Horse Power.

[Winnie]

Just a question really. How many of the Horse owners here have either trained or considered training their Horses to work the land? It would seem to me a sensible idea to have a back-up power source.

[nell67]

I don't have any horses at the moment,but one of my Amish neighbors brought down the "big guns" and turned my garden.

THe "big guns" is a team of 3 draft horses,great big gentle giants that seem to live to work,they love being hooked up and make the rounds around here getting peoples gardens ready for planting.

[Winnie]

I just wondered Nell, as the chap accross the way, has just started training his two Donkeys to draught. They looked really sweet and determined!
I used to work with Suffolk Horses and Clydesdales (REALLY big Guns!)
I know many here have Horses it was something I wondered about.
Oh BTW ever considered training up a couple of your Goats?
Have a look at this
http://workinggoats.tripod.com/id2.html

Over here they're also used in pairs to pull a small plough and tiller!

[nell67]

Winnie,I have thrown a pack over a goats back a time or two,but never hooked one up to a buggy or plow.

[gryffynklm]

No horses here just a fine appreciation of a fading tradition and way of life.
Tillers International has a great selection of courses from an earlier time including oxen and draft horse, timber framing... think 19th century farm work. I have wanted to take classes there but never found the time or money. Sounds like an amazing place.

http://www.tillersinternational.org/

You also remained me of two of my favorite songs. Both speak about the last days of draft horses. Thanks for the reminder.

Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull

lyrics
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jethro+tull/heavy+horses_20071015.html

Song at #8
http://www.lala.com/#song/576742261898493283

The Last Trip Home by Battle Field Band
Lyrics
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/the_battlefield_band/the_last_trip_home.html

Song at #8
http://www.templerecords.dloadshop.com/index.asp?gid=&arid=21

[Rick]

My grandfather was an original teamster, literally. He delivered freight with a team of horses. I don't recall him not having at least one horse around his place. My other grandfather kept horses on and off. At a very early age, I was quite capable of being stepped on at both places.

[Justin Case]

Ya know,, A Lot of People do not even know what "Horsepower" is ,, Do you ?

http://www.web-cars.com/math/horsepower.html

[Winnie]

My granddad had a team of fell ponies, they look like a small draught horse short in the leg, big barrel chest and a broad beam, they stand about 14hh. He used them for forestry work, hauling logs out from the tree plantations as they were small enough to get inbetween the rows of trees.
I'm not sure about where you are but working hoese are having something of a rennaisance over here. More and more small farms are looking to horses to replace the tractor. Seems the price of equipmant and fuel is having a positive effect somewhere.
Oh and this Brewery has been using Shire horses to deliver it's beer for over a hundred years!
http://www.wadworth.co.uk/shire_horses.html

[Rick]

Grand horses!! Of course, we have the Clydesdales that pull for Anheuser Busch.

We have places here in the States where motor carriages are forbidden (except fire trucks and ambulances usually). Horses do all of the work. Here's an example:

http://www.mackinacisland.org/

I watched a young man back a horse and wagon down a street that was on probably a 40% incline. Rather steep. When he was alongside the delivery door the horse just stopped and held and the load while the driver stepped off and chocked the wheels. Everyone was pretty amazed at how smart that animal was. Thing is. That horse had probably done that a thousand times and knew the drill in his sleep.

Still, it was pretty impressive.

[Winnie]

There are places here that don't allow vehicles either.

It's something I always wanted to do with my fella, He would have made a grand ride and drive.
IF I ever have another it's something I'd definitely look into.

[Rick]

We're still talking horses, right?

[Winnie]

Griff, that looks like just my sort of place! There are skills I'd love to have, but like you, sadly that money thing gets in the way.

[Winnie]

We're still talking horses, right?

Yup, my ex thought work a dirty word. I left him behind years ago.

[gryffynklm]

I'm sure there is something closer to you. The only one I'm aware of is in the Portsmouth area. They might be aware of similar programs closer to you.

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/Courses/adult-education-continuing-education.htm

[Winnie]

There are quite a few Gryff But no wheels and one(yes ONE) bus a week makes for a difficult time getting anywhere! I have been to a few in the past, just as a visitor.
BTW I'm off to an American Civil War re-enactment at Rockingham Castle next weekend!

[gryffynklm]

Ah, yes, that could be a problem. Enjoy the event, tell me who wins. If you didn't say American CW, I would have thought otherwise. I have carried Pike for three years and still do on occasion.

[Rick]

A British re-enactment of the American Civil War?

"All right boys, Hold steady. Let's send their sorry a$$es straight to Hell." will most certainly come out as...

"All right lads. Keep your alans on. I would be chuffed as nuts if we were to cane the cheeky buggers straight to Hades.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

So far I am learning to do the farrier tasks. We have recently gotten a couple of youg'uns on the mini donkey. I'd like to see his 16 hands do some work. When I goto stand the 800+ round bales on end he just watches. I need to do something about that fer' sure!

[Ken]

A coupla' thousand of these oughta' do the trick.

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/04/p/180.jpg

Worlds smallest horse?
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/04/180.shtml

[randyt]

when i was a kid my dad used a quarter horse for tilling the garden. after i moved to kentucky i helped a friend build a log house. we used a team of mules to pull the logs out of the woods. one winter a couple years back i worked on mackinac island. over there there are no cars and trucks allowed except for police, utility and emergency uses. we had to have all our freight delivered by horse. on the bright side during the winter the island thins right out population wise and a snowmobile is allowed. i couldn't get my nerve up to drive my 30 year old snowmobile across the ice bridge to st. ignace.

[Rick]

And, of course, there is Mackinac Island.

[randyt]

And, of course, there is Mackinac Island.


that place is a zoo during tourist season. there was a fella there with a little hand cart and shovel. one thing about it with all those horses he had job security.

during lunch one day there was a run away team, thankfully nobody got hut. if somebody would have gotten in the way it would have been curtains for them. only thing that got broke was a big window, a banged up horse and a cut up harness, that was a lucky day.

[2dumb2kwit]

There are quite a few Gryff But no wheels and one(yes ONE) bus a week makes for a difficult time getting anywhere! I have been to a few in the past, just as a visitor.
BTW I'm off to an American Civil War re-enactment at Rockingham Castle next weekend!

I trust you will be cheering for the south.:innocent: LOL

[Rick]

I trust you will be cheering for the north.:innocent: LOL

Yeah, what 2D said.

[Winnie]

Oh dear, looks like I've stirred up a bit of a hornets nest:innocent: I shall remain impartial and cheer for both sides!:)

[gryffynklm]

After I mover to WV a neighbor had herd I reenact and asked if I was north or south? I explained that did other centuries and that i hadn't decided on a civil war impression. The gentlemen put his hand on my shoulder and said "your confederate". Our town was predominately confederate.

[Rick]

At that point you say, "Yes, sir. That's what I meant."

[wareagle69]

i currently have 4 horses, 2 are just for looks (retired race horses) and two for work quarter horse and standard bred, both solid horses, they produce nice manuer for my gardens but i am also working hard with them for carrying packs and hauling logs

[Winnie]

Well thanks everyone. I know a lot consider their horses a BOV of choice, I thought there were possibilties for other uses too. :)

[Julie362]

I've never had a horse.

[kevinerose]

I watched a movie called Jeremiah Johnson (over this past weekend) which I found for $5 at Walmart. I take it was based on a real mountain man in the 1800s.
I noticed a few things on there especially that he had a horse and a mule to help him survive and build his cabin. Then the other thing was his rifle and learning the ways of the mountain from other mountain men helped keep him alive.
But along with a good horse or other pack animal, I think some good dogs would be nice to have.