[Donn Hewes]

Carl, That is a good idea, I will try to add that tonight. Just for interest – no one need put too much time into it. I know my list is almost entirely 2 x 6 and 2 x 8. and long. These will require a consistently good log. I have talked with the person I plan to buy from once, but he mentioned I will have to “work with what I get”. He said he was getting into better trees later in July. I am thinking I will try to order logs with a minimum Dia. don’t know if he wants to hear that. Small logs will not do me much good. I guess I do need 2 x 4 for roof purlins.

[Donn Hewes]

Thanks Rick and George, I am not sure if this Larch is the same as your Tamarack. I suspect it is European Larch, as it was all planted in plantations here by the CCC. Your advice about using it green may still be true though. I will need to ask a couple people about that. It would be nice to dry it some as it is heavy.

[Donn Hewes]

Funny how some nice bridles will rub. I have a couple old bridles that I really like the way they look. I try them on every new horse I bring home. They rub every time! I don’t discourage folks from using halters under bridles and the ability to tie up is huge, but I got use to looking at horses with out the halter and just like it better. It is easy to add a couple pieces and add a halter to a bridle.

[Donn Hewes]

second try

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[Donn Hewes]

Maybe not the best pic but here is one.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Jared, I have recently been working with some horses without the bridle / halter and it just confirmed that I like them. I think they are really best made by adding a couple pieces to a bridle and not a halter. Halters don’t fit on a horses head the way a bridle does and the purpose of that is to hold a bit stable. I suppose a good fitting halter would work.

To convert a bridle to a bridle halter combo just add a strap long enough to go under the mouth and back. If you look at one from a leather halter it might be a little short as the halter ring often rides a little lower on the horse than a bridle ring. Then you just need the short connecting piece that slips on the throat latch and has a ring on the near end.

Because I wanted a couple new bridles anyway I had them made at Locust Lane Harness shop in Romulus, but any harness shop could make them or just add the pieces to existing bridles.

[Donn Hewes]

Good thing I had two people to ted the hay today. One could drive the team of three while the other picked up the wheels and washers that kept falling off! Just the other day i changed out all the wheel for solid plastic wheels, but I had to fab up some special washer to make then fit. One of the washers that I welded completely disintegrated, like turned to soft fiber. Very weird. it is tedded and drying now. I need a little nap and then I will go out an grease the rakes and get the baler ready! D

[Donn Hewes]

we mowed about 5 acres yesterday. I am hoping I can ted it today and bale it tomorrow, but the high today is only 70! We shall see. Threat of rain on Thur. I am working with Jay Fisher’s horse, Zeek, here on a loan; one young mule, Lee; my Percheron mare, Lady; and two of Bill West’s Suffolk Geldings, Aldo and Sam. Combined with two young teamsters it makes for fun mixing and matching.

[Donn Hewes]

The plastic decking would be nice, but I have also used marine grade plywood to good effect. Much cheaper.

[Donn Hewes]

Why do you feel this would work better? If you look at the tractor the hitch is much longer than the PTO shaft. If you make it longer you may find some shaft don’t telescope down short enough.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Brad, can you email them to me? tripletree at frontiernet dot net. I will also check with Daniel and see if he know why we are having this problem. D

[Donn Hewes]

can you post a couple pictures or a link to photos? I might be able to help if you do. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

I am guessing that plow is a walking plow? It can be hard to fit rolling coulters on some walking plows. but usually it can be done. I have seen a bracket with the groove you describe. Some of these plows came with jointers instead of coulters; but a coulter will work better for plowing sod and such. I would check with “farmer Browns Plowshop”. If you can find a coulter that will work it might come with it’s own bracket.

[Donn Hewes]

I think the winter time activities are great idea. I seldom worry about the “physique”, but maintaining activities keeps the relationship where it needs to be. In my experience that can be a bigger challenge than fitness. I typically feed hay in winter and pasture and hay in summer, plus good free choice minerals and salt.

[Donn Hewes]

If someone wants to make a slightly lower wagon floor you can build these with out the 4 x 4 cross beams. I stold my wagon design (no front standard for baling hay), from another Amish community near by. I bolt down 3×10 long beams on the running gear. Then nail directly to that 1 1/2″ or 2″ floor boards across. Nailing this is so simple and fast. I use big gaps too like David. There is one critical finishing step. Use a top and bottom 1×3 or 1×4 on each outside edge of the floor. Bolt through these to clamp the floor boards (a 3/8 carriage bolt every 2′ apx). This ties all the floor boards together at the edge. Flat 4″ plate can be folded and drilled to make good standard pockets that bolt right on the end of the 3×10. This is a very simple and low way to build a flat wagon. These standard pockets actually work better than bolting on verticals as those bolt holes will start to give a little.

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