[Jeroen]

Hi Donn,

I have had to use shaft loops on individual shafts and hitching when you don’t have help is not ideal. However when you need to you can make an extra turn with your belly band back through the shaft loop holding the shaft down and keep it from falling out of your loop.

I have fixed shafts on my forecart and it goes well even on slopes, but my shaft loops can slide over the back pad.

[Jeroen]

In Europe we use in general independent shafts on 4 wheeled carts and fixed shafts on two wheeled carts. When you use independent shaft it should be with shaftholders in stead of shaft loops. A metal half loop with a leather strap that straps the shaft firmly to the side of the horse.
Looks like this:

[Jeroen]

Maybe this french article can be of some help: http://hippotese.free.fr/blog/index.php/post/2013/11/07/Le-harnais-chevilatte-peut-aussi-s-utiliser-au-palonnier…

They also have the measurments for the clips (in millimeters):

Regards, Jeroen

[Jeroen]

They made it! Free plans and descriptions will become available.

[Jeroen]

A little late, but with two days to go in the Neo Bucher crowdfunding project a presentation in English is available: http://hippotese.free.fr/blog/index.php/post/2015/05/20/Slideshow-about-the-NeoBucher-project-history-English-version-may-2015 …

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Jeroen.

[Jeroen]

Here is some news about the French Neo-bucher project:

They made two prototypes which are now being tested and evaluated in the fields. They presented one on the annual Paris agricultural show and started a crowdfunding project:

http://www.kisskissbankbank.com/neo-bucher-traction-animale-et-innovation

If they reach their goal you you get the plans and the description for 110 dollar and can fabricate one yourself. It is being redesigned so that you only need a stick welder, angle grinder and a drill press.

I will be fabricating one myself next winter, so if there is interest I will translate descriptions from French to English.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by Jeroen.

[Jeroen]

Perfect! Thanks.

[Jeroen]

What’s new is still not working!…?

[Jeroen]

In fact there are two sorts of profiles: the now so called which are in fact DAPnet interviews and a forum member profile which has never been switched on since the introduction of the new forum. The activity goes down on the list when you react to topics and is not a good way to make a profile.
I found it rather interesting on the old forum to look at members profiles.

[Jeroen]

Hi Joel,

What a great job you did and a lovely place you found for you and your family. Loved the photos.

Wish you all the best!

[Jeroen]

Heard good things about Cashel, recently ordered and received them today. Draft size with ears & nose protection and they are really big. Will try them tomorrow and will post some photos soon!

[Jeroen]

And the money part was not even mentioned… Over here farmers all have big loans to be able to buy these big automated machinery and therefore not even making any money while polluting, compacting, growing fuel not food and still taking out hedgerows, etc.

Just my litte ?@#!@? moment.

[Jeroen]

The two original seats were not high enough for me, so I took a longer U beam same size and welded a longer piece, then drilled holes for the spring and fixation piece and the seat and now I have a 5″ higher seat than the original.

I worked several days with two seats on and sat on the right one (too lazy to change the setup). On bumpy roads you get differents shocks from left and right and this hurts a back. So I only use the middle position and if I need someone along I put an original (lower) seat in the left pipe bracket offset and stay in the middle position myself.

[Jeroen]

One and a half years ago I invested in the Pioneer basic draft horse forecart. A rather big investment since we europeans pay twice the price due to shipping costs. But I preferred it over the european models for simplicity of design, sturdiness and versatility. Almost all european forecarts are for single horse use only.
I use the cart almost exclusively for hauling manure, hay, firewood and produce. I found out it’s easier in our small market garden to hitch directly to an implement then to use the forecart. The reason is turning at the end of the rows.
For hauling it’s perfect, alltough a little heavy for the single horse. In fact a little very steep hill between the house and the gardens limits the weight I can carry.
On the technical I found out that its very important for your back to have the proper length of seat stem. I am rather tall and had to fabricate a larger one to be comfortable. Furthermore if you work long hours be sure your seat is in the middle, on bumpy roads you will hurt your back by sitting off balance between the wheels.
I strongly recommend a tool case!

[Jeroen]

A shame it got cancelled, keep pushing, because it’s a good way to enlarge the community of draft horse users.

In fact at the age of 46 I am going back to school… The agricultural college of Bordeaux has a three months course for working drafts in the vineyards. This is a big upcoming thing here in France. While I have fouteen years of experience working drafts, over here you have to be certified, if not you will not set one step in a vineyard, so I am going for it. It’s seasonal and goes well with gardening.
The draft horses are making it back…

[Author]

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