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Big Horses
ParticipantGood lookin’ mower! I’ve got 3 of them and love ’em!
ParticipantDefinitely SFJ!! Like has been said, DHJ is 90%+ about show horses. When Maurice Telleen started it, it was a whole different mag… When the SFJ gets here, it’s hard to get much done for a few hours! :p
ParticipantThe only bad thing about good horses and good dogs is that they just don’t seem to last long enough! Sorry to hear about that John!
ParticipantSickle Hocks, those are pretty small stalls… I wouldn’t want to be foaling in them. One thing you can do is like we did, make the dividing wall between stalls removeable, thus doubling the size available when needed. It’s a really simple deal and we’ve used it a couple times already and LOVE it! You can see the insides of ours on this old thread here http://www.draftanimalpower.com/showthread.php?4256-New-barn/page2
If I remember, we have about 10′ of headroom at the lowest point of the cross beams in the isles… I don’t think I’d want any less. Normally it’d never get used up high, but if one of the horses throws a head up, it’s sure best to have somewhere for it to go.
The sounds of the run in on the plan you have sounds fine to me… they’d use it I’m sure.
JohnParticipantWe cover ours with hot water (pelleted, not shaved beet pulp) by about 2″… That’s using 4 cups of beet pulp in a 5 gallon bucket. Makes enough to provide about 27 cups of soaked pulp total. It’ll soak up alot of water, and I always figured I’d rather have a bit too much water than not enough.
JohnParticipantVery nice mules!! I’m not even a “mule guy” and I like those!! Thanks for sharing!!
JohnParticipantI’ve got a couple different ones here, I’ll try to get some pics and measurements for you today, unless someone else beats me to it…. we’ve finally got some snow to plow! YAHOO!
JohnParticipantWe usually run a “military elbow” bit, but mostly because we’re in a crowd of people alot. For farm work, we use a snaffle alot as well. The main thing to remember is that it’s not how severe a bit, but how severe the hands are on the ends of the lines. You can always lighten up, but especially when in a crowd, (such as a parade, or carriage work) it’s nice to have that extra “brakes” if things start to come unravelled.
JohnParticipantChris, that’s a great looking IH! The things that we wind up using the most are lights and tiedowns. It seems that you can never have too many! I love my underbed tool boxes, as long as they’re sealed good. This is the first flatbed we’ve owned, and I can’t believe we waited this long!! It’s the handiest thing we’ve ever had, and not having to worry about a pickup box when we have to crank the trailer around in less than optimal conditions is wonderful!
The only thing I’d do to that rig of yours is drop a 6bta Cummins in it, but it sounds like you don’t like diesels. The one in our Dodge is getting better than 22mpg when we don’t have our trailer on, and about 15+ with a trailer load of horses… I haven’t been able to find a gasser that will do that and keep up to me.
JohnParticipantI think Sean gave you the best advice…. get the best horse you can find and don’t worry about height unless it bothers YOU! I’ve got a Percheron gelding that’s over 19hh barefoot and he’s not bad to harness…but he’s cooperative….he puts his head down for the collar and bridle. I guess it would be different if I was throwing harness 10 times a day maybe…but it’s not that big of a deal, and besides, it’s good for us. I’m only 5’9″ and my wife’s 5’7″ and she can harness him just fine too.
The worst thing about him is finding a match for him.
John
ParticipantWelcome! You’ve come to a good place!
JohnParticipantBack him up. If he’s “stringy” he’ll yank that hind leg up and sometimes quiver the leg, like he’s got something on the hoof. You’ll also be able to see the same reaction sometimes if you make him pivot on it.
JohnParticipantI’m with ya on the good neighbors/friends….nothing in the world like them!
I’ve had to hoist an old gelding of ours a couple times. I used the loader and took load straps from my semi (nylon, and about 6″ wide) and slung him behind the front legs and ahead of the back legs, with a rope between the straps under his belly, to keep them from spreading fore and aft and cutting off circulation. I also used his collar with another rope from the front strap to the top and bottom of the collar to keep him from toppeling forward. He was fine as soon as he was on his feet and warmed up again. Like I always say, old age isn’t for sissies…even though it’s really tough to see your pal in that state.
Glad to hear you were there to help him, along with your good helper!
JohnParticipantGood luck Cameron! Leave it to a horse to do that to ya! Keep us posted.
JohnParticipantWelcome!! Some great advice on this site and good people!! I do love those Brabants, and always have had a soft spot in my heart (head?) for grey Percherons!!
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