Max skid weight for light horse

[Pebbles]

Hi all:
I have a bulldog type quarter horse 1200 lbs. We are just starting him. How much weight should I expect him to pull when he first starts pulling a skid and how much is the maximum I can expect him to pull when he has toned up and pulling well?

Thank you so much for your help!!

[Does’ Leap]

I started a paint/draft horse of approximately the same weight in the woods this winter. I am not a good judge of how much wood weighs, but I started off light. After a few days of twitching single with her, I started increasing the size of the log and would then vary heavier and lighter loads. After a while, I had a pretty good sense of what she could pull. Overall, I was impressed how much she could pull – give her size – compared to my larger horses (1700-1800 lbs).

George

[jac]

I use a 3. 2 .1 ratio are a guide for mine.. having said that this is for wagon work… 3 times body weight on smooth tar.. 2 times on slopping roads and 1 to 1 or less on soft going..
John

[Pebbles]

We made a skid out of pine 4′ X 8′. Estimated weight empty 175 lbs. First time he pulled it fine. Second day I sat on it so total weight now 314 lbs he had to work but he seemed fine. I will keep him working at this weight alternating pulling tires and lighter loads for the next couple weeks. As he tones up do you think pulling a total weight of 600 LBS including the weight of the skid is too much?

Thanks

[LostFarmer]

From my experience QH are the easiest to sour on pulling. I don’t know why but they are easy to make balky. I would go slow with the increased loads. A little at a time increases and slow to increase. You can’t make a horse pull. It has to be trained into them that if you hook them then they can and will pull it. There are so many variables to how something drags that the weight alone doesn’t mean much.

[Pebbles]

Thanks for the advice, particularly the heads up regarding souring. I will take your advice and go very slow. Thank you:)

[Author]

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