Forum Replies Created
- AuthorPosts
Howling Farmer
ParticipantYes, I saw the salt blocks at the feed store, but was wondering if they would get a correct dose. I lived most of my life in an area in California where we had to worry about too much selenium (even in the public water supply), so it’s hard to get used to the idea of it being something you actually want to add.
Jean — thanks for posting the article!
ParticipantThanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, the mower is stored outside as our barn is small and already full. That’s a good idea to find a jack that could attach to the mower. That way I don’t have to worry about a crash to the ground.
LeslieParticipantKristan — I was wondering how your horse was doing on the diet. Your post actually prompted me to think that maybe my Haflinger also has EPSM. Similar symptoms to yours. I was wondering how you are feeding the Vitamin E and Selenium. Are you using “people supplements?” I looked at Tractor Supply and didn’t find anything for horses. Haven’t check with the feed mill yet.
LeslieParticipantPammy — the plow plows the width of the driveway, or enough to get a vehicle through, so it only takes as long as it takes to walk the horse up and down the driveway. How well it works really depends on the conditions. My driveway is almost a quarter mile, slight incline, right in the middle of fields and prone to terrible drifting. If the snow is light and fluffy, the plow works great. If the drifts get too bad, the plow tends to zig zag around them. Not sure if this is because it isn’t heavy enough. If the snow piles up too much, the plow tends to compact it rather than plow through it. If you plow right after it snows and don’t get bad drifting, I think it would be adequate. Last winter, I was able to keep the top of my driveway, where there’s no drifting, open. The bottom became impassible about halfway through when the snow started piling up and we got some big dumps.
LeslieParticipantDonn — Yes, it was a left turn as we were opening the field. That’s good to know about right turns being easier. Sounds like if we can get the field open, then the turns might be easier. The first cutting we’re working on, I’ve just been making “straight shot” passes down the end of it, I rest at the end and then we walk back to the beginning, not mowing. The part we’re mowing is mostly on a slight down slope. Sometimes he still slows and we plug, but it’s usually only once or twice, not every few feet or so. Yesterday we just did 3 passes on the first cutting (about 200 feet each) and today all he’s going to do is haul in the hay on tarps. So I’m thinking tomorrow to try clipping again. The pasture he’s been in is pretty well eaten down, so there shouldn’t be a problem with plugging to clip it.
LeslieParticipantMowed second cutting yesterday for the first time. Pretty much a disaster…thought I’d get an early start before it got warm since the horse seems to be having such a hard time pulling the mower. BAD IDEA — the grass was still soaked from the rain the night before. Did okay on the first stretch because it was downhill and Milt kept going at a good clip. Slowed down at the corner and we were done for, swamped in a tangle of clover, alfalfa and bedstraw….
LeslieParticipantPammy — Here are some pictures we took last winter. Let me know if you want some when the plow isn’t covered with snow and I can take more.
LeslieParticipantCould a single 14hh pony move a round bale (besides just down hill…)? I had a neighbor offer to round bale some of my hay for me, but I didn’t think my Haflinger could move them.
LeslieParticipantHi Pammy and welcome. I’m new to the forum too and still learning, learning, learning…as someone who is new to horse farming too, feel free to ask any questions. All the learning experiences are still fresh in my mind…our latest endeavor is mowing hay, but we’re still going to have to buy some.:(
LeslieParticipantThanks for the welcomes and making me feel like I’m not the only one who has had some mishaps along the way…
Scott — “stumps up the butt” made me laugh!
Pammy — we use a homemade snow plow. It’s two heavy boards nailed together to a short piece of 4″X4″ to form a “V.” Then more heavy boards going across the top to brace it. I nailed a small wooden box to the top to sit on. Sometimes my daughter sits on it too, if we need it to be heavier to plow deeper (we’re each only 100 lbs. each). Easy enough to build (if I can do it, anyone can do it…) Let me know if you’re interested and want a picture or dimensions. If I’m remembering correctly, your horse is about the same size as mine. It works well if you plow right after it snows. If you let the snow build up or get icy, it tends to ride on top and act more like a sled than a plow.
LeslieParticipantRichard — A mowing video sounds like a great idea. Before I started to mow, I went and got some instruction from Donn. Mowing is complicated, I am finding. A lot to keep track of all at the same time. I still feel like I’m trying to pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time. I’ll be interested to hear how your Haflingers do. Milt is a reluctant mower and I’m trying to figure out if it’s the mower not working at its best, too much mower for too little a horse, or simply a lazy, overweight, out-of-shape equine.
LeslieParticipantThere is an adjustable shoe. To adjust, there’s a bolt that goes up and down in a groove. I wasn’t seeing how to adjust it because there weren’t any holes and it seems to float. Now I see that what I need to do is tighten it to stay in one place. To adjust the mower height higher, should I push the bolt down to the bottom of the groove (thus lowering the shoe), or should I push it up more towards the top to raise the shoe? I thought I remember reading somewhere that the bar is supposed to be level?
I’m finding the heat a double whammy for getting weight off. Not only am I working Milt less, but it’s harder to monitor his pasture time. I was putting him out for a couple hours in the a.m. and p.m., but with the flies and heat, he wasn’t going out and was only going out to eat at night, just as I was going to bed, when all he had access to was his sacrifice area. When I’d go to work him, all he could think about was eating whatever was in front of him. So I stopped locking him out of the pasture. He still mostly only goes out to eat at night, but I still think he’s getting more than he needs, even though the pasture is one that’s already been eaten down by the cows.
LeslieParticipantHi Donn, yes you did mention the mower height. I adjusted the shoe (I think it’s called) on the mower head to the second highest notch because that’s what I read in your post that you had done. The adjustment at the end of the bar seems to float. I don’t quite see how to adjust that.
I’ll check to see if timing is easy to adjust. Took a look at it earlier, but wasn’t quite sure still what I was supposed to be looking for. Need to re-read Mitch’s post more carefully.
Today I’m thinking part of Milt’s problem may well be the heat. Took him out during a break from the t-storms for a short cart ride to deliver milk to the neighbors. By the time we’d gotten him hitched up, the weather had gotten hotter and quite humid. Was only a 1/2 mile each way, cart with myself and my daughter, each of us weighing all of 100 lbs. each. Milt was one pokey puppy. I need to get some weight off of him.
Leslie
ParticipantHi Mitch, thank you for explaining register! My understanding of the workings of the mower is still quite limited (although expanding rapidly….) When I work the blade manually, the knife stops about 1/8 inch short of lining up with the next “set” of knives. So does this mean it’s out of register? The mower does a nice even job of cutting and the only time it clogs is when Milt stalls in heavy hay, or I run over thick hay that I’ve already cut. On the other mower I just picked up but haven’t set up to use yet, the knife stops just past the next “set.” So maybe that’s out of register too? Is adjusting the register difficult? I ordered the manual for my mower a month ago, but it somehow never got here. SFJ is sending another one but it hasn’t gotten here yet. Thanks.
ParticipantHi Richard,
I’m the one Donn mentioned who just started mowing with my Haflinger. Have you gotten your mower up and running yet? Mine is quite similar. It’s a New Ideal, which was made by Deering, but looks almost identical to yours. I actually just picked up another mower too that is the same as yours. Might need to pick your brain at some point when I go to get it running, although it does work now.I’d be curious to hear how your mowing goes. Mowing is much harder work than Milt is used to, and I’m having a hard time keeping him going. I saw the great pictures of you cultivating. What other work do you do with your Haflingers?
Leslie- AuthorPosts