[Lanny Collins]

I was trying to remember what my 4ft x 30″ boat weighed. It seems like around 168 lbs. Anyway, to your question it is probably not too large for a single to pull but I wouldn’t want anything heavier than what I have simply because when I’m not using it I like to move it underneath a shed and stand it up on ends to protect from weather. If you don’t intend to move it any by hand then you should be OK with a 5 ft. long. For moving hay I once had a 4’x8′ sheet of metal that was galvanized and about .125″ thick. I had a ring welded on the front and back. My hay truck was broke down at the time. I would roll the bales of hay on the sheet metal by hand and take a rope and tie to the rings and over the top of the bale. The metal was thin enough that the front and back edges lifted up and formed a U shape. I could pull a bale all over the place at about any speed up and down hills. I was really proud of my work around when my main hay truck was out of commission.

[Lanny Collins]

I had just regular buggy collars for my quarter horse mares. Last year I had to order a larger size for one of my mares. I ordered one that was 1″ longer but her neck was much thicker, probably had gained some weight. Anyway, on collars I ordered a half sweeney which is made for a thicker neck. the next size wider would be a full sweeney. Best to locate a collar shop and as suggested before to give them measurements. Easiest way to measure size for collar is take 2ea carpentry squares and lay them so that you have a square around the horses neck while they are sitting back against the shoulders like a collar will fit. With 2 people it is easier to measure the length and width or put a chalk mark on the squares so you can read them once they are removed.

[Lanny Collins]

I don’t know if it’s proper or not but when I built mine I used lag screws. I used 4×4’s for the runners as well. I had the metal wrapped completely around the front end and up the back end of the runner. The lag screws on the front and back basically hold the metal in place for forward movement. However, since the boat can be twisted around sideways I had 2 lag screws put in the bottom. Basically I drilled a hole big enough to accomodate the body of the lag screw then I put a chamfer around the metal hole making a v-shape all the way around the hole. After the lag screw was tightened in place I cut the head off and welded in the chamfer area. It’s difficult to see where the bolts are. The metal runner is about .125″ thick and I expect by the time I wear the metal out the body of the wood boat will be ready to replace. I am going to try and post some pic’s. This boat is 30″ wide by 4′ long. The front runners stick out about 4″.

[Lanny Collins]

Menageriehill, where in the world is Greensboro Arkansas? Is it close to Jonesboro?

[Lanny Collins]

Horses carry about 60% of their weight on the front feet and 40% on their back feet. Also, the souls on the back feet are more contoured and the front feet have souls that are more flat. On my QH team I only protect their front feet. I’ll put easy care boots on their front feet and they make it fine without anything on their hind feet. If on rock working every day I might need to boot their hind feet but no more than they are hitched this has worked well for me. Only time I knew people would shoe back feet and leave front feet unshod, they told me, was to get them to stop/slide on their hind feet. If their front feet were a little tender they would use their hind feet more than their front when stopping.

[Lanny Collins]

Grey, that is a riot. Of all the time I have been on the computer and watching youtube I have never ran across saddle chariot. Looks like a way to put a smaller donkey to work.

[Lanny Collins]

Looks good!!!

[Lanny Collins]

Cotton rope would be more soft less apt to burn.

[Lanny Collins]

Thanks Grey, had not thought of a chariot. They must not have used a single tree either. Want to make it much lighter though. Thinking out loud to use something like the front rail on pioneer forecart to lean into / against. Was also trying to decide if really need 2 wheels. If I have one wheel in the middle and stand on either side it would kinda ballance out. For those trying to visualize it what comes to mind is a wheel barrow with long handles. Take off the back legs and hook the long handles onto the pack saddle like shafts.

[Lanny Collins]

Sure would be nice to see a picture when it is complete. I had a donkey show up at my place last week. Don’t know who it belongs to. Not sure of age but if it stays around thought I would put it to work. Since it is not too large thought about doing something similar to what you are doing but I was kind of thinking of making something of a travois except the shafts will not cross over the top. I would just make shafts but put a couple of small flotation wheels on the end of the shafts that normally drag on the ground. On top of the wheels put a platform to stand on. Basically, it would be a stand up and ride travois. Probably everyone has seen the lawn mowers that have a platform to stand on behind. Between the stand on platform would be a place to carry supplies plus some could be put on the pack saddle as well. Just am not sure about the wheels/tires. I was wanting to make it as smooth as possible is why I was thinking of flotation tires. Maybe large diameter stiff wheels would be better. Still thinking about that. Also, I was not planning to use a single tree. I thought I may be able to attach the end of the shafts solid to the pack saddle and let the breast collar and britchen keep the pack saddle stationary. Is this a bad idea, you think?

[Lanny Collins]

PeytonM, if you are riding a horse you refer to them as “reins” but if you are working with a single or team of horse in harness they are referred to as “lines”. Yes for a team the long single piece/line goes to the outside of each horse in a team. The short piece/line is called a “check line”. It has a buckle on one end and maybe a snap on the other end or some don’t like to use snaps so they hook them permanent. The “check line is usually 6 to 8” longer than the main line. Normally there are 2 or 3 holes in the main line so the check line can be moved to suit your need.

[Lanny Collins]

Andy, you have given a pretty good assessment of facebook. I am on facebook because it is easier to keep in touch with friends (both domestic and international) but you will not learn much, unless you want to know who is at walmart, or who got their hair fixed. Most of the young generation are, for some reason, competing to be “noticed” so they take pictures of themselves and post the pictures there. It is true that you have to be careful of what is posted because what you post is sometimes shared with total strangers so anything controversial is problematic, however if you want to have a conversation with one person it is possible to chat online or send a message so they are the only one that see it. Facebook is good for putting together photo albums and sharing information and for those who have no special interests like dapnet can stay in touch with people. Facebook is a powerful tool but don’t expect it to replace this forum any time soon.

[Lanny Collins]

I had heard that in several locations the carriage business in cities was struggling due to complaints of smell / odors. From one blog I heard that only mules could be used to pull carriages and they must wear diapers but police officers did not have to worry about their horse poop. In particular was the situation of urine and that the city was looking at making carriage drivers / owners carry water or something else to dilute it. Don’t know how this turned out. It is a shame that carriage people are being forced out when to me they seem to provide a glimpse of times gone by. I’m sure there are some suspect people in the carriage business but you can find them in anywhere in any profession.

[Lanny Collins]

Jonathan, glad you clarified your answer as several were in agreement with you. Didn’t know if they agreed because they really thought that or maybe just knew you and thought you should know.

[Lanny Collins]

Hi Nicole,

Welcome and very smart website to include Farrier and Vet information. It shows you really take good care of your horses.

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