[Hopewell Farm]

Like Carl, I had lazy straps for the hold back straps made from 3/4″ leather with a conway buckle and snap. I think they are currently adjusted to about 15″ inches in length. For me they only suspend the neck yoke during hitching, once I have the trace chains attached and adjusted properly there is no tension on the lazy straps.

I also had lazy straps for the traces made as the ones that came with my harness were much too short for ground skidding or implements with low hitch points (distorted rear trace putting pressure on hip drop/spider). These I had made from 1″ leather with a conway buckle and snap so I could remove them altogether when using carts and wagons as the straps serve no purpose with high hitch vehicles. I also use a 3″ ring which is what the trace runs through. I have found that the trace slides much easier through the ring (verses some type of leather piece), which allows some lift of the trace when needed (no load) but allows the lazy strap to slide up toward the D-ring when under load thus eliminating tension on the lazy strap from being transferred up to the hip drop. Similar to the front hold back strap lazy straps I don’t want any tension on these lazy straps either when under load. Right now I have these straps adjusted to about 20″ in length.

I added a couple of pictures to show the straps in use, it was hard to get one with the trace lazy straps under load as the black leather disappears against the the black coats.

John

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[Hopewell Farm]

Thanks Carl. It’s a little bit of a hike for me, but if I do end up going I will keep any eye out for you.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Carl ny, where is the April 5 auction in Cobleskill? I’m assuming equipment, tack, etc?

[Hopewell Farm]

Thanks for the update George.

Your ice has to be melted now, I was dealing with runoff and rotten snowpack in the woods down here today. Felt like March weather, working in a tee shirt in January is a little odd….

[Hopewell Farm]

George,

Are you still happy with your purchase? No breakages or issues to this point?

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Donn,

I think the one you are thinking about was posted by one of our members out in the midwest maybe? I seem to remember a video of it in action, last winter or maybe the winter before? Sorry I can remember the username though, not much help.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

I don’t think I have ever started mine with the compression release, even when cold. It seems to always start within the first few pulls.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

This arch has been sold.

Thanks for the networking George!

[Hopewell Farm]

Brad,

I bought a 576XP autotune saw last year, as the shop I deal with said in the coming years all saws will be moving to autotune versions due to emissions standards. I have had no issues thus far with mine, but I don’t have a lot of miles on it as of yet. I have used it in hot and cold weather and have had no issues with starting in either condition. I would say I am overall happy with mine at this point.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Brad,

Thanks for the invite, I will catch up with you this week and see what you guys are up to.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Hey George,

I will give him a call, thank you for the lead.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Hey Brad,

I purchased Paul Welch’s Barden Cart and will be using that moving forward.

How are you and Bob making out, not too much wet weather recently.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

This arch has been sold.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Hello George,

You are correct I do also have a Forrest Logging Arch (which is also for sale). I had intended to do exactly what you are asking, use both decide which one I like better and sell the other. However, last week I had an opportunity to use a Barden cart for the week and decided that neither of the above were exactly what I was looking for. Between the two I think I would have opted for the Forrest Arch, with some modifications needed similar to what you have done with yours. Instead I went down to southern NH over the weekend and bought the Barden cart that was posted on the forum a week or so ago.

John

[Hopewell Farm]

Carl,

Your rectangle analogy is one of your many ideas that I remember from our first meeting. I use this more when driving with both lines in one hand, which I realize isn’t exactly a rectangle but if I’m holding a single tree or chain in the other hand I can indicate a turn as needed by moving my body and there by changing the angle of the bit in the horses mouth as you describe above without having to adjust the lines. I use this approach along with gee or haw when hooking to logs in the woods.

[Author]

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