[Donn Hewes]

I also like to keep extra things off my harness if I don’t think they are needed. I personally don’t want to work horses or mules with out check reins. First of all, they all want to eat; perhaps some are trained not to, but they all want to. Eating while standing is just as bad as anything else. Eating almost always leads to moving. I like a simple check that goes over one hames and back to the bit. I have cut the hangers off of bridles because I don’t like them. I won’t work my own animals with out checks. Just my two cents. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Bill, that is a nice britchen, a yankee britchen has no strap below the tail, but just rides above the tail like that part of the basket britchen. the yankee britchen is a very good, powerful backing and stoping britchen as well. If I was buying a new belly backer harness I would sure try to get the yankee brichen. I would love to have that basket britchen on a some new D ring. thanks Bill, Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Grey, I was wrong about Carl’s harness. he has an unusual britchen but not a “yankee” britchen. You might be right, about finding Yankee britchen with belly backers.

[Donn Hewes]

hello Grey, I have always reffered to that as a western britchen so I suppose you are right. I have seen yankee britchen on D ring harness. I think Carl Russel has a nice set of D ring harness with hip or yankee britchen. Belly backer might be a better reference to the harness type, with quarter straps, pole strap, and breast strap. I personally wouldn’t lump D ring as a type of side backer. These harnesses are so different, and it is already too easy to confuse the two. If any thing the D ring is a type of harness, not to be confused with a side backer. I guess you have to down load the Samson Harness catalog, I didn’t but it would be interesting to see how they reffer to them, my best book is lent out.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi all, That is a nice looking machine, but it seems like a lot of extra effort if built just for logging. My thought goes to what Carl said about the front tire. Taller will pull easier, but I don’t think narrower will. narrower will pull easier on a bicycle on pavement. but the softer the ground and heavier the load, the wider a tire must be to stay at the surface, certainly this is where it will pull easiest. I have a three wheeled cart with about 4″ front tire. I wish it had a car tire on there.

[Donn Hewes]

Yes, Belly backer, would be the same as the western britchen. These are a very effective simple harness, and have one advantage in being the most common style. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

If you are any where near Conn. consider Sam Rich’s plow clinic coming in April 19th to 21st. Look in the DAPNet Events calender. You would learn a ton. By comparison I am just smashing the rocks and mineralizing my soil! But it is fun.

PS. 2 acres can be a lot or a little, but it is never just 2 acres.

[Donn Hewes]

The western harness (or western britchen harness as I call it), the most common and uses a pair of quarter straps from the britchen that meet at the pole strap (pole strap comes forward between the front legs). The breast strap hangs from both hames and is attached to the pole strap at the breast strap snap. This hooks directly to your neck yoke.

A side backer is a similar harness with nothing between the legs or under the horse (other than a belly band), instead side straps come straight forward form the britchen on each side of the horse and hook into a short jokey yoke. One jockey yoke for each horse and they snap on to the neck yoke. the side backer will have a lazy strap on each side hanging from the hames to hold the side strap and yoke up. One problem folks may have is mistaking a side backer for a “D” ring harness. Since both harnesses use a small jockey yoke for each horse and side straps they do look some what alike, but are really very different in fit and function.

In a side backer harness the tugs are unbroken and the side straps slide past them with out being directly connected. In a D ring harness both the side straps and the tugs are all attached at the same point and all interact to carry the forces of pulling, stopping, and tongue action / weight.

Steve Bowers book has some good pictures. donn

[Donn Hewes]

I agree with JL, It starts out seeming so simple; but when you throw in a lot of variations, and our expectations as to what is a good start rise, it takes on much of the art of a teamster. When a beginning teamster picks up the lines and start to get them self’s ready it can be painstaking to watch, (and painstaking for the waiting horse as well). Sometimes you need to get over to the other side or reposition in some other way, and this can be particularly difficult for the beginning teamster as their animals start to “wake up”. I like to teach the beginning teamster about working around a loose horse (no harness, no lines, no head gear). What will make them move and what will keep them still while I move. Then I ask them to reflect back on that when we have lines and a log or what ever. If you remain connected (mentally aware of what is going on) with the horse or team, you can keep them still until you are ready to “pick up” the lines and go.

[Donn Hewes]

[URL=”http://: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1p_6rR8uSVd4HNtFPkU6oSaLu9jP-9Rfg61Ep6QqAnlg/viewform “]Here[/URL] is a link to the rsvp if anyone is interested. : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1p_6rR8uSVd4HNtFPkU6oSaLu9jP-9Rfg61Ep6QqAnlg/viewform

[Donn Hewes]

Yes, two good horses should pull the baler just fine. Steep ground would be difficult with out an extra horse, but on a moderate side hill you just need to rake long windrows across the hill with shorter ends. With some balers the pushing is a bigger problem when you stop to rest. Just disengage the baler. Interesting, but pulling the wagon behind the baler (obviously needs more horses) works kind of like a sea anchor and takes a lot of the plunger action off the cart and horses. I never notice it unless I stop. Good luck, and don’t forget to take some pictures. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Kevin, As a farmer I am constantly telling folks their is a whole other side to moving wood besides logging. The simple log (not too big – not too small) evener ,or yoke, and a chain. Nothing (and I mean nothing) better for a young team, or teamster. It so green there, you must live in the southern hemisphere! My wife just returned from her annual vacation in Wa State. Says we should still retire in Wa! keep up the good work. They look great. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

I have always wanted to teach my horses to do that. I just never quite make the time. very cool though.

[Donn Hewes]

Tim, I think you videos are great and will really help folks. I have a funny story along this line. I was dropping ash recently I and it was a delicate piece of directional felling to get it down between nice young maples. I looked out and said, oh I will aim right for that old apple that will bring it down right were I want it. I hit that old apple with 10′ of the top. Just about ruined it! They say I should take them out any way as I have been planting a young orchard nearby, but I must confess I wasn’t planning to go that far. thanks, and talk to you soon, Donn

Too bad I wasn’t making a vid on perfect directional felling!

[Donn Hewes]

hi Ixy, I know I work with horses and mules and they are very different from oxen. Sometimes they connect on basic concepts. There are a lot of contradictions sometimes in this work, (I find myself contradicting myself all the time!) For me, paying attention to what horses and mules are thinking and feeling is one of those times. I will tell folks to pay attention to the animal’s head, it will tell what is going on. Be aware of changes in the animals attitude or demeanor. When folks suggest that the animal was not having fun anymore or “no longer wanted to be there” I suggest that we be careful in trying to guess what a horse is feeling or thinking. I have learned to proudly point out these contradictions!

Folks like to ask or suggest that my horses really like their work. I all ways point out that I have no real idea if they like their work or not. I fact, since I believe they are very smart animals, I think after four or five days of plowing; putting on a harness the next day and going out to plow won’t be “what fun”. There are a few good reasons why I don’t dwell on whether they are enjoying their work. First, I am fully responsible for their care, condition, and safety. I have seen examples of folks that suggested how much their animals were enjoying themselves while their hoofs and harness were in serious need of repair. I pay more attention to the fact that these animals are willing, as a good indicator of how well I have met my responsibilities.

I think the difference is between paying attention to an animal on one hand, and how I let this information effect how I feel or what I think, on the other. Being a leader is so important (fundamental) and for some people too much attention to what they “think” a horse wants or feels, can be a big distraction to leading and doing what you intended to do. When I sense a change in an animals attitude or demeanor, I am more likely to think about what can this animal do? Or what can I do to help this animal achieve what I know it can, vs asking my self if it still having fun, or if it wants to be here.

I often will stand and scratch a neck or fool with a youngster; why? because I enjoy it. They would all be just as happy if I would go away; why? because even if I am just fooling around I am still the boss. No one wants to really let their hair down while I am still there running everything. These are personal things that everyone develops their own slightly different balance for. That is what makes the work with drafts so interesting and rewarding. keep up the good work, Donn

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