[Plowboy]

There’s my point Bumpus. Although you can’t guarantee 100% but if you spend enough time with your animals and pay attention to them you will pretty much know what you can and can’t do on a given day. Obviously you’ve never spent enough time trying to read your animals. Possibly you were/are just an owner. If you actually try to spend enough time and be aware of your animals moods or quirks it wouldn’t be a problem. None of our horses are what I call flighty at all. To each his own I guess.

[Plowboy]

Some of our precious old timers around here say,”You wouldn’t take a horse to a dog show so don’t bring your dog to a horse show”. Some people just don’t get it. Many dogs are fine around horses and we have even given dogs rides at events but some shouldn’t be out in public until they are ready just like horses. Sounds like your horse was ready but a foolish decision to bring a dog that a guy couldn’t control made alot more work for you. Good Luck with her and I hope she comes around quick.

[Plowboy]

The old 2ways work ok if they are in good shape but not my favorite. They are cumbersome to mount and dismount and can bang you up if you get jarred from the seat in rocky soil. Also if your team was ever to get spooked your better off riding it out because you could get hurt worse bailing out. With a good team, decent soil and a 2way in good shape you could get some work done.
As for the KV bottom pulling easier that may be true but apparently not easy enough in that soil type. If all else fails add more power. I’ve found it easier to use more horses and go all day than work a couple into the ground in a couple hours.

[Plowboy]

The bottom itself is like $7-800 range but I think in your soil it takes alot more power to pull it. I think I saw a Picture of Dave Feltenberger using one in South Branfels Texas pulling it with 5 head where we use 3 here on a 14in.

[Plowboy]

I have used an arch to move tree length hardwood long distances. It was a high arch that backed over the butt end of the log. A railroad chain winch was mounted in front of the drivers seat above the arch frame which looked like a steering wheel and you wrap the chain and crank up the log suspending it off the ground and go. These carts are however not safe in the woods on uneven ground. It’s a long way up and can be a long way down if you tip it over. They did work well for moving those 40ft hard maple, ash, and oak logs a mile down the trail. The pair of mares I learned to drive solo on did this all winter carrying foals on a mostly downhill skid.

[Plowboy]

We have a 14in Pioneer and it works well. I have used the white Horse and do like it a little better but not enough to go out and buy one when the Pioneer is paid for. The White Horse seemed to pull a little easier somehow although they are basically the same in design. The KV bottom is designed for sod with a long slow twist and works well in heavy soil but is pretty spendy. In our soil we don’t need it so we didn’t buy one. We have gravely loam and river bottom so even our sod rolls good. The older sulkies Oliver and Syracuse/John Deere were ok. The Mc Cormick was said to pull harder. But that was on the two ways which I don’t think plow incredibley well anyway. the older John Deere, Oliver and P&O/ International worked much like the new Pioneer and White Horse models just are harder to find parts for. John Deere is probably the easiest of the older plows to get parts for.

[Plowboy]

I have nothing against Meader’s myself and for me thay aren’t local so I don’t need them at all really. Much of their stuff is extremely overpriced with harness being number one. I can source a better product locally for half of Meaders retail price. We are lucky to have 2 harness shops within a 50 mile radius 1 being Amish that we don’t use as often as the other because he is a good friend and we give him most of our business. We have 6 sets of team harness, 14 bridles, 9 sets of lines, about 30 collars, as well as misc straps for abreast hitches and other misc. We usually pay close attention to our equipment and replace probably sooner than necessary but we don’t have breakage while working. We give our local shop a fair amount of business a couple times a year. It sounds as if there are enough of you in his area it may be mutually beneficial for Bill to fire up his sewing machine again. It sounds like there aren’t many harness shops in New England so maybe it would be a worthwhile endeavor as long as he uses good materials and hardware. Good Luck Bill

[Plowboy]

I am 32 And have been at it for 20 yrs now. My family decided to get back into draft horses after my great grandfather sold his team that my dad learned to drive on when he was a kid. He always had a solid interest and with a little prompting from my mom bought a pair of weanlings and trained them with help from our draft friends.I am the youngest serious teamster around here now although there are a few girls in their early twenties that have taken an interest in the past couple years. Our events have gotten gradually smaller in the last few years as some of our old timers have to give it up and those that are in a passing fad go onto something else. My son plowed last Sunday at 5 1/2 months and sems to like it. He rode with me and my Dad. Hopefully he’ll take a solid interest in a few years. Every Generation of my Dads family has worked horses on a farm since we have record of. Hopefully we can continue!

[Plowboy]

Our local shop isn’t a d ring believer so I guess Peach Lane is probably a good source given that they do make the parts. I have been to their shop and they make good nylon harness for decent prices. I am not sold on Biothane although they say it is improved now. Many early biothane harness tore where the stitching went through. It always sticks in my mind so I stick with leather and nylon. There are also good biothane shops in Ohio but I would have to get there contact info from a friend but I don’t think you’ll go wrong with Abner at Peach Lane.

[Plowboy]

I’ve seen them work. They do plow and make loose soil for a seed bed but are far too rigid to float with the ground and do a good neat job of plowing. I think that is why they aren’t more common. The White Horse and Pioneer are far better at doing a nice job but are up around $1200 now.

[Plowboy]

Opposite of what looks logical if you move your evener further towards the land it will take a bigger bite.

[Plowboy]

Josh,
I have friends with minis that also raise 17-18h Percherons. They have the best working mini’s I have ever seen, all business and puppy dog gentle. They even show a six-up of them at their hometown fair. He started training them because his wife was intimidated by the big horses so he got her a team and trained them. He says you don’t want to holler, get nervous or spank them or it makes the pony come out and then you can have your hands full. If they are full of themselves try working them on a big truck tire or small tractor tire and let them work it out for themselves.

[Plowboy]

The red belted calf has been sold. Still have the black and white bull.

[Plowboy]

I agree with Carl. Glad to know I absorbed something from the tree ID course i took about 15 yrs ago.

[Plowboy]

I’ve got a large locust grove on my farm but that tree in the photo’s is a Cherry.

[Author]

Posts