haflinger skidding a moose?

[Jared Ashley]

Hi all,

i was looking for your thoughts and opinions on something. i have a team of haflingers. i have yet to ask them to pull any heavy loads. i am wandering if you think a single haflinger can handle skidding a moose. i have some ideas for drag sleds and such. i also have the team to use. i am going to be retrieving moose in northern maine this coming fall during our moose hunts. i foresee some situations where a single horse skidding is going to be the best way. but, i’m not sure my mare can handle skidding a moose. your thoughts?
Jared

[carl ny]

Depends on ground cover,terrain,size and condition of your haflinger.Oh yeah,and size of the moose.LOL

carl ny

[Anonymous]

Our horses used to pack out elk in colorado and the easiest way was to field dress and quarter then tie them up on a pack, if you did that then you could just have the team walk in a little pack train and not worry about any other equipment.

Jared

[Jared Ashley]

i will be in commercially harvested forests. the ground will be flat with moderate slopes. my mare is young and fit, but i know i need to train her up with heavier loads. she is 14h, 800lbs. she has the heart for it but i don’t wont to over work her. the moose will be anywhere from 400 to 900 lbs with most being in the 700-800 range. i will be able to use the team most of the time but if i get in a spot where one would be better in the tighter cover i want to make sure i can do it. Jared, for some reason, quartering moose is not very popular here in northern maine. again, thanks for your input.
Jared

[NB axemen]

Probably want to get them used to the smell of the blood too, I know some horses can react very different under certain circumstances.

[Jonathan Shively]

How old is this team or haflinger you are planning to skid moose out with?

[Jared Ashley]

My younger one is 9yrs old this april. my older one is 15-20 but still in good shape and plenty of energy.

[wally b]

heavy animal carcasses are harder to skid efficiently than you may initially think–thats why they call it ‘dead weight’–plus it damages the hide and carcass.

wally b

[Jonathan Shively]

Well they aren’t immature animals whose bones aren’t hardened. Would think on a sled it would be no problem for them on one of them.

[Jared Ashley]

i am definately going to use a sled if i have the space in the woods that i need

[Rod44]

Be sure to work them up to pulling that weight. You don’t want to have them not be able to pull it and make them balky.

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