[J-L]

Crazy out here in Wyoming this year too Karl. Last year we had one of the biggest snowpacks on record, water ran high until August, and we had a hell of a time getting ground dry enough to hay. Fast forward to this year and we had a tiny snowpack, and have had no moisture to speak of for over 60 days (we’re talking less than 10% of normal) and have severe drought.
We also had a very warm March and April, but it was followed by a cool May so not much growth now.
I’m hoping for a little better than half a hay crop and am starting to cull cattle out…long time ’til fall.

[J-L]

Mark, I second karl on this. I too was very skeptical about the vinyl. However, I’ve found it to be as advertised. I would rather use them than the deer hair/ticking pads.

[J-L]

I agree that it’s not every horse that is able to do that job. I have seen more mules that like that slow pace than horses. Also, some horse won’t like that pace until they are good and mature it seems like. How old are they?

[J-L]

This proffessor wasn’t really saying that he was swayed (or others) by this, but the fact was that there is pressure or influence there. We didn’t have a chance to really delve into it to far and he didn’t name any agencies (hmmm… what agency deals with agriculture?). Actually this particular person was very interested in how we are working it out.
Interestingly we’ve been contacted by a few students to study our layout and try and figure out ways to improve our operation. From kids at CSU and another school in WY. It seems they have a hard time finding anyone that is a full time cow/calf operation that’s under 300 head of cattle. They are all amazed at the low overhead, especially equipment and fuel costs.

[J-L]

Looks really good you guys. I will be haying here around the 15th of July. Seems like a long way off. Drought here will mean a shorter haying season.
I am amazed at how many times you have to ted your hay back east there. Sometimes I can rake in a day and a half then bale the next day out here in the dry climate we have. Down in the river bottom where the trees block the wind and the ground may be more damp it will take an extra day or two.
No tedders around here.

[J-L]

“Just my two bits” no pun intended!

[J-L]

I agree with sickle hocks and others in that you need to try to find what works fore each individual horse, and especially developing good hands. It takes a lot of time on the lines or reins, especially if you’re not horseback or harnessed up daily.
A good reining horse trainer once said that being ‘light’ is being only as hard as you have to be. This is true, and I’ve seen horses made heavy and unresponsive by never having been made to give to the bit.
As far as a horse not liking the bit, I suspect there are some things that can be taught to help them understand what you’re telling them with the bit. Also giving them time to get used to it once they understand what it all means. I have seen very, very few horses that can’t tolerate a ring snaffle with some teaching.
I do think that as your horses age and get used more and more that some will need different bits. I (like Jen) have found that mullen mouth or low port bit to work great for a lot of different horses when you need something other than a snaffle. I like the elbow bits and Kimberwicks. You can hook them up at the ring for a very soft mouth or drop them down for one that needs a little more pressure.
I broke a lot of saddle horses with a bosal and transition them to a bit. I have never driven a horse with anything other than a bit (not saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done) because I’ve never seen one that couldn’t be taught to work in a bit out of hundreds of horses and mules.
Just my two bits.

[J-L]

Sorry to hear that Geoff. If I were closer I’d come and help you rebuild. Too bad about the calves too. Hope your insurance will cover the stuff inside the building as well as the building its self. Glad no people were hurt.

[J-L]

I just put the recommended 80 weight in mine. I may drain it out this year and try something lighter and see if there is really any difference. I’m not convinced you’ll see any difference, but I’ll give it a try first before I make up my mind.
By the way, nobody I’ve checked with has every heard of the 10 Wt Foam Depressed stuff Lynn Miller talks about either.

[J-L]

That looks like a heck of a nice tool. Sickle hocks, I don’t think there is a thing wrong with dropping some cash on one of those. The engineering that has gone into that machinery is great. I would love to have one too, but it’s down the list from some more haying equipment for me. Be sure and let us know how you get along with it.

[J-L]

Nice, Bill. Good looking little rake team for sure. I agree that the brakes aren’t necessary for what I use a forecart for. I’m not really sure what good they are period. I have brakes on a Pioneer cart, no brakes on the home made cart. To me the brake pedal is always in the way and snaring my lines or feed sacks, or ropes, etc.

[J-L]

Good for you guys. I guess you’d have to call me a mixed power guy. I have to cover over 300 acres of hay ground and quite a little if will be hauled from one end of the ranch to another (about 4 mile one way trip) so tractors are a necessity. I do use horses and mules whenever I can and find that they can accomplish a lot more than just having fun.
PeytonM, quick as you can, get your forecart. Raking hay with your team is a very viable use. I use both dump rakes and side delivery rakes and the horses and mules are ideal for that job. You will enjoy that almost as much as mowing (which is the best job in the hay field IMO).
Not many around here use draft horses for anything but feeding cattle, and those are getting fewer. When I put a team or two up by the highway cutting and raking hay there are a lot of comments on that. Surprisingly more and more people say they didn’t realize you could do that much work with animal power. Real eye opener for some folks. I hope it’ll inspire more people to drag them horses out of the pasture and put them to work during the haying season, but don’t know if it’ll bear any fruit.

[J-L]

Looking forward to the pictures. I’ve thought about a set of D-ring for my next harness. I think it would be nice for my mower teams.

[J-L]

Good for you Peyton. The tractor style hitch worries me a little but for that price and in working shape you couldn’t get hurt. Be sure to let us know how it works when you get the chance.

[J-L]

Some good information here. Geoff actually asked my next two questions as far as drilling/broadcasting and dragging.

I did get some grass established on a hay field using manure spreader and manure with Creeping Meadow Foxtail seed. Worked alright.

This particular place has just been taken over by the Johnson grass. Yes cattle will eat it…after every thing else is gone. Tougher than hell to mow or swath. Very tough plant. I feed that hay and watch the cattle eat everything else first. Same when they pasture it off.

I’m not too sure about late season anything here. Very short growing season at 7200′.

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