[LStone]

Getting cold just watching this. Are you Maniacs getting any snow yet?

I thought it was cool the way they opposed eachother with the peevey hooks to move the logs around. Guess I never had a helper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eccMIuwnzuc

[LStone]

Misread your question Mark. Helps to have the glasses in front of the eyes and not on the forehead. Like Marshall said it would have to be a strong mechanical (welded) connection whatever you used. That is going to bear the weight of the pole, the tension between the side straps and the D-ring. The ever present swaying stress is substantial too.

[LStone]

Hi Mark. Thinking it doesn’t matter too much what you use. The only real stress it bears is if you pick the yoke up by the chain with the pole weight to hitch or let it hang by one side of the yoke when unhitching. The rest of the time it just hangs out. My understanding of the main purpose is just to keep the cross lines from dropping in between the yokes when slack and snagging up in there when taught. I have one that is a large dog choke collar cut to length and bolted through connecting the metal yokes. I have another that is the same that I left the ends intact and used quick links to connect to the metal ends of wooden jockey yokes together. It is rather slack but it works. I noticed in Tunbridge that Carl’s take on it is to forego the jockey yokes and just hook to a single steel pipe in four places. He posted a pic here that gives a good look
http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=122
So I guess if you are shooting, aim and pull. If you land between baling string and a pipe you can call it good.

It must be kinda like being an artist.
talk to you soon.

[LStone]

Here is a couple pics from that day. I hope they attach.

[LStone]

Congratulations and welcome Jordan. This is the right place.

Larry

[LStone]

I thought I heard a splash Friday at the end of your “rescue horse” thread. Good luck with her you both seem to be off to a good start. She is eating and seemed to have your confidence last week. Glad you took a shot and gave her another chance. I hope it works out.

Larry

[LStone]

@jac 20973 wrote:

Marshall I know this is going to sound trivial but bear with me;)… Flip a coin.. heads you go.. tails you dont.. before that coin hits the ground you will know what your going to do and you wont even need to check what side came up.. Good luck with the mare and keep us posted..
John

before that coin hits the ground you will know what your going to do and you wont even need to check what side came up.

Ain’t that the truth John? That’s happened to me more than just a couple of times. Good luck Marshall on your choice. Horses are forgiving, and given enough time you may just make the same progress as you are used to making with your animals. I went 3 hours one way for my mare. Distance travelled doesn’t have any impact on your skill and needs or the horses ability to satisfy the need. The choice to be made is to trailer her. I say you can always go and don’t put her on the trailer if you are unsure. It is only time and gas/diesel spent. A lot of things cost more than that.

[LStone]

I found this website but it doesn’t show they make anything other than hay feeders. I requested some more information from them just in case.

http://www.farmbuilt.net

[LStone]

Sorry, that would be a model 66.

[LStone]

Yeah Mitch I think twitching it right into the door yard would eliminate a step but I am working alone in most cases but I don’t have any room for it to sit around for a time until I get it cut up and inside so close to the house. My wood yard relieves a lot of pressure from me so I can work at my own pace as long as I have the room there. I have had tree lengths laying in the wood yard over the winter and I got out there to cut and split early the following spring. The step it adds is to load and bring up a wagon load with the horses so I make out on the deal. Not to mention if it needs extra time to dry outdoors I have the luxury. That way I only have to bring in dry wood.

[LStone]

I do a combination of the same things myself. But I hesitate to “direct traffic” in any way except for the rare occurrence of an over cautious driver who will not pass. I feel I would potentially involve myself more in any impending accident. Possibly even to receive more than a portion of the blame. Would it not? I think I am obligated to stop and be “involved” just by the mere presence of me and my animals. In NH I interpret the laws to be that I have right of way and that motorized vehicles should approaching from the rear should slow down to the speed of my vehicle and pass with care when safe. Oncoming traffic should slow down to a stop until I pass. I feel like my responsibility is limited only to maintaining a consistent lane of travel off to the side of the road as possible and obey traffic signals. I am on total alert when driving in traffic but comfortable driving under those terms. Frankly I am grateful my horses deal with traffic well because the interpretation of others vary greatly.

Grey you weren’t too much of a downer for me earlier but you raise valid points, and it is just one of those things that one has to think long and hard about if they are going to be as close to the intersection of draft animals and technology as we tend to be sometimes. I have thought long and hard about your perspective and would enjoy other more seasoned teamsters advise and their perspective on it. Going to the transfer station and across town to do a grain run tomorrow with my bigguns. Yes Grey, I will.

Thinking this subject would probably be a good separate thread on its own. because we obviously hijacked Eriks wagon. It is just too bad we didn’t get to eat the goods. Sorry Erik but I think you are following along also as you have skin in the game too.

[LStone]

Wow Grey, I read you crystal clear. I can’t say I’ve ever said it out loud but seeing it written down seemed very powerful to me. I will take your advice though and say the words the next time I go out on the streets. I don’t think I disregarded the risks of being on the streets before. They were just as real to me. But now they seem very different. Would I be lesser of a horseman if I talked myself out of it? Would I be irresponsible if I accepted the risks and continued. Food for thought for everyone.

[LStone]

Hi Erik,

Just wanted to say that I am impressed with your whole project, and the finished product (wagon) looks very satisfactory to me. About the actual delivery to market, well that would be considered as much of the finished product as the wagon and the bread. Would it not? I do a fair amount of road driving as well and I know what you mean about the traffic. I try to hold to the shoulder and ignore what goes on behind me and I don’t offer any input to auto traffic for just the reasons you mentioned. I would hate to be involved in an accident in any way. In NH my understanding is that barring my horses doing anything stupid, I have the right of way, but I don’t press the issue, in my view that would be unwise. I am just as courteous as possible and negotiate my own hazzards taking auto traffic conditions into consideration. Despite my nervousness though I still manage to enjoy myself in my journeys. I hope you continue to deliver your breads by the means that satisfies you most. Be safe and well in your enjoyment.

[LStone]

Ah yes, down, that would seem to do the trick. The stock hooks that came with the harness from Meaders don’t allow for that. Nor do the hooks they sell seperatley. I guess that would be a custom job for a welder? Or do you have a source for those? I hope in 20 years we can still be talking and it hasn’t happened to me (or you) again.

Thank you,

LStone

[LStone]

The method I use (I don’t think I am alone) when i need to use two hands say for instance choking a log is to put the lines horizontally across my body close in around belt level and bend over. Lines are held up in the fold between belly and legs. Remaining close at hand if needed.

[Author]

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