mowing on hills

[Cameron Littlejohn]

I have a question for you experienced folk lol. I have a piece of pasture that’s on a hill that’s quite steep, my pawpaw used to cut it with a horse and mower but the question isn’t how to mow the hill its about coming off the hill lol. The road circling around to the hill is also quite steep and I’m not worried at all about goin up the hill or along the hill, I was curious to see how you all take mowers down a steep grade? The road isn’t straight it turns right handed a little coming down it. My pawpaw used a team of percherons and I would ask him for advice but he is no longer around and there are very very few pwoplw who use horses near me. Any feedback would be appreciated. I take a sled up and down this road quite a bit but I’m afrad the horse won’t be able to hold the mower back.

[Big Horses]

I don’t see any reason they shouldn’t be able to hold the mower back.
John

[Does’ Leap]

I mow some fairly steep ground on my Vermont hill farm. I suggest starting on less steep sections and progressing as you feel comfortable. It is surprising how comfortable I feel with horses on a mower compared to a tractor.

George

[Donn Hewes]

You are talking about mowing with a single horse I believe, right? In general a mower is not a heavy thing to bring down a hill. Two things I would consider and the horse will probably come down the hill just fine. I see a lot of britchens that seem too low to me. People often comment that mine look high. I have never had a britchen slide up on a horses tail, but I keep them two inches below the turn in their butt. The lower the britchen the less backing and holding power they will have. Second, I am careful person, and I will find a couple spots on the hill that are almost as steep so I can test it out.

[Gabe Ayers]

I have mowed steep ground with single and team, and I second Donn’s comments about harness fit. Also, I use my horses for logging so I keep them shod, and I find that this is a big advantage on grassy steeps. I, too, will comfortably mow hills that I would not dare touch with a tractor mover, especially a sickle bar.
-Brad

[Cameron Littlejohn]

Well I’ve tried to mow it with my tractor and it doesn’t turn out well lol but I will try and just progress up to the steeper sections and see but yes I am mowing with a single clydesdale belgian cross. I was just wanting some opinions/advice because I didn’t wanna do it and risk injuring my horse. I especially won’t be trying it until spring because its a horrible muddy mess. Thank you all for the responses, I was actually kinda I guess you would say embarrassed to ask lol. But thank you all so much. I’m new to all of this for the most part lol

[near horse]

I thought the issue was mowing up the hill, not down. Must have misunderstood. George, I can’t imagine my team tipping over on a slope – like a tractor would. Implement, maybe but IME things often “feel” worse than they are (not always) because of our position on the implement vs where the true center of gravity is.

Cameron – please please don’t be embarrassed to ask questions here. That’s what this about – a place to get assistance, opinions etc. To get the full value of DAPNet you need to feel comfortable that we’re all here to help where we can. So ask away ….:o

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