[near horse]

Robert – I’ll make it whenever you schedule it. Hope that will help others with more restrictive schedules.

BTW – I have some “ear extensions” I can add on to my team. Not much I can do about their voices though.:cool:

Thanks for doing this!

We probably need to think about “housing arrangements” are for the animals. Or at least make sure folks know what to expect (like need to bring panels, electric fence or what have you).

[near horse]

I have nylon harness with beta lines. The backsaddle on the harness is biothane (I think – cause it’s shiny etc). So IMO – beta does a pretty good impression of leather, at least as lines. Nice with some weight to ’em like leather, flexible etc. Nylon harness is pretty tough stuff so wouldn’t worry so much there. BUT, it seems like the nylon doesn’t have the “memory” that leather does – kind of like a nice broken in boot that fits just right. The times I’ve used leather harness with a team that had been using it, the harness seemed to just fall into place when hoisted up. My nylon gets twists etc and sometimes requires some unfolding etc when harnessing.

I’d go leather if I could afford it – if not, then nylon/beta is fine enough.

[near horse]

@Carl Russell 27570 wrote:

Yes, I meant to mention “warm moisture laden, nitrogen and CO2 rich air”.

Carl

Better for plants – not so good for animals. It seems like there’s a fine line between “capturing” as much of the animal endproducts as possible and creating a less hospitable environment for your pigs – we used to call tight barns with the above conditions a “pneumonia chamber”. I do like the concept and will be interested to see how it works.

[near horse]

I know of someone in CA that uses their goats for fire suppression work – eating/clearing brush around home sites in fire prone areas. They also got contracts on some “right-of-ways” – like where power lines run over head. Like Robert’s experience, they’re booked.

Also, there’s been more than a bit of work at some universities looking at what/how young animals learn to eat “novel” or new foods – like a weed species.
In our area at the University of Idaho Range Department is Karen Launchbaugh and another big name in Utah is first name? Provenza. Can’t recall which school he’s at.

[near horse]

@Dan Buczala 27508 wrote:

I smear some “Swat” under my horses chin ……

THAT’S the stuff!

[near horse]

I’m not completely sure on this but I think the Oregon Trail goes through Baker City OR in eastern OR – at least that’s where the Oregon Trail Museum is. Mitch, if you or your friends could keep us informed as they draw nearer I would like to head down and meet them – provide them with hay or something or maybe bring them a nice supper – other “locals” invited to join me if timing works out.

[near horse]

I might be outnumbered by both donks and their “demented” followers :D. But I’ll take that challenge too:eek: So what kind of date are we looking at?

[near horse]

I agree with Carl – runny loose stools are less of a concern if you’ve got your animals on pasture (especially on spring growing grass vs rank old stuff). Most likely grass stool – you even see it with cattle when you turn them out as well. Also, if your horses are eating and maintaining or putting on conditon it’s not likely anything to worry about (except too much of a good thing).

Fly strikes – we’re not seeing them yet out here but haven’t been warm enough for anything but black flys to emerge (ie no deer flys or horse flys yet). I only treat a bite if they’ve “worried it” to the point of being an open sore and then becomes a fly attractant. I forget the name of the ointment you can apply to keep the flys away from the wound but it’s pretty common stuff in most feed stores. Doesn’t sound like you’re there yet.

[near horse]

@Countymouse 27488 wrote:

….. The seasonality of when these tree crops become avaliable and when spring born hogs need these foods matches quite well, but should we be suprized? Not really, as pigs likely evolved to subsist on food from trees with some extra foraging to supplement…..

I could be mistaken but most/many nut crops are ripe/mature in the fall prior to heading into winter (low food/calorie availability period) and some species use this source to build stores for winter and, in the females of some species (like bears) whether to carry out a pregnancy or resorb (abort) the embryo based on body fat reserves. I know hogs aren’t bears but the timing of the nut crop and usage by foraging omnivores is similar.

I think the advantage(s) of a well-managed agroforestry program is both timing of land use and vertical layering of the crop (trees grow upward).

[near horse]

I don’t remember clearly if it was mentioned previously that some seed companies, like Johnnys, are now owned by Monsanto (thru purchase of Seminis) – well I just read this letter and response from the founder/owner of Johnnys making and explaining the case – Monsanto does not own Johnnys,

Read for yourself.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-ownership.aspx

[near horse]

If I recall the posting Jen’s referring to, what she did was actually the solution that I remember – attaching a ring that’s too large to fit throughout the hame ring. Your ingenuity at choosing the used halter ring is just an added bonus! Nice work Jen and thanks for using a pic to give it a visual.

[near horse]

Hi Lost Farmer,

I’ll jump in – Robert is talking about a spot north of Riggins and south of Whitebird/Grangeville on Hwy 95. Are you part of the Intermountain Draft Horse and Mule Assoc ? Do you think any of them would be interested in coming over?

[near horse]

@Robert MoonShadow 27456 wrote:

Hhmmm…a plow that sulks powered by Jack Daniels & a forecart made out of cheese…
This will be interesting.

And worth some pics!

I’ll definitely bring my camera – it’ll fit somewhere easier than my horses.

[near horse]

Hi Rod,

I’d be interested in seeing a few more pics of your barn’s “skeleton” if you can post them. I assume your loft is a hay mow? What’s the width etc? Looks pretty nice.

[near horse]

I’m in. I can bring down my JD sulky plow, also a 6 ft disc and cheesy homemade forecart.

And, somehow I’ll get my 2 horses there too.

[Author]

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