[Jim Ostergard]

Scott, good on you for keeping this going. I know I get emails and phone calls from folks looking for a horse logger a number of times each year from listings at MOFGA and Rural Heritage. So this is really valuable for us all. Next dumb question where is it on DAP and is it easy for a landowner thinking of using one of us to find? Again thanks.

[Jim Ostergard]

After I posted the above on audits I was out splitting some wood and the thought came to me how much nicer it would be to audit Draftwood sites. In those areas that I described I had on the ground experience most of the time there was some adversarial vibes going on. Sometimes a lot stronger than that. Made me wonder if I should be armed. So working with loggers, foresters and landowners who were interested and invested in the process would be a neat experience. I would love to see something like that happen in New England.

[Jim Ostergard]

Simon, Thanks so much for the pictures. I am working an ash lot with some staving big ash with hames sized sweeps. So I am making a note that when I fell these trees I’m taking that piece with me. Wondering if it should be quarter sawn or just split. So this begs the question of how to size them for a particular horse or range of horses. And I want them to be heavy enough so I can pull some weight. Will ask about fastening the leather later.
ps: I have a beautiful 25″ no-choke collar for sale real reasonable.

[Jim Ostergard]

Third party certification is tough. I have done audits in the past for Master Logger Certification, CLP in Maine, MOFGA for organic certification and seafood safety inspections. They are pretty costly to administer but they have their place I guess. Meaning that I became somewhat disenchanted as each of these programs grew and the bureaucracy administer them or making up the guidelines/regulations etc. grew even faster. Some straight forward way say to certify the standards set up by Draftwood would be a good place to start. I have two wood lots which probably would keep me busy for the next ten years due to their size and I would really like to get the landowners to agree to move in this direction.

[Jim Ostergard]

This was a great workshop! Nice to put faces to names from this site and also nice to have a workshop where we were not so busy chopping and skidding that so many aspects of animal power could be discussed. Folks from all over, Long Island, New Jersey, New York, local Massachusetts and the norther New England contingent. I think we really were able to empower folks thinking about using animals and energize those already using them. Spreading the word this was and the connections made is to my mind what is so important for DAPnet and the community at large. Thanks to all who came in what ever capacity and shared. I sure got more from it than I gave! These smaller gatherings sure have an important place in building relationships and the community.

[Jim Ostergard]

Eli,
When in the Dover area take a trip out to Bylers store (route 9, I think) a bit to the SW of the town. There is an Amish coummunity of around 300 families farming there. William Miller has a harness shop there. Also DAPnet member Brian Hough is in souther NJ.

[Jim Ostergard]

I should be there mid afternoon. Have the walking beam arch, baby scoot and go-devil plus had tools. Looking forward to this.

[Jim Ostergard]

Jen,
I certainly know how you feel. When I moved Zeb to his forever home a year ago I knew it was the correct move but I sure pine for him even though I am really satisfied with my present guys. Seems it makes the past feel so much more real to have such wonderful loving feelings.

[Jim Ostergard]

Collars like mine I think can still be got custom order from an Amish harness shop in Penn. I will check into it and see if they still will make them and what they would cost.

[Jim Ostergard]

Nice job of the harness! Check out Simon’s website Celtichorselogging.com for some pictures of large drafts hauling nice loads with the Scandinavian harness. The hames/collar (bogtre) is heavier than mine for sure! I think one of the advantages of this rig in the day was a person could make them on the farm.

[Jim Ostergard]

Here is Atticus in his rig. Were putting them together for the first time here and just trying to get all the rigging fitted. But it is a pretty good shot of his Norwegian style harness

[Jim Ostergard]

I have one made by the Amish down in Pennsylvania but I don’t know who it is. I will try and find out. My feeling is that each collar fits a pretty specific size horse. I am sure Simon Lenihan can give much more information. As for heavy pulling he knows about that as that is what he does. My collar/hames (bogtre in Norwegian?) is on the light side but for starting out works well. I am going to make a pad for it which should extend its ability. When rigged to clip onto the rest of the harness it make hooking up pretty easy.

[Jim Ostergard]

Geoff,
Sorry to say the video is not for the public at this time. A friend of mine in Sweden made it (or sourced the pieces) and I am hopeful I can get enough information from him so it could be shared in some way to the advantage of DAPnet.

[Jim Ostergard]

This discussion has gotten me to think on a few of the ways I use and collect information. I really enjoy looking up various horse videos on you tube but some get frustrated by their selection when I enter a phrase. I find most of these interesting and will on a few occasions mark them so I can check them out again. On DAPnet I will often copy and paste a discussion into a document I then store and at some point print out to read and ponder. For that is a major benefit of belonging to the site. Now, I have access to a half hour video that shows logging hauling operations in Scandinavia from ground twitching up to use of a forwarding wagon. Over the years I have used it as a reference as each time I view it some idea on how to rig or build some gear presents itself. Maybe something like that made up as a trailer and then offer it as a perk for joining with maybe a bit extra to cover costs. Then we get something educational out there to all but for those interested they may be willing to ante up. Just some thoughts.

[Jim Ostergard]

Here is some detail on how the d-ring connects to the shaft. A lot of time one will just see a wooden peg but this is how my rig works

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