Singletree size?

[Julie Clemons]

I found an ad on Craigslist for some equipment I need, it turns out there is a choice of singletree sizes, either 27 or 32 inch, and it occurs to me I have no idea how to choose. I suppose you want it wide enough to let the horse work freely between the tugs but narrow enough to not get hung up on stuff.

Any ideas? the horse in question is a 1500 pound Suffolk and all I’m going to be doing for the time being is dragging some logs around. I don’t own anything but a stoneboat at this point.

[Rick Alger]

I have a horse about that size and use a 35″ whiffle tree for twitching. A 32″ may work, but if it’s too narrow the tugs will do a lot of chafing of the hind legs on turns.

A suggestion – If the item is a standard farm whiffletree, put a swivel between the whiffle tree and the grab hook so the tugs don’t twist as the log turns.

[Robert MoonShadow]

I’m wondering how this 2″-4″ measurement would work out for donkeys? My girls are fat! {Um, I mean “winterized”} I’m trying to find out what the proper measurements would be for single- and double-trees for these girls of mine…does it differ, according to field (plow/cultivator), logging or wagon/cart use? Anyone have an idea on this…and sources for same?

[LostFarmer]

The width of the single tree is the width of a horses a$$ or and ass’s a$$. Seriously it isn’t that complicated as long as it needs to be to not chaffe. I like the evener about 8″ longer that the singletrees for tongue work. I have 23″ ones on my little ponies, and 32 on the large ponies. The shires have a little longer but I don’t remember the dimension. It all varies. For field work make the evener the length that you want them to walk in the furrow. On a sleigh the evener should be the width between runners so the horses beat the trail down infront of the runners. LF

[Simple Living]

Ok I’m going to try to post a couple things here. This was a topic from early this year as well. Some really good info here

http://www.draftanimalpower.com/showthread.php?t=1360

And if I may I will paste the little bit that I did back then. It has to do with how to choose correct evener size when using a plow. I hope this helps.

This is taken from Sam Moore’s book “Implements for Farming with Horses and Mules, a Modern All-In-One Manual” It is a bit pricey but I have learned a wealth of knoledge,well worth the price.

“The center of power of a 2 horse team is a line from a point exactly midway between the inside hame hooks to the center clevis of the evener. The center of draft of a 14″ two-horse walking plow is about 2″ in from the landside and directly under the middle of the plow beam. The distance from the center of draft to the edge of the furrow wall is thus 14″ minus 2″, or 12”. The furrow horse walkes in the middle of the furrow, so his singletree clevis will be 7″ from the furrow wall. The distance then, from the center of draft, or the middle of the evener to the singletree clevis is 19″, calling for a 38″ evener.

For a 12″plow, the center of draft is approximately 10 1/2″ from the furrow wall plus 6″ to the center of the furrow, or 16 1/2″. Thus, a 33″ evener should be used on a 12″ plow.”

There is a lot more information on plowing and such in the book. I find it easy to read and if you have some basic knowledge of machines and physics, you can translate the information for your needs. Hope this helps and not clouds the issue.

Gordon

[TBigLug]

The 32″ would work just fine for you. It’s only a 5 inch difference so I doubt it will catch on anything more than the 27″ would and will give the horse a small bit more room to maneuver. We have all sizes here depending on the equipment we’re using.

[Robert MoonShadow]

My next thought is that with using the butt width as a measurement standard, won’t that still rub/chaffe the sides, as both are quite round (wide :o) in the body = moreso than their butts. I’m assuming this will lessen as I get them into shape, but I’m wondering what, if anything, to do about it, until they do get in shape.

[Author]

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