[Mark Cowdrey]

Carl,
That setup looks similar to the shoes John Hammond made and put on for me. See the 3 pictures I posted in the gallery under “Working Horses”. They have worked great for me. It is a front hoof that is shown. I run the rim pads fronts only.
Mark

[IMG]http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/images/41/1_P1010002crpd.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/images/41/1_P1010004crpd.JPG[/IMG]

(Mark I copied and pasted these from the photo gallery….. CBR)

[Mark Cowdrey]

If I was to go out and buy a pulley, snatch block or whatever to have for similar situations, what does anyone recommend? Cable seems like an all-around PIA but I recall some thread talk about, possibly, climbing rope? Would that be rugged enough in a situation like this or would you need cable or chain? Or, a multiple pulley “block and tackle” setup?
I have nothing like this on the place and can see that the day might come that I wished I did.
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Jac et al,
Different from a border collie, at least the kind we have over here. Not an “eye” dog, but a “loose eye” dog. Herds from an upright stance and turns the “eye” on and off as needed. Also, more of an all round type with guardian and hunting tendencies/abilities. At least that is what I am reading. Probably descended from the same stock back when.

From ES websites:
“
HISTORY
English Shepherds are descendants of the Shepherds’ dogs of England and southern Scotland. This group also gave rise to modern “show” Collies and Border Collies. English Shepherds differ from their cousins in having been bred primarily for an upright, loose-eyed herding style, and by the continuous selection for all-around ability. These abilities include not only herding but also guarding and hunting. The surge in popularity of dog shows and sheepdog trials in the 20th century resulted in increased demand for the Collie types which these venues were designed to showcase. English Shepherds have never been primarily show dogs or trial dogs, but rather practical versatile workers for farmers who were interested in function rather than flash. “

Robert, there are breeders out west, I can’t seem to find the webpage just now with the breeder list.

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Thank you all for the interest, comments and suggestions. More food for thought and directions for investigation.

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Mike,
Check out Donn Hewe’s arch-on-skiis:
http://www.draftanimalpower.com/showthread.php?t=2779

Sounds similar to what you are talking about.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Geoff,
Although “Boston Backer” is sometimes thought to be an alternative name for a “D-Ring” harness, they are not the same. See the picture of a BB harness on page 110 of the 2nd edition of “Workhorse Handbook”. Although it has jockey yokes so it is a side backer, which is also a feature of a D-ring, there is no D-ring and the pole is hung off the collar, which is why they could conceivably get away w/o a back pad. Recall that the back pad is an integral part of the D-ring suspension system and that it carries the weight of the pole.
Interestingly, on pg. 156 of same text, the diagram mis-represents the suspension system of the D-ring (here called, as it often is, “New England”) seeming to indicate that the britchen is integral to the suspension and saying “(it) take(s) all weight off the horse’s back.” We know this is not true from Les Barden’s video in which he removes the entire britchen assembly to demonstrate that it is not required to hold up the pole. I suspect that this false impression is why I sometimes hear the D-ring objected to because “the britchen has to be too tight.” The britchen is adjusted independently of the “suspension system”.
Carl or others weigh in if I’ve missed something.

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Got The Resilient Gardener, by Carol Deppe for Christmas. Seems excellent so far with a definitely “let go of what you can’t control and do what you can perspective. Anyway, on her recommendation for where she is coming from, took a break from reading it to read Collapse, How Societies choose to fail or succeed, Jared Diamond. I find it interesting and germaine to this discussion.
Snow here today. Finally. Come on sleigh riders, come to Papa!
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Andy,
Thanks, great and to me stunning information that of course makes me think of other questions.

What effect, if any, does the overall length of the evener have in terms of advantage to the horses? Assuming to start that both horses are “equal”, that the evener is perpendicular to the load, is the length of each side of the evener (lever arm) significant? Intuitively I’m thinking no, the load is still the load split in half, but…

There is a SFJ article in this thread that would be valuable to the greater community.

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Andy,
What does this mean:
“can easily be made aerobic or anaerobic “.
Sounds like it is 2 different kinds of exercise?
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Brad,
Also wondering what your track width is and if it matches your evener length.
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Hi Brad,
Glad it is going well for you. Wondering if you are using a single bob like Carl’s “Weapon” (I think that is what I have heard him call it) that he used at LIF or a double bob with a reach? (What I think of as a “bob sled”.)
I agree w Erika that documentation of fabrication of bridle chains would be very valuable.
Sounds like a good job your on. Can’t wait to see the pictures.:D

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Karl, that’s a good one. Another of my favorite winter sayings is that you should have half your wood and half your hay left on Groundhog (Candlemas) day, or, from Wikipedia:

In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem:

As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop

I did 10 rides between Christmas and New years, the last one on NY eve featured some runner squawking going over the gravel! I shelled out quite a nut on advertising this year so between that & insurance I am about half way to showing a profit. We’ll see….
My 9 yo is going good though my 5 yo doesn’t seem to think he can get down and dig on the hills. He is definitely breathing harder when I rest them. My 9 yo was like that when he was younger. Makes me wonder if it is just a maturity thing or whether it’s collar fit, line adjustment, conditioning, poor driving, …
Took them on a 5 mile road trip w the mechanical brake on the Pioneer forecart set in the first notch today and he stuck with it pretty well. The more miles the better the horse I guess.

Let’s hope for more snow.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

the author gives credit to Don McKay and his book Lumberjacks as a source. Anyone read that one?
M

[Mark Cowdrey]

Just finished it. I will agree w Donn that it is “grim at times”. The central theme seems to me to be how rumor and ambition can ruin people in a small community, how fast the shoe can be on the other foot, and just what weak creatures we are by virtue of our humanity.
There is some decent logging stuff in there but it is primarily about the human condition, or the authors take on such, with logging being incidental.
In my opinion.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Larry,
Not wanting them to lie down in the stall is strictly selfish on my part from a grooming/bedding conservation perspective. If they want to lie down they can & I certainly would not intentionally discourage them. Based on my limited observations and experience, it seems that more mature, though not aged, horses lie down less, which makes less work & mess for me.
BTW, my tie chains are attached to the top front of the mangers and hang over the back (horse) side just down to the floor.

How’s your night vision project going. I’m keeping fingers crossed here for overcast to preserve what little snow we have for 1 ride tomorrow and 2 Saturday. Hoping for a direct hit Sunday.

Merry, merry to All!
Mark

[Author]

Posts