[Howling Farmer]

The plow does tend to take the path of least resistance. Our driveway is 2/10 of a mile long and we usually make one run, down and up, going in the same track, without widening. The plow does a good job if the snow is light and fluffy and we plow right away. If the snow is heavy and icy, or if there’s a ton of it, the plow will push some to the sides, and just compact the rest. It doesn’t go a very good job with drifts, tending to go around them. We have one really bad section as far as drifts and couldn’t keep it open with the plow after the big storm last winter. The rest of the driveway we were able to keep open, but since the bad section is at the bottom, we were effectively “snowed out” as far as getting our truck up. This year we put up a section of snow fence, so we’ll see if that makes it possible to keep the whole drive open with the plow.

I knew a fellow who made the same type of plow who put some type of heavy roller in the back to make the plow heavier. He may have had better luck in deep, heavy snow, but he also had two horses to pull the plow though.
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

The two boards that make the “V” are 6 foot 2X12s, bolted to a stub of a 4X4 to join them at the point. At the widest point, the plow is 8 1/2 feet wide. Yes, the box is a seat. My knees got sore kneeling, and I just happened to have this box lying around that needed to be put to use. Last year I used a heavy logging chain to attach the plow to the singletree, using small heavy duty caribeeners to attach the chain to the eyelets on the plow. I seem to have managed to misplace the chain, so this year I may try using a length of heavy duty climbing rope, with the caribeeners attached to the ends. The is what I use to pull most everything.

A couple of notes — be sure to get the eyelets right up near the point of the plow. The first time I put them in, I put them too far back and the plow fishtailed really badly, plowing my driveway in an interesting but not very functional zigzag. Also, in arranging the boards on the top, I would be sure to leave enough space between two of the boards for a place to wedge your feet against so you have some leverage.

I’m sure you could build the plow, Jen. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it.

Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

I am reducing my asking price to $1,100. Riley is currently producing 2 and 3/4 gallons. A current photo is attached. I have 50 square bales of second cutting hay that could go with her for $2.00 a bale. She is really a wonderful cow and a great producer.

I would be willing to do a partial trade for a nicely-bred registered (or registerable) Alpine doe (or doeling ready to breed late Nov./Dec.)

Thanks,
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Donn — sounds like your progress is similar to mine…I have had to take in Milt’s collar and belly band, but he is still fat. I thought he was looking pretty good, but the shoer pointed out all the areas filled with flab. As a skinny person, I never really appreciated how hard it is to lose weight. I need to measure him again. On the Rural Heritage site, there’s a place where you can put in the girth and length measurements, using a regular tape measure, and it will calculate the weight. Don’t know how accurate it is. Interesting to hear your thoughts on the grazing muzzle, because that has been suggested and I’ve been resistant, partly because I thought Milt would rub it.

I use single polywire, not Electronet, for horses too. I was just asking for size in terms of Electronet because if he’s following the goats, the size I would make his paddock would be based on theirs.

Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Kristan — Could you provide a bit more detail about the paddock size you use and how many horses? If you use Electronet, estimating in terms of how many of the nettings would be great. How long are the horses in the pasture before they are moved? I’ve been putting my horse in after my cows, but am thinking of putting him in after the goats (different pastures) instead. Thanks!
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Donn —
I was just curious how your weight-loss reduction program was going and what you are doing now. Milt has lost some (between haying and clipping and keeping the lawn cut he is on the Acres to Mow Weight Loss Reduction Program), but my farrier just came out and said he’s still too fat and needs to lose 100-150 lbs.
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Here are some photos of Milt mowing. We were clipping a pasture, but then the cuttings were so nice, I ended up baling it since I still need hay. Sorry the quality of the pictures isn’t so great. It started raining as soon as we got out there, and then my daughter left for two weeks to California, so no opportunity for re-takes.

blue80 — the pole idea works great!! I use two bamboo stakes overlapped with the small ends duct taped together to make it long enough. Does take a bit of coordination, and I have accidentally goosed Milt a couple of times! But he’s going great. Today we mowed second cutting with no plugs due to too-slow horse speed (of course there were plugs due to my steering of the cutter bar into the already-mowed hay…) Thanks for the suggestion.

Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Anya — I’ll get you more pictures of the plow. Right now it’s buried in weeds! But as soon as I get a chance I’ll excavate and do a photoshoot.
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

I enjoy hearing about your Haflingers and would love to hear more about your haying process. I’m doing hay for the first time this year, and am still figuring out the best system for getting enough in without spending every free moment making hay. I do enjoy it, but my garden has been sorely neglected this summer and I still have firewood to stack! Do you stack your loose hay in the barn? I’ve been baling mine using this hand baler I made from plans off the internet. I like the idea of hauling the hay in with a trailer. I have a lightweight 4X6 trailer as well, but unfortunately no forecart. We’ve been hauling hay in on tarps, but it definitely limits how much I can get in at one time.
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

blue80 — No, I’m not worried he’s going to take off with the mower. It was more the opposite problem of him refusing to budge with the mower. My question about the lines was — when you need two hands to pull out a plug, where’s the safest place to put the lines so they’re accessible but won’t get caught up in the wheel if the horse starts to walk off? Milt actually stands really well, but I still don’t want the lines to be in a place where they might get caught in the wheel if he did walk off.

Good idea with the pole (although it might take a bit of coordination on my part.) As much as possible, I want Milt to feel he is source of his own consequences. Your suggestion of telling him “whoa” when he stopped reminded me of a friend of mine who was having trouble with her teenage son. Her counselor advised her that as he was storming out of the house, she should be telling him to take a walk!
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Thank you for your concerns. I did have that same concern. I would not have gotten off if I wasn’t extremely confident that he was going anywhere in this situation. Of course, I know, any horse can take off at any time without any notice.

The problem was, he really needed a swat, not a tickle. I had tried a longer buggy whip, but I couldn’t find one where the “solid” part went long enough. I tried to makeshift a solid part, but it just wasn’t solid enough and kept flopping around. Getting someone else to persuade is an idea, but it seems like the timing really needs to be just right, and I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel having someone else walking on the ground with the mower engaged. Maybe that would have been a better idea though. I think I would have a concern about someone else mowing while I persuaded. Just my thought, but I don’t really have anyone around with any driving experience, and, to me, it would seem more likely for an inexperienced person to lose control driving, especially on that tractor seat, than a more experienced person on the ground. Also more likely for the horse to act up, I would think. Milt always tries to get away with things if someone else is driving.

Fortunately, the persuasion seems to have done it’s trick, so I’m back to my “never get off the mower with the blade engaged” rule.

While we’re talking about mowing safety — does anyone have a recommendation as to the safest place to put the lines if I’m cleaning out a plug? Normally, I hold onto them, but sometimes I need two hands to pull the bar up out of the grass if it’s really stuck. If I drape them over the mower, it seems like they could get caught in the wheel if Milt started to walk off. Maybe in front of the bar on the ground? Milt stands well, but of course I still want them handy.

Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

There’s an Amish fellow, Henry Esh (not sure if that’s the correct spelling for his last name) — Locust Lane Harness Shop over in Romulus, which is close to me. I would think there might be someone closer to you. There is a large Mennonite population over near Penn Yan/Dundee that uses horses — I would think there would be someone there.

There’s a picture of Milt in the photos under the working the single horse section. Just a funny shot I took of me hitching him to our lawn tractor. I’m hoping to take some of him pulling the sickle bar mower this weekend. Yes, I’d like to see some of your guy too.
Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Joshua — I would agree with you that sometimes these guys need a wake up call. When I first got my Haflinger, a friend who has Haflingers asked me if mine had a “pony personality.” Having only had horses, I wasn’t sure what she meant…of course, I was soon to find out. It seems like it’s always something. Milt’s latest is that he can now pull the mower fast enough to mow hay and snack in the process. That’s what I get for still having tall first cutting left to mow.

Richard — I’ve been meaning to post pictures. I’ll try to get my daughter to take some this weekend.

Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Welcome! I just joined too and also have a 13.3 hand draft pony and live in the Finger Lakes. Whereabouts do you live? I live about 10 miles outside of Ithaca, near Trumansburg.

Leslie

[Howling Farmer]

Milt seems to have figured out the mowing. Had a retired farmer friend out last week to check out the mower. He thought it was running fine. Went out the next day to clip a pasture. Milt kept balking. I’ve been concerned that the mower was too heavy, but I’ve also been suspicious that some of Milt’s reluctance boiled down “bratty poniness.”

So finally I got off the mower and walked on the left so I could reach his butt with the whip. I have a rule about never getting off the mower with the blade engaged, but it seemed like as safe a situation as possible. We were in a pasture he’d been in for a week, and in his mind, he was hitched to the Titanic.

Mowed downhill, and as he started to slow around the turn to go up, I popped him a good one. I swear you could see the thought bubble over his head — “I didn’t think she could reach me!” Shot forward about three steps, then slowed to a steady walk. I had to get after him a couple more times as we went around, and then he went around once without stalling at all, so we quit.

Since then, I’ve adjusted the hitch so I can reach his butt from the seat, but I haven’t really had to get after him at all. He’s been mowing better and better. Today he actually seemed to enjoy himself, accelerating on his own on the inclines. I enjoyed myself too.

Leslie

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