[Donn Hewes]

That is an interest question Mitch, because I can worry some times too. Just a few weeks ago I was complaining I don’t like the old style rake that you sit right above the teeth. A rattley old thing. For some reason, which I can’t fully explain, all the horses and mules I have worked with on that cart have taken to it very well. Give the noises and commotion involved it all ways suprises me a little. I know you can have a bad run away or wreck with four or six horses, but there is something to the safety in numbers. When one horse in my team thinks something is going wrong they have to convince three more before they can do anything about it. Mean while I have that much more time to interject myself as the leader. The three wheeled cart is tall but surprisingly stable.

We have been working with a group that is making a series of begining farmer training videos. Soon I think I will be able to post some clips.

In my first weeks with that cart I had a wooden evener, Then as they turned an uphill corner with a heavy hay wagon on the back the evener broke. The animals were awesome as I jumped off and tried to hold the cart from rolling back with my shoulder, (lines in hand), calling for some one to get me a wheel chock. A close run thing. For the last four or five years, knock on wood, I have not had a problem with it.

[Donn Hewes]

Al, Do you use the deer hair pad?

[Donn Hewes]

Hi EriK, I use those same pads and Like them. Some catalogs call them a “healing pad”. I have had one horse come into the barn in the morning with a little swelling right at the top of her neck on both sides. I have been taking it easy on her, but still working her a couple hours a day. It seems to be resolving it self.

[Donn Hewes]

No, the tedder is a Grimm. Pequa makes a similiar reel type tedder. They work well to just lift the hay. Not that grea for rained on hay, and certainly not the thing for a rained on windrow. this fall my big goal is a rotary tedder with a ground drive cart. I think I will make / have made a cart from a #7 mower like the one Mitch in Maine made. The big field we work in is leased, and is really great for horse farming, long, almost flat, hill top. Highs in the 90’s this week. I don’t need a tedder at all.

[Donn Hewes]

Well, for a few days it was the ideal hay making weather. Yesterday we baled 401. Today we baled 201. tomorrow we will probably bale another 200. But it is getting HOT. Connie seems to be doing slightly better in the heat today. I took her fly net off to see if that would help her cool at all. I gave every one a little break today as we had more hay raked, but I left it for tomorrow. Lady, the black Percheron, came in to the barn today with a little swelling on the top of her neck. Another reason for the slightly lighter day. The mules still went back out a five PM to mow a little more for Monday. Gotta love those mules in the heat. Here are a few more pictures.

[Donn Hewes]

The horses are moving into a new break ever two or three days. Everything that gets trampled gets clipped. then the new grasses and clovers start growing up through. I will try to take some pasture pictures one of these days.

[Donn Hewes]

I think the fly nets work great. I still use a little spray when the flies are worst, but when the animals are moving they keep a lot of flies off. I know Mid West Leather sells them, but I think they are pretty common and lots of folks have them. I think they are about 40$ now. They take a lot of abuse and last for a few years. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Geoff, I graze the producing animals (sheep producing milk or meat) first as they take the best to make the most production, and maintain their condition and health. Then I follow with horses to clean up some of the over growth and grass. Yes we have a lot of grass heading out in June, but we work hard to get the sheep on the pasture that were grazed and clipped in May so they will continue to produce well.

After the horses there is still a lot of grass left over and we clip. We have already clipped apx. 50 acres including acres that were never grazed or hayed but are just being rested. The young regrowth of clovers, other legumes, and broad leafs start growing as soon as the sheep move on. The horses and the clipping don’t touch these young plants and the clipping actually mulches it. In a couple weeks it is a sea of clover. it really doesn’t matter how heavy the clipping is just leave it and watch the pasture grow up through it.

[Donn Hewes]

yes, that is Connie. I sold Suzie, ( a smaller belgian mare). Connie is a great horse, a little pushy, but an honest worker. I am struggling with her weight problem though.

I could mow all day with the four abreast on the haybine. At two acres per hour I usually don’t want to mow more than 4 to six acres at a time. The limit is how much can I rake and bale in a day. With two teamsters and a six foot mower and a seven foot mower I can mow even faster but the horses are working much harder.

Jac, the haybine is about 35 years old. They use rubber rollers to crimp the hay, and a sickle bar to cut it. This one is a seven footer. It speeds up the hay drying. This year I have been doing some comparisons between haybine and sickle bar mowers. The sickle bar is certainly more pleasant to use. This morning I tedded most of the hay from yesterday before I started mowing about 1 pm. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

I mowed about six acres with a haybine yesterday and almost finished another six today with two sickle bar mowers. Hopefully raking and baling tomorrow and Saturday. Found some very heavy mowing today. It is fun to mow that huge stuff but it makes it hard for the intern who keeps plugging the mower. You can see some pictures here. A lot of the pictures I took while I was mowing.

I also broke a pitman yesterday in an odd place. Broke the metal plate in half. New metal plate this spring. All the barings seem fine. All the cutting parts are sharp and spinning free. Mower worked fine after I fixed the pitman. Go figure. I was mowing down near an overgrown hedge row, perhaps I hit something with out knowing it. Here is a picture

[Donn Hewes]

I would second JAC. I wouldn’t be looking for more straps to keep the harness on, especially an over check. I my opinion horses are basically calm, relaxed and alert before we mess with them. I try to take enough time in each phase of training to maintain that disposition while they are working with me.

[Donn Hewes]

Planning to start some mowing tomorrow. I will try to start a thread just for hay making pictures!

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Mark, What hours exactly do you take them out and bring them in? Do you give them any hay at mid-day or over night? Any grain? How far do you take them to pasture? Thanks, Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Unfortunately, she IS the dominant horse. Also, don’t really have any other chubby horses either. I am assuming over weight is her problem. I will see if I can take a couple pictures of her this week. Hope to start mowing hay tomorrow.

[Donn Hewes]

My reason for not wanting to take her off pasture is separating her from the rest of the group all night. I am not sure how well she / we would deal with that. When the rest of the group goes out they are on small paddocks up to half a mile away. These are single poly wire with tread in posts as they move every two or three days. If I separate her I will definitely hear about it – might even find animals don’t stay were they belong. I might try it.

I am not inclined toward a grazing muzzle but would be interested to hear from any one that is using it successfully.

Also, she is working regularly, (as much as I can give her) and I don’t believe she is at risk for founder, but I will ask my vet about that. He is a 72 y/o horse man. Real common sense.

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