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Joshua Kingsley
ParticipantI for one was happy to see things back on. It is always nice to know that we are not alone when it comes to working our stock in the fields and woodlands across the globe.
Participantlook at the staab agency in ME. they have a website and that is the place to go to for your reg. They are on Goose hill Rd.
ParticipantErik,
Being as where you live is not real far from liester i would go look at the team of jersey steers that is available there. it will cost more than the 850 they are asking to grow out a team and train them not to mention the time or expense of yokes. It may be an oppertunity to look at a team and see if they will work for what you want.
JoshuaParticipantWhen my grandfather was fighting cancer and on chemo he was told that raw milk was one of the best things he could drink. I have drank raw milk since I was a kid, either from our goats or cows depending on the time in my life.
Participantcompost, compost and manure… Add organic material and you should be able to get somthing to grow.
ParticipantI think our curbs that the stanchions are hooked to are about 6 inches high, they work ok for holding feed back but mainly it is for keeping sawdust out of the manger.
For cow comfort I think that either will work but chains often give greater freedom. I also should mention that my animals have daily turn out, the only time I will leve them in is if the temps are below 0 with a wind or a nasty day, freezing rain ect.Participant3 foot wide by 4 long worked well for me. I use tie chains or stanchions depending on the situation and the cattle. The horned cattle I had were on tie chains before I moved her and then were in stanchions while in the barn here as that is what my dad milks his herd in.
ParticipantCorn planted in a clover bed does well if the clover has had time to be established. The best types are the low growing clovers for that type of application. Dutch white will fix N while only growing about 6 inches high. I would suggest that you should mow off the stand of clover prior to planting, then either zone till the area that you want to plant in or set up a way of no tilling in the corn. If the stand of clover is good there will be no need to cultivate as the clover acts as a nurse crop, and weed suppressant.
If you need more information my father has been doing this for the last several years here and is always happy to talk about it.Joshua
ParticipantWell I got some second cut raked on Saturday just in time for the rain to come in. The five acres gave the horses a bit of a work out but they were still ready for more when we were done. I am hoping to get working on some firewood soon, Dad is talking about cutting a bunch so I am going to use the horses to bring it all home. The mares will be good for this as it means standing while I am loading the smaller chunk wood into the wagon. They are a good steady team that will let me work on the ground and such with out a lot of excitement. The geldings that I have been working since March are a bit more up on the bit and tend to want to move around.
I can work them on the boat or anything for at least a half hour before they begin to want to stand. They are just a really wound up pair. Great for twitching out wood though. You can hook them to about any stick I would have here and they will go with it.Unless dad decides to knock down the big oak… Then it won’t matter what I have for horses on the load it will take alot to get that moving. This tree is over 5 foot across at brest height! It provides a lot of shade in the pasture so I am guessing that as long as it stays healthy it will stay. There are some bigger Cherries and maples that will be coming out this year, along with the continuation of our thinning project.
JoshuaParticipantIn place of the triangle + ring you could try an old hame ring from a bolt on type hame. It goes in where the trace hooks on that often has a link hooked in to a ring. that may be an option as well.
ParticipantLeslie,
I have been mowing with the tractor so far as I am still trying to get my mower in shape after trying to mow with a pair that were not ready. The mares that I have been working should go on the mower some time this week to try, if all goes well we will attempt to get in some second cut with them.The loose hay is from a small piece, that is on the edge of one of dad’s corn fields. I bring the hay in loose because the field is so small that it would be harder to get the baler in and move around then it is really worth. The hay goes into a bay in the barn and usually ends up being fed out to the animals that are in the dry lot, as some of the haflingers I own are REAL easy keepers… they get fat on air. If your trailer is real light I would see if I could figure out a way to hook some shafts to it and use your Haflinger to haul in the hay that way.
JoshuaParticipantI tacked up and drove one of the Mares that is nursing, Little Darling is a willing mare that should be a near perfect match to Natya when they are both worked a little more. They match in color, and in build almost perfectly, the biggest difference is that Natya has two white stockings on her hind legs and Little darling is more of a solid light chestnut, they both have white blazes that go all the way down thier face.
A-Stone was a lot better the second time I harnessed him and was willing to move out nicely with a lighter bit setup. I found out after I had harnessed him the first time that he had been worked in a snaffle and not the Buxton bits that I had origionally been told that were what he was used to.The three year old Gelding Ace is getting an introduction to the harness as well and is proving to be an easy fellow to work with, he will stuff his head right through a collar and is getting the Idea that the bit is ok to be in his mouth. I have not yet fully harnessed him though he will move out with a belly band and bridle on. I hope to hook him in the next week or two depending on his progress. I am in no huge rush to start him as I am also trying to get ready for wagon rides which will be starting soon.
JoshuaParticipantThere are alot of people on this fourm that use the D ring harness. There are some threds on here about proper fit and such. You should look up the discussion on the front trace length.
JoshuaParticipantThe stud I am working with is a 9 y/o who was broke at 3 and turned out with the mares… I just got him home and he is trying hard to be the big man on the block, he is learning though. He was ok for the collar going over his head, stood for the harness to be put on and adjusted, then started acting like a brat.
I am pretty sure that he knows what is going on but is trying to get his way. I will try to get him separated from the mares this week and see how long it takes before he finishes with his temper tantrum.
Joshua
ParticipantThat is GREAT news. It seems that once in a while these great little horses need a wake up call… Mine got one today with a new set of curb chains on the bits, they started to think that they could just take off and go and found out that I had a way of really getting thier attention.
I am really happy to hear that you are making out well with the mowing and all. Joshua- AuthorPosts