[jac]

thanks for the responses guys… its amazing the things we notice when working these animals every day.
John

[jac]

Hi Bivol… good to hear you again. That was a really good link to that low tech magazine. Thanks for finding these articles.. take care friend..
John

[jac]

Thats a real nice team you have.. and the hitch cart is interesting, Did you build it yourself ? ..
John

[jac]

My 5 have all done the transition from steel to barefoot with no probs. We do a bit of roadwork. As John said, keep an eye on them and keep the rasp handy.. once they are in shape it only takes a small rub with the rasp to keep them right. I wouldnt hesitate to shoe again if they showed any signs of tearing up.. it works for me…
John

[jac]

Hi Geoff.. that auction is on my “To do ” list for sure.. the SFJ always has some mouthwatering fotos..
John

[jac]

I think the original meaning was refering to oxen rather than horses and probly originated in Britain at the time before the enclosures act… tho I could be wrong on that:D…..
John

[jac]

I have our very own Grey to thank for me being here.. eternaly thankfull Grey… I had found another draft horse site but all they wanted to do was ride them and show them.. which is ok if thats your thing but it isnt mine and to be honest some of the folk were less than friendly. Grey pm me with this one and the rest is history… This community is awesome and a huge debt of gratitude is owed by us all to Carl an Lisa for kickstarting this all off..
John

[jac]

Great place to belong to.. thanks to all concerned… You mite want to alter the time difference so I dont have to sit up all nite or wait till nxt day to find out whats happnin:D..
John

[jac]

Hi Ridge.. good to hear from you.. This is a great forum with really friendly folks… These mowers really interest me.. thinking out loud now.. I wonder if a 3 bar set up with the horses behind the bars pushing.. like the old buckrake idea.. 15ft at a time at 2.5mph.. that would be awesome…
John

[jac]

Dangerous situation to be in.. I discovered recently that you can not buy sugar beet seed in the UK unless you are a registered grower for British Sugar…
John

[jac]

[URL=”http://www.esm-ept.de//DoubleknifeCuttingSystembiduxBusatisSystem.html

Here is a link to the main site for this system… it looks to me like a great idea for the draft animal machinary builders and I recon we will see a lot more of this in the future… mabey..
John

[jac]

Thanks for airing this Carl.. over the years I have noticed the very things you mention and have questioned my own approach.. I recon animals experience the same feeling we got as kids when we built a model plane for example.. the build was the interesting bit.. then when it was done and on the shelf.. ok , what now ??..even recently I had my 2 mares going great on the “no pressure” style as written by Donn in SFJ, but just the other day the older mare wasnt so settled… every day a school day….
John

[jac]

Hi OldKat… I have an Albion mower that dates from the 20s 0r 30s. Made in England and probably a great mower at the time but parts are real hard to source.. Not a single grease Zerk on it .. oil caps and bronze bushes thru the whole machine:eek:.. a real beaut to look at but when I read what Lynn Miller says is an acceptable pull for a mower an then try mine it isnt great:(.. these #9s you guys have over there seem to be the Rolls Royce of mowers {or should that be Cadilac?}…
John

[jac]

Mitch you hit the food security issues in the UK right on the head. I think our food supply is in a really dangerous situation now… 100% dependant on oil and not enough skilled folks to do it any other way.. Your right Fellman regards farmers attitudes over here, even the ones that do keep draft horses only use them for showing in the halter classes or in the hitch teams {and those are on a wing and a prayer}…I know of some who will spend hours “exercising” a team in a light wagon then go harrow a field or spread fert ect with a tractor !!!!.. A student came up to me that day and was really excited by the aspect of new equipment and how this technology could help 3rd world countries feed themselves. His angle was what surprised me.. he said if we can make low tech, cheap and easily fixed farm equipment and with proper training for the farmers then they could feed them selves.. but he was looking to the future. He reconed one of the reasons these families are so big is because the farming is so manual dependant.. reduce the need for so much manual labour and you reduce the need for huge families.. was good to hear youngsters thinking this way…
John

[jac]

Definaitly second Mitch on that one Geoff..
John

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