[CanoeTomah]

Congratulations on the new one Eli!
You will have a lot of fun working with one from scratch.
In my youth we raised a standard bred colt and one saddle horse filly.
It was really nice just to watch the little ones mess around in the pasture.

[CanoeTomah]

Slow Progress on the Bob’s.
We got the old forge out and fixed the eyes for the back bob’s bunk.
My daughter was home form college and she had a chance to work with the forge.
A couple of pics below.

[CanoeTomah]

This was after a few practice attempts.

http://youtu.be/KeqrR4zW1oE

As kids we did not have skis, but used a circle of plywood kind of like a kneeboard.
You did not need snow to use but it sure made the landing softer.

[CanoeTomah]

Grey your explanation on the draft and holdbacks is very helpful and easy to understand.
I’ll check the seat angle on the cart next time out. The shafts have to be horse size as a draft would not fit between them. Tess may be a little small for the set up as she is only 14 hands.
I would like to see the pulley system in action. I am wonder in if the high angle of draft could be making the collar ride up some.
Deckle thanks for the link, I tried to view but currently out of bandwidth.
Thanks to all for your help and taking the time to post.

[CanoeTomah]

Thanks, great I was thinking there was a reason other than giving them somethng to worry.
We have some woods in our winter pasture area and they will really bark any hardwood tree but seem to go for poplar 1st.

Mitch I am from the East Grand Lake are near the border.

[CanoeTomah]

This is a great topic, always thought about making one.
Low any other information you could share on the construction or about rollers in general would great.
Thanks for posting the pictures.

[CanoeTomah]

Thanks your explaination was helpful. The pics do not have anything yet to lower the shaft holders.

I tried to search the web on the rope and pully method. I could not find anything.
Are there some key phrases I can use to narrow a search.

It sound like I need to lower how the tugs attach to the cart by 3ft or so.
I’ll see if I can find someone to see if the collar fit is ok.

[CanoeTomah]

New pics showing the suggested changes below:
The bitchen was moved closer toward the collar.
Added extra length to the tugs.

Added a picture of the collar fit to see if it is too small.
Let us know if the fitis looking better and any other improvements.
Thanks

[CanoeTomah]

Wonderful thanks to all for the helpful hints on adjusting the harness.

Eli, the collar we use is 19”, we have been pleased with what things we can do with the little horse.

Jen- thanks for kicking this off and I will adjust as you suggest on the britchen.

Grey/Jen- you are right on the money, I am missing about two feet of belly band. You cannot see from the side of the pics I posted. A leather belt is connecting the two shaft holders underneath. From all comments I need to snug things down in this area. Not sure if it came with one. We mainly used the harness pulling firewood and the wooden stoneboat we made.

Carl NY- not sure if the shafts are for draft size, I will measure to rule out. I think the collar is ok but may try a better pic to show just in case.

Fogish thanks for the wrap strap and point of shoulder pic very helpful to visualize.

Billy Anderson without your question I would not have seen the pics from Fogish…you were not the only one. Wonder how many useful pics I have missed in viewing the site.

All responses are appreciated thank you for taking the time to post them!

The tugs came with chain ends and we used them on our maiden forecart voyage.
Hard to believe you can be so scared only going 20 miles an hour, I talked calm (or tried to) and we got things under control.
Do not believe Tess had that much noise behind her before and then we tried the brakes…

We changed out the heel chain for a couple of short leather straps on the end of the tugs (traces? Both mean the same?).
Might not be able to see in the pics.
I can whip something up to lengthen out the tugs.
Hope to incorporate the changes this weekend.

[CanoeTomah]

Thanks for all the help I will rspond after work.
Some of the issues posted I may have created by sloving other issues.

[CanoeTomah]

Great just what I was looking for, we will adjust the britchen the next time out.
The shaft loops just snap in with no adjustment to lower.
Something could be rivited together to allow adjustment.
I’ll look on Meader for a belly band.
All, suggestions greatly appreciated.

We have another horse we would like to add into a team.
I see a lot of adds for used haflinger harness are they about the same size.

Thanks

[CanoeTomah]

I helped the boys build the above sled a few years ago.
The sled was based on plans from the Foxfire series of books.
The sled is built from curved 8” hemlock trees.
Finding two trees around the same size and curve took some walking.
The runners were made with a saw, ax, and drawshave.
1” inch holes were augured thru the hemlock planks; square blocks, and into the runners.
For added insurance we used small threaded rod so items would not come apart.
The pins held great if all your wood is green I’m not sure the threaded rod is needed.
The front cross piece was mortised into the front of the runners.
The box was just pine boards screwed together so we could take off if we did not need.
For logs or jostling rocks around in the box the 1” pins do not have enough mass to last.
Pins held the sled together fine but for stakes I would create something more rugged.
Was a fun family project and handy around the barn. The young lads were at an age they enjoyed the auguring too well
…as I found a few extra holes in the barn.

Next project is finishing some bobsleds from The Linn MFG Co. from Escanaba, Mich. Patent dated 1904.
I hope to post some pics this week end to seek some advice.

This is great site!

[Author]

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