[TBigLug]

Wow, most of you guys are getting RAILED by your ferriers. Furthermore, to insinuate you shouldn’t use a ferrier because he’s Amish is an ignorant (bordering on racist/ predjudice) thing to say. I’d put Henry Detweiller- Shaytown Blacksmith (my Amish ferrier) up against ANY other ferrier in the country. He’s rasonable on his rates ($20 for trim $20 for new shoes $10 for drilltec per horse), he’s experienced (35 years shoeing horses) and he’s good witht he horses. There’s NO reason it should cost $250 PER HORSE FOR ANYTHING! That’s insane. Figures out to about $500 an hour. Let em guess, your ferriers drive brand new Chevy 3500 Duramax trucks too? 😀 I jest, but seriously, don’t write off a ferrier because they’re Amish. The Amish are who we should be looking to for ideas given that they are the ones who have been using REAL horse power and CONTINUE to use horse power to this day.

[TBigLug]

Well, I hadn’t popped my head in here for a while but I had a thought today while riding around out back with Dottie today. It’s something my grandfather told me years ago, “Big John, soemday you’ll learn, there’s nothing more ignorant than an educated person.” Kind of rings with what you guys were talking about. Everyone now is so obsessed with learning figures and prepackaged facts, no one takes the time to learn about what matters. When the wold goes to hell and technology finally pukes out on everyone, at least us “dumb horse farmers” will still be able to got hrough life with plates full of food and fields full of green.

[TBigLug]

We’ve always had geldings at our farm but after buying my mare and having grandpa pick up one I think they have an advantage. For one, stall cleaning is MUCH easier (if you’re using tie stalls like we are). Secondly, like said before, you can always make more if you like the one you have. I personally believe they are not as strong as geldings but that could vary from horse to horse. They are defintiely more tempermental though, especially the older they get. Geldings have there advantages to though. They are usually stronger and more level headed. Messier stall keepers and some can show some stallion like qualities.

Me personally, I’ll probably stick with mares from this point on since I did so well with my mare.

[TBigLug]

I second George’s notion above. We had Haflingers growing up (mainly for pulling) but we used them around the farm for misc chores and they are definitely respectable little powerhouses.

[TBigLug]

@Phil 16219 wrote:

I think new member DennieeAdamz is a spammer.

I just got a PM from this guy. I never click on a link that someone I don’t know sends me. I need to PM Carl to find out if he knows about this.

[TBigLug]

We have the most basic of fabricating equipment. Gas axe, buzz box and a grinder. I’m looking to expand into a chop saw, saw-zall, wire welder and plasma cutter eventually. It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have much! 😉

[TBigLug]

Also, I mis spke. I remember that it was the rear wheel I had been messing with not the furrow wheel. You are correct, one notch ont he furrow wheel usually makes a big difference.

[TBigLug]

😀 I’m glad everyone liked the pictures. They were stills taken by my wife. We knew grandpa had nearly came off in that same spot the last round. He got worried sop asked me to take the lines and see what I thought. She was ready and waiting when I came off. That was actually the second fall I believe. Kinda fun. I tipped it three more times before I hit the end of the furrow. Soft landing so no harm no foul. Horses hardly noticed.

[TBigLug]

Yup, without a problem.

[TBigLug]

@near horse 15639 wrote:

I thought you could “angle” furrow wheel in a notch or 2 to get a bigger bite from the plow…

I tried fiddling with the furrow wheel adjustment and this is a review of what happened (I’m a little top heavy so you might not have this problem)…

Good horses, stand as still as a rock while I pick myself up off the ground. No pics but that was actually the second time I went over in 30 ft. Soft landing though. I got to the end of the line and quickly readjsuted the plow. Apparently I went too far with the first adjustment.

Personally I’d rather have the White Horse but for me it was an easy choice for the John Deere. Given that I don’t have enough money for the shiny new one, the old reliable still turns just as much dirt as the new one.

[TBigLug]

They’re nice plows. I got one just like it only not as shiny. A little finicky until they get freed up but work good for us.

[TBigLug]

Also, FWIW the market is way down around here right now so good well broke horses are going VERY cheap. Great time to get into the horse business.

[TBigLug]

I think you’re on the right track with the Halfingers. We had 10 of them or so back when grandpa used to pull ponies. They’ll do alot of work and are hartier than alot of people give them credit for. I would suggest a plan. Get a team of well broke Haflingers to start out with for a couple years. After that invest in a good big team of Belgians once you get strong enough to heft the harnesses up there. I started out on Belgians but when I was 14 I was 5’10” and 300 lbs. We grow ’em big on the farm here! 😉

[TBigLug]

Well, how’d it go. I think your stout pair should do it just fine. But, I’m not a logger by any means so take that piece with a grain of salt. Keep us posted!

[TBigLug]

This is a good discussion topic as I want to breed Dottie this year and still keep her working. I’m looking forward to more input and opinions.

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