[Big Horses]

I just had a plain ring hook over the hook on the front of the tug on our show harness a couple weeks ago…. not only once, but 3 times during the night. First time ever for that one… We’re going to a “heart drop” ring….. I guess if it’s not one thing, it’s something else!! haha
John

[Big Horses]

Carl’s nailed it perfectly…..THINK long and hard about it. The only time I’ve had problems in public with horses, were during parades. Once was with 6 small mules… the lines looked like spagetti before I got them back in hand. The other was when a little Indian kid threw some firecrackers under my lead team when I was making a corner….. Both times (by the grace of God) nothing became of it, but it sure scared me and made me realize how quick things can happen way beyond my control! That being said, we still do parades, but have no problem saying NO if things don’t look and feel right. When it’s good, they’re a blast!
John

[Big Horses]

Carl’s exactly right… from riding “choppers” (where you’d remove the front brake) you find that about 70% of your braking power comes from the weight transfer to the front axel on a vehicle…. same goes to anything moving. More than once, I’ve slid that back wheel through an intersection, with very little effect noticed!:eek:
I’d bet you’ll have plenty of friction with just a wood block, but one thing to think about…. one of the best friction reduction agents on rubber is water….. when we press rubber bushings into truck suspensions with a 100 ton press, we don’t use oil…we use water, as it works better….. just some food for thought…. keep those “brain wheels” turning!
John

[Big Horses]

I love looking at other people’s projects!! There’s so many great ideas out there!
JH

[Big Horses]

Must be the year for new barns… Last Fall, we took an old cabin that was built in the 50’s and that’s been sitting for years, drug it about a mile and a half over here, then pulled the floors and made a barn out of it.

Hardest part of that was crossing the small creek and going up the bank in front of our house… it was about all the poor old 966 wanted!

http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh69/bighorses2007/barn%20move/?action=view&current=PA270061.mp4

It’s not finished yet, but it did yield a couple 12×21′ stalls for the mares, and a 12/14′ harness/feed room.The wall between the stalls comes out so that you can have more space if needed.

All the materials for the stalls, except the tubing, came from the floors. Beautiful stuff!! Lots of vertical grain Doug Fir and Larch…..the 18′ long 2×8 floor joists didn’t have a bit of twist in them… you just can’t find lumber like that anymore! Sure was fun to work with!
John

[Big Horses]

Very nice! Glad to see someone “overbuilds” like I do! Glue and ringshanks are our friends! (along with screws!)
John

[Big Horses]

Very nice!! I’d like to see more pics and get more details too!
John

[Big Horses]

I hear ya Ixy… I’m alot of that mind too. Grew up with motorcycles, race cars, airplanes, and lots of machinery…bigger always fascinates me…. steam makes me drool!:eek: I still love my horses, but I’ll always have a soft spot for mechanical things. I’m very active in the steam community around here, and still run a 28hp Minneapolis (that I first got to steer about 40 years ago!) traction engine. I still restore antique airplanes for a winter job, and still crush rock in the summer, as well as keep the ranch here going…. variety is the spice of life!
Geoff…I’m right with you on the “peeps”… yuck!
John

[Big Horses]

Not yet, Geoff…. now summer’s coming…too many irons in the fire until the snow flies again. Not totally sure it’ll happen this winter either, as I have a big airplane project that needs to be done by spring, so the wheel work may wait….we’ll see.
John

[Big Horses]

Thanks Geoff…. now I’ll spend more money…..:eek:
John

[Big Horses]

Bill,
That sounds like the same thing I have….. although someone “borrowed” one of the outside forks. 😡 Sounds like your manual might be a good thing to copy!! I’d be interested in paying for a copy if you do!
John

[Big Horses]

Great stuff here, folks! Thanks and let’s keep it going!
John

[Big Horses]

Thanks Donn, makes all too much sense! I’m using the big4 on my runway this summer, for starters, and it’s got sodar streambank wheatgrass, which is really tough, so sounds like I better just get to fiddling and get it setup right to start with!
John

[Big Horses]

Don,
What don’t you like about the easy cut? I was thinking of going that way on a Big4 JD.
John

[Big Horses]

Could you use a set of “cheater” lines? Single lines on the “bolter” in addition to the regular team lines. They’re an awesome training aid at times and can help get things lined out or keep a situation from getting out of control without having to be harsh on the other horse.
Horses have an amazing memory…. it’d be really interesting to know everything that goes through that mind…. We’ve got a big Percheron gelding that was abused years ago, and it was a long road to get him to the point he is today. One thing about getting that far is that when it finally “clicks”, it’s worth it….in many ways.
John

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