[jac]

Geoff I use a mig welder with 0.8mm wire and think there great for most fabrication jobs.Only prob with the mig is they dont like wind as it blows away the gas so you realy need a calm day or get the whole job in the workshop.. For cutting I use propane and oxy cutting torch. Our village has an engineer with a profile cutter and to be honest I dont bother to make brackets or gussets for strenghners, by the time I mark and cut with the “gas axe” then spend time cleaning up, it works out cheaper to take the drawings down and let them cut it. they keep the drawing on computer and can remake them if you need more. An angle grinder complets the kit.
John

[jac]

Hi Ixy. I appologise for posting this in the working donkey area but I read all the posts,, anyway… my “jogging ” gelding rides out beautifully in a bitless bridle !! The bitless bridle idea realy appeals to me but am not sure how it would work in a team situation?? how would it work with cross checks? can you get them with blinkers ? any info anyone has would be greatly appreciated..
John

[jac]

Hi Mark.. along the lines you mentioned.. I wondered if the Pioneer basic cart could be made with a portal axle and adjustable track. In this form row crop work could be done at the later stages of growth eg potatoes.. A small tool bar could be added using the lift mechanism they use for their yard scraper.
John

[jac]

Hi guys.. that gelding I mentioned in yesterdays post that was always jogging … well after I posted that him and me went ground driving again. Had been doing that for a week and yesterday I went past our woodlot and on the way home I steadied him up and we went into the wood..Now I got this horse as a 3yr old and have no reason to think he did any forestry before, my black horse has done timber work but not the bay. Anyway he settled down immediatly on entering the wood. I quietly drove him through and around some trees, backed him up a few times and even talked him over a log.. transformed horse!!.Drove him home and he was settled.. So today him and me set off again into the wood and this time I stood him up in front of an ash log about 10ft long and 12″dia… small stuff but I wanted to try. He stood perfectly while I hooked him up and spoke to him and he gently eased that log into motion and we set off for the road at a steady calm pace??!! That was one horse that I would never before have tried in the wood but in no small way thanks to you guys he now has another job to do other than wagon work at parades:) having said that some of it could be the dentists work paying dividends now as he realises he doesnt have to clamp down on the bit..he was the one with the hooks if you remember.. anyway thanks again for all your imput and another result for a really great web site.
John

[jac]

And the horse based energy is sustainable and of benefit to the local community..farriers, vets, feed merchants and local engineers all benefit.. machinery based business usually exports the benefits in the form of money. the operator being local spends some locally but the finance on the harvester and overdraft payments as well as spare parts are all sourced miles away.. no benefit to community.
John

[jac]

Hey Geoff you can count me in on that idea.. though I dont expect many of you guys will be traveling with horses over here:D but you’re welcome to borrow mine if the homesickness got too much
John

[jac]

Im glad to hear you guys have this too.. I have one gelding that has tested my patience for 6yrs now.. not too bad on the way out but boy does he try it on when he knows its home time.. so much so that if I head for our driveway he joggs and if I pass the gate he imediatly slows to a walk, I did that 3 times one day to prove a point. he does usually settle but he gets into a real lather and I feel as if I’m working him too hard but his team mate hardly breaks sweat!!. My two mares are perfect and a joy to work.
John

[jac]

Tim in 1988 the Shire Horse Society in the UK did a major study into the use of horses. One chapter was on local deliveries and it was found that horses versus lorries were exactly the same . No cheaper or more expensive even once all the extra labour was taken into account with horses.. The book is called “History with a Future” I could post the chapter if it would help..
John

[jac]

We have barb on the top strand on the perimiter and its kept tight. We have a lot of hedges so that helps keep the horses off the wire.. For division we have a batery power electric job with 2 strands of 2″ white tape for visability. That usualy works fine , though we had a pony once that got zapped at least 7 times in the space of 10 minutes before she gave up:)
John

[jac]

We have 3 “Jacko’s”. No particular reason or purpose. great vermin hunters though and handy for giving hens flying lessons on occasion:) loyal to the end with a mind of their own
John

[jac]

Hi Matthew.. Yes I was told that by grandpaw too. He encountered mules in WW1 and had a lifelong admiration for them. Mules are very rare over here, or at least mules over 14 hands seem to be. I have seriously concidered creating Clyde mules but mammoth jacks are super rare. Grandpaw always said they wouldnt take colic, very seldom needed shoes thrived on less and didnt suffer as many illnesses as horses !! Also he reconed that the “stubborn” title was coz of their strong sense of self preservation and it was prob the teamster perhaps asking them to do too much or go someplace dangerous that made them appear stubborn .. I was at the National stallion show and met the mule that opened the memorial in London to the horses, mules and all animals that died in war. Its very moving when you hear what those animals did.. Great fotos and the mules are a credit to you.
John

[jac]

It was an interesting article Jason.. A lot is written elsewhere about how the windmills will never “repay” the energy used to create them.. same with tractors.. But if the second generation windmills are created using electricity from wind does that make them more acceptable than the 1st ones made using coal fired power ? does that energy “debt” get less as time passes, providing wind is used as the source of power ?? Scotland uses a lot of hydro power stations..Ben Cruichan is actualy hidden inside a mountain!! Unfortunatly we have our share of the nuclear stuff too:( I have to agree that I dont think wind farms are the answer, or bio fuel for that matter.. The wind mills I asked about were the home made ones, the old aeroplane propeler bolted to a generator and put up on a pole sort of thing:) one thing I noticed is you guys talk of 120v ? we have 240v and 13 amps for household use. does this mean its easier to generate power in the US than the UK ?? I know zero bout electric other than its not to be played with so if Im being too simplistic I appologise in advance.
John

[jac]

Hi Oldkat.. Yes its a licence effectivly. I do a few night shifts on the railway doing scrub clearance so needed the proficiencies on paper so to speak. As with our driving licences the authaurities are constantly upgrading things and chainsaws are no different. Simon could tell you exactly what the latest spec is.. and if you ever find your way to this coast you wont need to worry bout any hotels. You will be welcome at our place as would any visiting DAPER:)

[jac]

Hey Oldkat.. No we dont have any dealers for any American equipment.. ther is a few people bring in wagons,hitch carts and show stuff but I find them rather pricy.. I know they have to make a living but I priced up the plow from one person and it was going to cost £2700 and at the exchange rate thats around $5000 plus!!!. What I’m doing is sharing a container with a guy who imports antique tractors and it comes out of the USA in March. Pioneer are moving the plow up to Fort Waynn to meet the container ,. If I could get a couple more interested we could fill a container with horse equipment.. my next big buy will be a manure spreader. Joe at Pioneer offered to find equipment and even load it for us.. Will see what happens next year.
John

[jac]

Hi Geoff. We priced up and eventualy bought a Pioneer plow.. After both plows were spec’d up the same, Pioneer came out cheaper than Whitehorse
.. though not by much.. I would just like to say that our choice of a new plow was based on the scarcity of sulkies over here and I like the kv bottom.. Also both companies were very helpful and friendly.
John

[Author]

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