[dominiquer60]

It was my impression that foundation lines were more in the 14h to 15.2h 1,000+ pound range, and that QHs of real height are heavily influenced by Thoroughbreds being introduced a while back. This has just been my experience with the breed. I am sure that you could use a team for farm work just not in the capacity that a heavy team can handle. 100 years ago not everyone could afford a heavy team so they made due with what was available. Neil Perry does all his farm work with his Morgans, he just uses more of them to do the same job that a 2 ton team can. Given the QH is about as versatile and trainable as the Morgan horse, I can’t see why they wouldn’t work.

The only difference that I see besides size is that QHs have a higher percentage of fast twitch vs. slow twitch muscle compared to your common coldblooded work horse. Fast twitch delivers a high amount of energy for a short period of time, such as the 1/4 mile sprint, and slow twitch provides for less energy over a more drawn out usage like toiling in the hay field all day. The QH may need to be conditioned a little differently to get used to farm work, and I would caution you about using a HYPP positive QH. I can’t remember all the details of this genetic disease, but my gut feeling is that they would not make good work animals.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

I share your thoughts Jennifer, my favorite non-horsey part is where they are in commute to their work site and singing together. It may have a Disney like quality to it, but I think that shared song like this is one of those things lost in much of today’s fast paced global community. My father is a musician, with the amazing talent of being able to compose his own music and make his own instruments (whistles, drums, guitars, etc.) so music was a big part of my life growing up with him. We sang a lot as kids and listened to him practice everyday. My music talents stopped with 8th grade chorus, but if I am in a group that works together everyday like on the farm harvesting in the morning, I just may share a tune or two. To me it symbolizes comfort with each other in the group and a positive work attitude, I feel that this also part of what is happening in this video.

I long for this type work environment to live in where everyone has their place and knows what is expected and can work rather harmoniously with each other and their environment. I would expect to have a conflict once in a while, it happens, but it would be nice if a rough harmony is the norm.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

Your comment on camel dressage is correct, for those intrigued by this thought, here is a link to a video clip that has been circulating in the show horse community. It is rather amazing how versatile camels are, this one can do lateral work and even a few strides of changing leads every stride.
enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnsWQ4kNG-w

[dominiquer60]

for reference http://www.draftanimalpower.com/showthread.php?t=467&highlight=non-petrolium

[dominiquer60]

Jason,

I love when you being this topic up, it make my blood boil and I all too often think about what it could mean for our future. I can only hope that with budget restraints this will soon become a dead issue, but money is involved so I am reminded that money does talk. Although ID is not federally mandated yet, gun-ho state like NYS have their own invasive mandated premises registration that there is no getting out of. Of course they did this quietly without making any waves until it was too late. I really like the state vet and vet tech that I have to deal with as the poultry superintendent at my county fair. However I may eventually resign prematurely because I will refuse to be part of the bureaucratic system if they require more than they currently do. The vet tech was a neighbor where I used to live, she showed up one day to do a mandatory “pig feeder” inspection and the next thing you know APHIS is sending us a premises #. I know she was just doing her job, but knowing 6 other pig owners that didn’t have this happen really gets to me. I could go on for ours about how terrible this plan is, but instead I will give a call and try for the fourth time to become unregistered with the USDA at least, hopefully they will actually send the paperwork this time.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

There is a freeze warning tonight, I am sure that the dog will be happy to stay in the truck. Carl your exposed hands in that picture make mine ache just thinking about working tonight. I don’t care what part of the country I am in, but freezing temps, a wind advisory, working outside and wet hands are never a good combo for me, they stiffen right up and become useless. I carry a water heater with me and keep a bucket of water warm to thaw the hands periodically. I

[dominiquer60]

That’s a great one Jen, Thank You and Ted for sharing it. It is great how many things can be applicable to horses, humans and most animals, I wish more people would catch onto this.
Erika

[dominiquer60]

Hi Jean.

I didn’t want to hijack Melinda’s intro again, so I decided to use yours instead. It is too bad about the Vermont accent, or New England in general(sitting in the pulling arena a Fryeburg makes you realize the accent is still strong somewhere). You mentioned an auction, I looked on the calender and couldn’t find one. Is it something that you could post or add to the calender? I try to get to a couple good auctions a year if only for social reasons, but I found a great little single horse Syracuse plow at the last one I went to, well worth the trip. I will let you know that I am awful jealous about all this talk about snow and sleighing and such, hopefully I will be able to enjoy a real winter one of these years. Take care and stay warm,
Erika

[dominiquer60]

Don,
She is a beauty, my first thought before I read on was a pair of sturdy handsome red mules, what a great mare to cross with. Do you have a good jack in mind for her? Best of Luck with her, the mule crop and everyone getting along, nice to hear they are off to a good start.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

Sometimes the old pull type combines show up in auctions in the northeast. Smaller farms have a tendency to harbor smaller equipment. We found a Massey 35 at an auction just down the road at the fairgrounds, drove it home that day for $50, what a steal. There must be something in PA, they are the mecca of farm equipment in the northeast, it is a haul, but it is what you make of it.

[dominiquer60]

They are handsome boys, and I can relate to the young chicken whisperer, that was me a while back. Those silkes are a hard breed to sex young. Did you know that they have black skin. A friend sent me a link about how black silkie chickens are a new health fad with the soup that you make from them. http://www.blogofherbs.com/herbs/the-ultimate-kidney-tonic-black-soup They are different looking, but I am not trying to imply that you ax Mabel, just sharing some interesting silkie news.

A fellow member of a certain Ag lobby organization called me lazy for giving up an opportunity he found me to farm a nice sandy 16 acres. I told him I don’t care how much the 4 surrounding developments would want my fresh produce, I am sure that they would not have anything to do with listening to my roosters all day long. If I can’t have roosters because of the neighbors, it is not worth my time, they add too much to my quality of life to farm without them.

[dominiquer60]

Jen,
I am not sure what Duke’s lineage is, after all he was saved from the Alpo can at an auction. I would guess mostly Belgian with other draft horse blood, he was at least 16.2. Skye, the exchange student in the picture, was not at all a short lady. He had bad, mostly neglected, feet and was rather clumsy at times, twice he went to his knees after a good trip over his own feet. He was good natured though and would gather a big breath and get back on his feet before I could get off.

Dolly the other horse I posted was claimed to be a Belgian/Morgan cross, other than the size I never really saw the supposed Morgan in her.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

Consumer Education, and fortunately we are all consumers! Anytime I am around animals and people, generally they are consuming the sites, I take full advantage of answering peoples questions and making them feel important for asking. I run the poultry barn at my county fair and educate folks for 6 days straight, it is tiring, but I take every chance that I can get.

Last year we had a birthing center where a calf was born everyday. One of the calves had to be pulled, it had been in there for longer than the vet and the owner wanted. Two middle aged women behind me were horrified when they pulled the calves out with chains. I reassured them that something far worse could have happened. What, they asked. I told them that the mother and the calf could have both died if they hadn’t pulled the calf. It took a minute to sink in and they admitted that would certainly be worse, but it seems harsh to use chains to pull the calf. such is life the calf is alive, healthy and no worse for wear.

I also have a hen that acts as an PR rep to fair goers, she roams free when I am around to watch her. The smiles that she brings to peoples faces are priceless, if kids are quiet and slow enough she will let them pet her. I explain that not all my hens are this tame but all my hens are treated as well as she is treated. I also used to bring a rooster to the farmers markets, he sat on my sign and greeted customers every week, a priceless tool to promote animal welfare conversation. When I get farming again one of the first things that I will do is to train a new market rooster.

I think you have a good thing going, get animals and people together and use it as a chance to educate them.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

Inevitably I get into an unintentional debate with some welling meaning (aren’t we all) vegan/animal rights person about the use of animals. It usually ends with me trying to explain to them that their over-processed soy based or raw diets can’t be grown without fertilizer. They are usually for organic products and have a really hard time understanding that we can’t grow organic plants without animal based products. So the act of eating organic vegetation promotes the use of animal products and by-products. They get quite at this point and are generally done with the debate. One even told me later on that she became vegetarian but only buys local eggs and dairy that she can visit and trust, I let her know that was the best way to buy everything anyway.

[dominiquer60]

I am laughing with you on that one Carl, that Fredrick does have a glint of trouble in his eyes at times, I can picture it 🙂

[Author]

Posts