advertising tarps.
They are heavier duty than many tarps, and usually free!
We’ve used them for years, and took 5,000 pounds of them to New Orleans when we did some hurricane helpingout. Made for some interesting roofs, and an even more interesting spectacle when we put the tarps upside down so passersby had to twist their heads to read them:D….Oh the fun we can have.

Kevin

[blue80]

John, thanks for the experienced feedback and best wishes!

If one googles “agritourism” and ones geographic location/state, it turns out there are many organizations and news articles which give a broad array of ideas which may pique different interests; again easterners seem to lead the charge….Oklahoma has a concerted effort in this area by the ag department too.
I am amazed reading through what different agricultural entities are doing, and I am a little surprised at how little “working” draft powered farms are spotlighted; Perusing the internet articles, I see pumpkin patches, wineries, dude ranching, corn mazes, and some wagon rides (even with tractors:eek:), but for me at least, there is something awe inspiring about draft animal power. I think we should be at least aware of this market, and some of us may decide that pursuing these possibilities will fullfill both public demand and our own need for profitability; hopefully without the tourism becoming a distraction to our long term operations goals…For some of us it may be a long term relationship with local investors, and others it may truly turn our operation into a seasonal tourist “trap” Either way, it’s a little exhausting thinking of dealing with the public around draft animals. But if it was easy everyone’d be doing it!

Another interesting option is “elderhostels” which basically put people to work the catch being THEY PAY YOU to do it.:cool: I guess there are some people who just want to contribute and be a part of something great!

Agritourism also seems like a definite way to get some free local advertising, which in business is always a boon- if you want to be busier, increase volume, or educate that is.

Kevin

[blue80]

Are they giving those mares a hot shot or are they really in tune to the natural cycle?

Kevin

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