Harness for draft horse

[perchhauler]

P.S. Collar fit

make sure you fit your collar good and tight on the sides, and make sure your point of draft is low enough so its not lifting the collar and choking him.... If a collar is too loose he'll get collar sores, and you dont want that!!! You should just get your hand under his throat, but check it when he has tension on the tugs to make sure its not riding up and choking him, due to draft adjustment... Its a good idea to use pulling collars, use a pad, but make sure they fit right... Be safe!!

 

[perchhauler]

Stuff happens, horses fall, when you have a situation stay calm, horses will sense when you're shook and it will make them nervous... Always keep a good sharp knife on your belt...

 

[2dogs]

Last post got cut off somehow, sorry... A skid card does give your team some lift, and ground skidding is dangerous as well, but start out ground skidding.. You can manouver better with a team on the ground, tight places/trails, side hills... Down hill skidding is very dangerous as well, use one horse, stay tree length, and grab a couple sticks together for brakes, and just nudge til you get the feel of it... On a side hill a nice but log can flip a team.... Good luck, and be careful!!

Can you post pics of your cart?

 

[MNClimber]

Sorry I've been a way for a few days. Perchhauler I would also like to see a couple pics of your cart/team. Also if anybody has pics of there team pulling or anything that would be great to see as well. Also I have been asking around locally to see if there was anybody that does this sort of thing and I got a number of an old timer that plows with a team. I know its not the same but it should help me learn about proper fitting of a harness and such. As for the danger aspect of it if the horse where to get hurt. The girl that I'm kind of seeing would kill me. She's going to school to be a vet for horses and farm animal. I appreciate all the idea's and concerns keep em coming. Can never have too much information.

 

[MNClimber]

Oh I forgot to ask. Do you think that a 20in 8ft red oak log would be too much for a single horse? It will be hilly but no more than 10% grade. Also I can go up and down don;t have to side hill unless I wanted to for some reason. There are nice trail in the proper6ty that where made with a skidder a few years back.

 

[perchhauler]

I'll gladly post a couple pics of my team, and I'll take some of my cart and post... Give me a few days, have to have my sister put pics on for me... My cart was a farm cart I got from a friend who quit farming, I had it beefed up a bit, raised up, choker bar put on, and the spindles brought in a bit... How big a log you can or should pull with one horse depends on alot of things, type of ground, grade, weight, the list can go on and on, I only use one horse to get stuff out of tight places so I can get to it with the team, down hill, or paper wood size stuff... I'm heading out with one horse in the morning, but its a rare occasion, usually I take a team, sometimes three and alternate...

 

[2dogs]

A 10% grade is significant it is steeper than a railroad train can handle. With a good cart and a moderate load you can handle even steeper grades WITH EXPERIENCE.

I must have some digital images somewhere too. I'll ask my wife.