My Horse’s (and my own) First Time In The Woods…

[OldKat]

@Scott G 11892 wrote:

Congrats John!

You’re hooked for good now. Great looking mare!

The only major thing I noticed right off the bat other than a happy man and a happy horse is exactly what Jason said, shorten up.

The closer you set your choker to the single tree the better line of draft and lift you’re going to get. You also gain a lot more control of the log when you’re maneuvering around stuff. I also shorten up the traces on the return to the landing to get a little more lift yet.

Have fun, be safe, and fill up the landing 🙂

Okay, so maybe this is a major “duh” question here; but what exactly is this “choker” you logging guys talk about?

Also, does anyone know of source of definitions for basic logging terms? I am just curious about some of the stuff you all talk about, but he lingo goes right over my head. Kind of hard to follow that way.

[john plowden]

A choker is the chain and hook you wrap around a log – used with a grab hook on your evener or arch or whiffle tree etc.to pull said log –
John

[OldKat]

@john plowden 11945 wrote:

A choker is the chain and hook you wrap around a log – used with a grab hook on your evener or arch or whiffle tree etc.to pull said log –
John

Thanks. One more question; do all of them have a grab hook on the log end, or do some use a sort of sliding ring to cinch the log(s) up? I saw a chain one time with a hook on one end and a ring on the other. It was about 4 or 5 foot long and was in the back of a pulp wooders truck, so I was curious if that is what he could have been using as a choker. The guy was not real friendly, so I didn’t ask how it was used. However, I have always wondered about it. Not enough to ever actually ask anybody mind you, but still I wondered.

[john plowden]

A ring or Slip hook on the log end – not a grab – you want to “choke” the log and a grab would not let the chain tighten itself a round the log – a grab hook on the hitch end allows you to add another chain for reach or attach to the pulling implement – Logging Choker hooks are specifically designed to not fall off the log easily and are really strong – I use 5/16″ grade 40 or 60 chain 8 feet long with logging choker hooks because they are lighter than the 3/8 chain – I have never broken one and have pulled some huge wood – Instead of a grab hook a “fid” or pin 8-12″ or longer can be used to push under the log resting on the ground so you dont have to dig through duff,snow or the roots and rocks that somehow always end up where you want to put the chain- there are chain grabbering hooks you can make out of 1/4″ rod to carry separately – or buy pre made from a logging supply co. –
Hope this helps –
John

[Pete]

OldKat Rural Heritage web site.Go to logging camp then scroll down to logging lingo.

[drafthossluvr]

Definetly do what Donn said with the lines and try to hook closer, it will help to pick the logs up in the front and will make pulling easier. looks as if you did good, a word of advice though, watch out for the logs when you are pulling them, walk off to the side a ways and not infront of the logs or directly beside them, you would be suprised how fast they could roll and break one of your legs.

[Author]

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