[TBigLug]

Just lets them walk a little further apart. My left hand horse crowds into the furrow with the lines just ran through the hames. I prefer through the hames for cultivating and anything requiring a great deal of precision but I like my spreaders for any tongued work and plowing. Personal preference though.

[TBigLug]

Geoff, I can see what you see. It looks awfully similar to my JD footlift. Never seen such a high attachment point for a tongue though. I wonder what the purpose for that was? Maybe to keep them from hitting their front legs on the neck yoke. Nice find though colttrainer. I do like my 16″‘ers for plowing the ground at our farm.

[TBigLug]

Hey George, can you get me an address and phone number for Zimmerman’s. I’d like to add them to my master list. I did a Google search but it came back with 10 or so differant Zimmerman ish companies in PA.:D

[TBigLug]

Updated to reflect Crystal Valleys new owner, phone number and shop address.

[TBigLug]

That looks like a really nice rig right there. I’d run through a factory of barb wire to get one like that. You should snap it up if it’s in as good as shape as first impressions appear.

[TBigLug]

Depending on what part of Michigan you are in, I had Ken Plank (and his sons) of Vermontville break my horse for me. Did an awesome job. Charges $300 per maonth but was worth every penny to me.

[TBigLug]

For all the hauling we never blanket them, but I built wooden slats to fill the voids in our stock but still leave the vents in the front open (4″ Circles) because we found that with two horses in there they would get too hot and start sweating. Now I took some of the slats off to aid in keeping them cool. It’s been my experience that having them too warm and stuffed up is more hazardous than tham being cold. Ours already have heavy winter coats and are used to being out in the cold.

[TBigLug]

Our two farriers are split 50/50. One for one against. I personally haven’t noticed a differance in the longevity or security of the shoes with either. Like Carl said, I think it just depends on the horse and situation. I kinda like them myself but I’m no farrier. lol

[TBigLug]

I’m a little late to the fray, but I’ll give you an idea of our routine. We do more fieldwork then woodwork (although I try to do more of that now). They’re brought in from pasture about 7:00 in the morning where they’ve had full access to grass and water all night. I give them half their grain ration when they come in and they have a manger full of hay. After I eat my breakfast we head out to the field. About noon I drive them back up to the barn. Leave them in harness, offer them a drink, put them in their stalls to eat hay while I eat lunch, offer them a drink after I get done. Hook them back p, work until 5:00 or so, bring them back up, offer them a drink, pull ther harnesses and tie them back in their stalls while I eat dinner. Give them the other half of their grain after I eat dinner then cut them loose to pasture until the next morning when we do it all over again (schedules permitting). I didn’t notice on your profile where you’re from. If you are ever in the area on a when we are working them you’re more than welcome to stop by and see in person!

[TBigLug]

I had him make it out of the “dull” bio which I love. Gives it a leather ish look with none of the weight.

[TBigLug]

jac’s got the right idea. We stall ours and I throw some straw and a little chaff on there backs to wick away some of the moisyure then go back and brush them off a little.

[TBigLug]

Just wanted to give a follow up. We started hauling people back at the tree farm last week. Dottie did great. Acted like the old pro ythat she is. I don’t think there are any lasting effects. She was back to her old little kid loving friendly self.

[TBigLug]

@Tom S 21442 wrote:

Try this site for a less expensive saddle. We have a couple of them and several other leather saddles. Some of our family prefer the Abetta for the setting.

http://www.buytack.com/products-saddles/act/20552.htm

I’ll have to check them out. We just teste a Circle Y a friend of ours has for fit and it worked pretty good. Seats too small though. Too bad, I’d love a Circle Y for what she wants for it. I’ll probably buy it for a spare for Heather though so she doesn’t have to use her show saddle (Circle Y) for knock around farm duty.

[TBigLug]

I did learn that Circle Y (my favorite brand) DOES in fact now make true draft sized saddles. Unfortunately they run the same distance out of my price range. Someday though. Sorry about the multiple posts. My phone limits my length.

[TBigLug]

We do have a saddle with full QH bars we’re gonna try. It would open up my options a little if they would work. I’m 6’5 360 so it’s important it fits well and is well padded.

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