[cousin jack]

I know a veternarian over here in the UK, he is a very knowledgeable working horse man as well, he once had an elephant, he told me it was the most intelligent animal he had ever known.

[cousin jack]

working on my own a lot, I often sing as I go along. I have to be careful not to sing go, no, so, low otherwise we come to a sudden stop. I’ve taken to whistling more 🙂

[cousin jack]

Excellent, really good to see it from start to finish.

[cousin jack]

Great stuff, keep them coming, How many dogs and cats do you have, there seems to be a different one in each picture 🙂

[cousin jack]

These get my vote, CJ

2) Throw out some names for the effort. Ideally ones that could carry over into the eventual association. Key words could/would be; draft, forestry, logging, powered, animal, international, etc.

Vote for one

“Draft Powered Forestry International”

3) Mission statement. This should be 1-3 sentences at most.

Vote for one

“To promote positive impact forest management using draft animals and appropriate technology”

4) Goals. List five goals, in order of priority, for this effort. Clear, concise, and limited to one complete sentence.

Vote for five

”To advance an ecological perspective of forest management, based on the use of draft animals, and other low impact/low input strategies.”

”To improve opportunities for draft animal forestry practitioners to unite regionally, and internationally, to share information, work, markets, and advocacy.” (4 votes)

“To serve as an official body to support collaboration, research and demonstration with all interest groups on the issues of sustainable forestry including, governmental, non governmental organizations (NGO), academic institutions, municipalities, private landowners” (4 votes)

”Work with researchers to study and publish ecological benefits of animal logging.” (3 votes)

“To serve as a networking, clearinghouse and contact information for individuals and organizations involved in animal powered forestry throughout the world.” (3 votes)

[cousin jack]

This is the way I have gone over here, simply to get started I struck a deal with the wood owner to take out sycamore, birch, the odd ash and oak. I pay him for the standing tree on a tonnage basis, I then fell, extract, split, sell and deliver. Firewood is a good market here at the moment, with everyone installing woodburners due to rising oil costs. But, as with most things it probably won’t last, so make hay while the sun shines.

[cousin jack]

Thanks for the advice boys, some sound reasoning amongst it.

[cousin jack]

@simon lenihan 11034 wrote:

scott mentioned about spreadsheet for calculating stumpage rates, well about 15 years ago i sat down with the head of the forestry contractors association to develop a fair system of payment based on what it actually costs to put a tonne of timber roadside. Fifty horseloggers participated in a survey of what their daily costs were, depreciation, saws, horses, vehicles, etc, etc. This was a very comprehensive study and all data went to dublin where it was inputed in to a programme that was set up specially for this study. The study was based on an average extraction distance and merchantable timber, the cost per tonne came out as £23.00, i never exceded
£13.00 that year. All we did was work longer hours to compensate for this and always thinking that good times were around the corner.
simon lenihan

What price do you think that same study would come up with today?

[cousin jack]

@Scott G 11029 wrote:

Treat potential bids the exact opposite of how we practice sustainable forestry…

Take the best & leave the rest.

No job is worth going broke over. As horse loggers we are in short supply, find your niche and market the hell out of it.

There are people out there who want your services and are willing to pay for a quality job. Going for the high bid on stumpage or low bid on service is an exercise in futility. We just need to think a little outside of the box and be a bit more picky about the work we take on…

The problem is getting started though and getting a good reputation. The only way I could get going was to buy the standing timber and sell for firewood, meanwhile the wood owner has got me piling up all the brash, doing this and that, which is costing me time and money. Now, because firewood prices are rising he wants to charge me more for the standing timber, it’s hard work as you all know, but he just see’s what firewood is selling for to the end user and what I pay him, he dos’nt seem to equate the time, skill, sweat, fuel, repairs,haulage. What I am trying to say though is I have to put up with this to get going, and I am “winging” it at the moment, grateful for advice though 🙂

[cousin jack]

2. “International Draft Powered Forestry Association”
“International Draft Animal Forestry Initiative (IDAFI)”

3. “To promote, and educate the public on draft animal forestry and to provide a network for landowners to connect with practitioners”

“To promote positive impact forest management using draft animals and appropriate technology”

4.
”Share techniques and strategies.”
“To establish an international directory of associations, organizations, and individuals who are supporting /(or practicing)/ the work of draft animal forestry practitioners.”
”Mentoring or training”
“To serve as an official body to support collaboration, research and demonstration with all interest groups on the issues of sustainable forestry including, governmental, non governmental organizations (NGO), academic institutions, municipalities, private landowners and those individuals interested in actually doing this work.”
“To serve as a networking, clearinghouse and contact information for individuals and organizations involved in animal powered forestry throughout the world.”
”To advance an ecological perspective of forest management, based on the use of draft animals, and other low impact/low input strategies.”
”To form an association to support the international community of draft animal forestry practitioners.”
“Establish meaningful connections with those who manage our forests – landowners, foresters, congressmen etc including those who disburse subsidies for good forestry.”
”A data base/ referral system to share with prospective clients”
”A net work to discuss ideas, successes and failures”

[cousin jack]

I’m about 100 miles from Simon, but in contrast, hot, humid, and the flies eating us alive, pulling out birch and hazel.

[cousin jack]

@CharlyBonifaz 10587 wrote:

in Germany we have various systems that spring into life when a mobile phone (worn in your pocket) that actually registers your movement doesn’t do so for a while; it sends your GPS-position with an alarm to a company, that if they cannot contact you personally will immediately organize emergency action.
of course works only in areas where mobile signals can be received….

Got to say, this sounds like a great idea.

[cousin jack]

Some of us have little choice but to work alone, I have only got work through buying the standing timber, I will fell, extract, split, market, and deliver it, as firewood. I have only started this in the last six months, if I want to make a go of it, I have to do it on my own. I bought a very good experienced horse, I spent some time working with the best horse logger this side of the pond, (and learnt more in that time, than I would have in a year on my own), and the rest of it will come by “getting on and doing it”. At least when you are alone there’s only one to look out for. I do carry a cell phone, and I always know my 6 figure grid reference, the rest of it comes down to be being safe, careful, and when that little voice in your head starts saying, “you should’nt be doing that”, then don’t do it!

[cousin jack]

Great pictures, Rick looks like a “free spirit”.

[cousin jack]

I certainly agree with the last post, about voting rights for active horse loggers only. As regards to a newsletter, can we not have the option of choosing between hard copy and e-mail. Being in the UK, I would naturally go for the latter.

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