[tsigmon]

Just saw this thread and wanted to respond. Everybody has their favorite breed and wants to promote it as the best so pay attention to the individual horse more than the breed. Size of the person does not necessarily dictate size of horses needed to get farm work accomplished . I’m 6’+ , 270 lbs(and a little bit) and use Haflingers , three of them, 950 t0 1150 lbs and the only thing I haven’t been able to do with them is pull some big logs. A good farrier should be able to maintain a barefoot horse for most farm work .

[tsigmon]

I’ve been away from he computer for a few days and just catching up on my reading and came across this thread. A while back even though I had used the term ‘ sustainable agriculture’ I wasn’t absolutely sure what the term really meant . I cant really remember where , but I am fairly certain it was on a USDA page that I got a real surprise. In the definition I found there was a paragraph or two about taking care of the land and proper treatment of animals and several paragraphs (over a page) of how farm workers should be treated and taken care of with a great deal of it refering to “undocumented workers” It might be worth while to investigate what the USDA thanks sustainable is versus what you think. The version I read seemed more of a social engineering plan than an agricultural one.

[tsigmon]

Feed supplements can be of some benefit if there is a lack of the esential nutrients in the horses diet. I’m not too sure how much they really help but I don’t think they hurt anything either. A horses hoof is alot like a presons finger nail , it is produced at the hair line and grows out so any new hoof produced after starting to feed a suplement is several months away from the where the nails exit the foot. As for creams, lotions and such I think they are a waste of time and money. A GOOD / PROPER trim is way more important than any feed suplement or hoof dressing. Vertical cracks and the resulting chipping are caused by improper weight bearing of the hoof wall and is a result of the hoof wall being too long some where. Flares are caused by too long of a foot and improper ” balance” for lack of a better word. Lots of show drafts shod with scotch bottm shoes have awful feet because of the flares and cracks associated with the flares. Everybody thinks their farrier is the best but I would advise you to contact your state farriers organization an get a recomendation and give him a try. Good farriers are expensive, good draft farriers are very expensive and none of them can make much of a difference in one or two trimmings so it could be a fairly long , expensive , process to solve the cracking and chipping problem. Also remember that the trim is the most important aspect of a shoeing job, anybody can put a shoe on a foot but it takes skill and knowledge to properly trim a foot either for shoeing or for going barefoot.

[tsigmon]

Isn’t some form of that practice is how mad cow disease is spread?

[tsigmon]

That’s just a little over 1/10 th of an acre. Use a walking plow

[tsigmon]

I’m not a big fan of fore carts so take my respondse with a grain or two of salt. I have had problems in the past with getting them to balance to suit me. Enough tongue weight from the trailer to make the brakes work well, the pole of the cart rides up too high. Get the pole balanced right and there is a real good chance you won’t have enough weight on the wheels to brake effectively. Also with a trailer, if you turn too sharp the tongue can hit a tire and cause you to flip. For me a wagon is a better choice.

[tsigmon]

Brakes on your water hauler? My team of Haflingers pull better than they hold back a load. Start out light and work up to what you think they can handle. I don’t like to have maximun load every time I hook them up . For me more light loads (instead of one maximum load) pay off in reduced problems. If you you are using a wagon you can haul more water than with a sled. Remember water weighs about 8 1/4 lbs / gal. If using a wagon I would probably start with 80 gallons to see what happened.

[tsigmon]

I use to go to parades , antique farm shows, church functions,and all manner of requested places to let people see my team of Haflingers. I thought it was important for others not familiar with draft animal power to see what all it entailed and try to educate people that there is an alternative way to farm. I’m over that now. I think back over all the situations and the potential dangers and I get chills. I think the longer you go the more you realize the potential dangers you have no control over . Most people wouldn’t cause you any trouble for anything ,but there is always the possibility of some nut wanting to cause a wreck. The closest call I ever had was at an antique farm show. Some nut poped a wheelie on a souped up lawn mower , lost control and missed my off side horse by less than a cat whisker. Thank goodness the crowd was a little thin at that particular point or when they shied they could have stepped on someone. They remained completely under control… but the possibility of a wreck was there. If you have any reservations… pass. I don’t go to events like that any more but people are welcome to come to the farm and see what we do.

[tsigmon]

“We currently burn about 107 gallons of fuel to produce crops on an acre of farmland, with nearly two-thirds of this energy use being in the form of fertilizers and pesticides. “

I find this a little hard to belive and see nowhere this is foot noted to be verified. It sure isn’t typical for my operation. With off road diesel @ $3.65/ gal here in SC that would make an imput of $390/ ac . Not that agriculture endeveors couldn’t be more efficient, but it sounds like some type of political agenda to me.

[tsigmon]

Smalltown, do you have contact information or order form for Mississippi State to get seed?

Tim

[tsigmon]

Smalltown, do you have contact information or order form for Mississippi State?

Tim

[tsigmon]

Got 2 calls yesterday afternoon about sorghum seed. Cooks farm Supply in Gaffney has “Della”, a “Dale” cross for $54/25lb bag. Another fella is checking at his local feed and seed near Rockingham, NC . He says they normally carry Dale and Sugar Drip for $3-$4/ lb if you don’t want a whole bag.

I had checked the rare seed and seed conservatories and found seed but boy were they expensive. Anywhere from 50 seeds for $3 plus shipping onup to $4 dollars per 7 grams . At the gram price that comes out to about $260/lb. I think they are wanting to conserve a little more than seed

I’m in the central piedmont of SC for those who asked . Thanks for all the help and replies and I’ll let ya’ll know as things progress.

Tim

[tsigmon]

Thanks for all of the replies and help. I’m in Union , SC which is in the central piedmont part of the state. I have checked with several of the rare seed and seed conservatories but to tell you the truth, they seem more interested in making money. I have no problem with a free market economy, but most of these folks are getting $0.5 – $1/ gram for sorghum seed. That comes out to $227 to $454/POUND .Too much for me. I found a variety called West…. something from Nixa Hardware in Nixa MO for $3/ pound plus shipping .

Just got two phone calls since trying to post. Cooks Feed And Seed in Gaffney SC has “Della” a Dale backcross for $54/ 25 lbs bag and a call from near Rockingham that said a feed&seed near him usually has Dale and Sugar Drip for $3-$4/ lb. I hope the one near Rockingham pans out ’cause Dale is the variety I have been advised to use in this area by several old past molasses makers. If not i”ll try the Della for the price. Thanks again for the help and I’ll let ya’ll know when and where I get seed.

Tim

[tsigmon]

Can you get pictures? A toe first landing can be associated with heel pain which can be the result of too long of a toe. Feet landing across the midline usually is a result of a combination being toed in( fairly common in wide chested horses) and poor medial/ lateral ( inside and outside of the foot ) balance. Post or e-mail pictures and I’ll try to help.

Tim

[tsigmon]

([The delays cost you nothing as a taxpayer as CP is footing the whole bill for the legal actions/defense on behalf of the state of Idaho.)]

Who pays for the “court” , Judge , jury, court house, security……?

[Author]

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