[HeeHawHaven]

Circle J trailers in Caldwell is going out of business….another recession death!

They make good quality trailers. I used to chat with a guy who consulted for them on another forum. He believed in them….

Here’s a link to the auction company. It looks like they show the inventory. You should be able to get a good price unless people are just bidding crazily.

https://www.musickauction.com/servlet/SelectAuction.do?auctionId=129

I have a 16 ft. bumper pull – 7 ft. high. I would definitely get 7 ft. and as wide as you can afford. I like the bumper pull so I can put my pop up truck camper in the bed.

Good Luck!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

No way, you’re not meeting! And, stay off Craigslist….free is not free! She got me started on all the animals – reptiles too!

Now, I’m the one responsible for keeping up a 10 acre property and many animals. I take care of the large ones – mules, donks, horse, cow, etc…. she and our son take care of the smaller ones. But, when something needs to be built, it’s usually me and her Dad. Hopefully, I don’t sound angry, I love every minute of it. Spent 4 or 5 hours on the tractor today mucking out stalls and re-grading the driveway. Only thing better than time on a tractor would have been using a horse or mule to do the work, but we’re not there yet!

Well Linda, welcome again… Just no encouraging Tracy!:D

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Hi Robert,

Welcome to the forum. Your input will be greatly appreciated. I have so much to learn and love to hear from all sides…..

What is your take on using draft animals in terms of ecology and sustainability? Do you have farm experience with and without draft animals?

Also, I listen to NPR quite a bit and have been hearing a lot about the trend back to smaller farms, with less large equipment, and higher yields with less cost. Many farmers think that farms will go back to the models from the 1920’s again. Are these trends that you see as well and are they going in the right direction?

Thanks,

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Fjords are also considered draft ponies, but mine is 15 H and 1200+lbs.. Most are smaller. They have great draft personalities, similar to Haflingers.

We also have donkeys, but have not driven them yet, but many are successful in situations like yours and are easy keepers. Plus, you’ll have a lifelong friend! They live forever…..our Jack is probably 40.

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Welcome, enjoy the forum. I have learned lots. Be careful of that rescue characteristic, it can get out of control…..just look at my wife…..:)

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Here’s a video of them gathering, penning and roping on longhorns!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3n3biKFadw&eurl=http://www.premierlonghorns.com/RidingLonghorns.html

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

We have some people in Kuna here that ride longhorns and take them places for pictures. They’re huge. I don’t remember what they had for steering – I think a halter.

Here’s a link to a ranch that raises longhorns for driving and riding.

http://www.premierlonghorns.com/RidingLonghorns.html

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

@wantj43 6737 wrote:

Not certain how much being a “horse”or “mule” person has to with personality and or exposure especially at an early age. However, certainly all are not created equal in our ability to handle or learn to work with animals.

Joe (Ak)

Joe, I agree. I used to be fearful of horses! I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. But now, after much exposure to them and the necessity of being the leader of the house and therefore the mules, donks, and horse, I am very comfortable with them and think I have really good “horse/mule/donkey” sense. They all totally see me as the leader and I have a good report with them.

My kids also show different abilities with the animals. Early on, our daughter had a better connection with the mules. Now, it appears that Christian has caught on, especially with driving – he seems to be a natural!

But, I will agree that some are just not cut out for it no matter what.

I also enjoyed the mule loggers. I just enjoyed seeing them work. I don’t know enough to know if they were doing things right, but seeing mules represented in a good way on tv is good for me!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Welcome to the forum! How cool of you to think ahead. Not many did, including me!

I love Argentinean food … would love to come down. We’ll have to save up for that. I think they have some cool horse riding vacations down there!

The house looks great!

Do you have plans to work the land with animals? I have mules, donkeys and a horse. What is the main working animal down there?

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Just got off the phone with them. Really nice gentleman, makes them right there to your specs.

I’ll be able to get one for Duke for between $220 and $270 in beta or leather. I’m going to give him measurements in the next day or so and get a quote. He’s also sending a catalog. He’s “old school” – uses the phone and catalogs more than the internet. Sounds like someone I can work with.

If this works out, I can get a team harness in the range of $600 for the Fjules!

I still would like to hear more comments if anyone else is familiar with this company, but so far so good.

D

[HeeHawHaven]

Can anyone tell them apart? I still can’t even after about 4 months with them! I know the younger one is goofier, but when they’re right next to each other, I have no idea which is which!

They’ll make a great matching team(pair).

D

[HeeHawHaven]

Bivol,

That’s why we have the Fjord mules!

You’ve made excellent points! If you’re going to create a mule, use the best available!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

@becorson 6135 wrote:

Congratulations on getting such a great little horse. hope to hear (and see) more.

Is he little? He’s 15H, 1300 lbs. Probably will lose 100 now that he’s working again. I guess compared to most of you that have 18H Belgians and Percherons!

He’s bigger than all but one of our mules. We have a 17H Walker mule, Bubba.

I’m actually having a hard time finding a harness for him. He’s bigger than the horse harnesses I find, but much smaller than the draft harnesses. His girth is at 82″ right now, but will go down with conditioning. We already have the heavy duty work harness and collar. I think I’d like a light duty for his cart that’s easy enough for the wife to harness up.

I found this one on line….(see attached pic) I’ve asked who made it and where it was made and am still waiting. They want $600. I’m also looking into the St. Paul saddlery, but I find it weird that there are no pictures on line and no email contact. I guess I’ll have to call them.

I did get a call from Camptown Harness http://www.camptownharness.com/index.php?pg=Harness&i=1

I think theirs is high quality, but I am not sure I’m willing to spend that much right now. The harness is $899 with the breast collar style and $999 with their freedom collar.

http://www.camptownharness.com/index.php?pg=Freedom%20Collars

She recommended the freedom collar for us because of the Fjord’s thick neck build.

I guess the Camptown Harness is really popular with the Marathon driving competitors. My wife will probably want to do that at some point.

I still say that the St. Paul Saddlery sound like a keeper for us at this time – as long as we don’t hear any real negatives on them.

We’ll also ask around at our next get togethers with the driving club. Someone may have a nice harness for sale.

I guess we can live with the work harness for now. It’ll help condition him faster!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

@Donn Hewes 6087 wrote:

Hi Dave, He looks great. You will be amazed at how much one can do. Donn

Donn, we’re already amazed! He’s a good willing boy! We had him out today with a saddle on and Christian hopped up. I led them around for a little bit, then Christian took over! Duke only had a halter on with reins hooked up on the buckles on either side. Christian found out that Duke will “Gee and Haw” even when you’re sitting on him.

We’re going to have him out on a trail ride this weekend with the driving club. We’ll take along 2 or 3 mules as out riders too.

I can’t wait to see Duke assisting us in the training of them young Fjord mules! I think we’re going to start pulling them along behind the cart to get them used to the exercise and the noise.

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

@Robert MoonShadow 6082 wrote:

Hey Dave ~ Looks like everyone’s having a ball! I was going to ask you; does that cart have the standard (lightweight) wheels that usually come with that type of cart? The reason I ask is because in the Breyer – the magazine put out by the ADMS, there’s quite a few people who drive that type, and most reccomend switching to motorcycle tires = much sturdier & built for hitting rough terrain & bumps {potholes, curbs, etc.} – so are considered a good deal safer than the usual type found on these… and they evidently give a smoother ride – for you and the animal – being somewhat larger/wider. They should fit without much adaptation. For the price of a couple of used motorcycle rims/tires at a junk yard, they might be worth looking into.
Just a thought.
If I remember correctly, there’s s couple of half-forgotten back roads across the scrubbrush in that area; one comes out on Pleasant Valley Road just about a half-mile south of the prisons (used pretty much only by prison guards that live in Kuna to get to work), another goes from Kuna kinda parrelling the regular road, heads towards Black Creek “resevoir” & the public shooting range. You might like the scenic drive along those roads, with your cart, especially in the Spring, with all the wildflowers blooming.
Just (another) thought.

Robert, the cart has a beefier rim than bike rims, but not quite motorcycle. The bike shop guy thought they were very good, but they don’t have adjustable spokes. You can’t put them back in round if they’re off. I put new beach bike tires on with heavy duty mountain bike tubes filled with slime and a kevlar liner to keep the goat’s heads from popping the tube. I think we’re good.

We get to try it out this weekend in the foothills by Eagle. We haven’t gotten him a light harness yet, so he’ll be pulling that little cart in a work harness with a collar! That’s ok, it will help get him in better shape quicker! He’s a little floopy right now and needs to muscle up some.

We have lots of those types of trails you’re talking about right here. We can go about 2 miles down the road and link up with trails through BLM land that goes to Initial Point and beyond!

Dave

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