[Jay]

What brand is the spreader you have?

[Jay]

I have gone to using vinyl covered collar pads. They do actually seem to irritate less particularly as they get older. The tick faced pads seem to trap hair and dirt into the surface while the vinyl stays clean. I’ve heard a couple of Amishmen say that they started using a vinyl pad on horses that already had and shoulder sore under the collar and the sore would heal under a vinyl pad. The vinyl seems to last at least as long as the tickfaced pads, in my experience.

[Jay]

Thanks for posting, Erika.

[Jay]

I also have a couple of possible mowers that need going over. Southern Vt.

[Jay]

I’m heading down there tomorrow, and coming back Sunday. Hope to see others there. Jay

[Jay]

Thanks. That’s good to know.

[Jay]

I have used parts from a scrapped machine. I haven’t tried to find such a part.

[Jay]

Impressive looking. Does anyone have experience using such a bar?

[Jay]

I have a couple of 5′ bars. Also a 6′. All are stripped down and clean, ready to be rebuilt. Can rebuild also. As Donn said, why switch to a 5′?

[Jay]

Thank you Carl for sharing this gem with the rest of us. So many wonderful little details that our eyes pick up just seeing how he works as you pointed out. Thanks again. Jay

[Jay]

Nice looking bard and hay.

[Jay]

Thanks, Donn. I will try to clarify a couple of things I wrote, as I don’t have any pictures of a spreadstick neck yoke presently. A spread-stick neck yoke is used with either a New England or side backer harness. It has a center ring with 2 chains attached, often about 18-24 inches long, with a larger link at the end of each chain to take one end of the spreadstick and another loop to which a jockey yoke is attached. The 2 chains and the spreadstick form a triangle with the forward point at the ring on the end of the pole and the other 2 points at either end of the spread stick where they meet the chain ends.
The neckyoke in the picture above is as Donn says a straight stick neckyoke, the least flexible neckyoke style, however it also takes less pole length than the more flexible yokes, and has it’s uses as in the 4 abreast pictured above.
Jay

[Jay]

I used to use exclusively neckyokes with a spread stick and chain on each side to keep the (permanently attached) yokes spaced apart. We have gone to using separate able jockey yokes in almost all applications. Two immediate advantages come to mind:1) less pole length required- the chain to the spreadstick ads 8″ to a foot of length of pole needed, and 2) the jockey yokes are movable from one neck yoke to another and they work with a standard neck yoke that is readily available commercially. A big plus in practical terms.
I think the spreadstick neckyokes are a bit more flexible in allowing the horses to see-saw a bit more if that is helpful- as in a logging situation, where as on a wagon I would tend not to want that flexibility.
Jay

[Jay]

I have found that sometimes the bottom gets bunged up by running over stones, etc. I have found a 3/8 socket fits. A Dremmel will grind out the corners if needed.

[Jay]

I have no idea how well elm holds up when wet. It is great as I understand it for not splitting- it’s almost impossible to split for firewood. Used to be used for wheel hubs.

[Author]

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