[Rick Alger]

Softwood logs and pulp are at 1994 prices. Hardwood is probably lower than that and hard to move. Firewood market glutted.

I’m taking a cut-and-skid contract this fall and winter in softwood.

[Rick Alger]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like thumbs down on felling levers.

My problem with wedges occurs at or below zero. Sometimes they shatter like pottery. I’ve tried various types including Stihl and Bailey’s, but when it’s really cold they fail with frustrating regularity. I have made my own wooden ones, and they don’t shatter, but they pop out as often as not.

I generally lug a twenty foot push pole around with me on the bitter cold days. The pole works, but it is dangerous.

Since I work almost exclusively in marked wood (usually 30% commercial thinning) directional felling is critical.

Does anyone have an address for wedges such as Carl mentioned that work at below zero?

[Rick Alger]

Jean,

I feel for you. We have struggled with this issue over the years with our own horses and our boarder’s horses. We came to the position that if an average level horse person such as our teenage helper had trouble with the animal, it either went into training or it left our stable.

We believe that we have a responsibility not only to the horse and owner, but also to bystanders, vistors and other boarders.

We have dismissed three horses over the years. One was put down after a trail period, one became a pasture ornament elsewhere after running off with an experienced teammate and trainer, and one sent a seventy year old grandmother into the hospital for a week.

In your case, we would feel our responsibility to others outweighed our responsibility to the horse. What we did in a similar situation was give the horse to a highly skilled teamster, tell the whole story, and ask for a little compensation only if the horse worked out for the teamster.

[Rick Alger]

2.
“New Age Loggers.”

“Draft Powered Forestry International”

3.
“Improving the lot of the practicing horselogger while adding to the richness and diversity of the forest.”

“To facilitate the international connection between draft animal forestry practitioners, exchanging information, providing benefits of association (i.e. insurance, cooperative marketing, etc.), and advocating toward mutual goals.”

4.
“Establish meaningful connections with those who manage our forests – landowners, foresters, congressmen etc including those who disburse subsidies for good forestry.”

”Work with researchers to study and publish ecological benefits of animal logging.”

”Develop time-share arrangements for new technology like hydraulic forwarders.”

”Work to establish a separate and reasonable Worker’s Comp category for animal loggers.”

”Share techniques and strategies.”

“More government help to land owners in the form of tax or cash payments to maintain there woodlots, help and encouragement in new technologies to make our work safer and more profitable, the workmen’s comp idea is great and more networking!”

”To improve opportunities for draft animal forestry practitioners to unite regionally, and internationally, to share information, work, markets, and advocacy.”

”To advance an ecological perspective of forest management, based on the use of draft animals, and other low impact/low input strategies.”

“To serve as a networking, clearinghouse and contact information for individuals and organizations involved in animal powered forestry throughout the world.”

“To serve as an official body to support collaboration, research and demonstration with all interest groups on the issues of sustainable forestry including, governmental, non governmental organizations (NGO), academic institutions, municipalities, private landowners

[Rick Alger]

Hand mowing corners and rocky spots in the pastures. 89 degrees today. Hottest day of the year.

[Rick Alger]

Carl, I too like to keep it simple. But to get a trucker these days it usually means a mid-mount trailer and a load in the order of 8 mbf of logs or 35 tons of pulp. You need to sort and concentrate this kind of volume, or the trucker will go elsewhere.

I use a farm tractor with forks.

[Rick Alger]

If you don’t get any VT responses, I’ll be back cutting in the Grant this fall, and I can ask the forester if the guy could stay with me at the “pit camp.”
Plenty of hiking and fishing, but a long way from the Tunbridge Fairgrounds.

[Rick Alger]

In Northern NH there are plenty of people with the skills. The problem is Worker’s Comp insurance. State law requires it in NH, and the cost is around 50% of payroll.

I have had to work alone for years, not because I wanted to, but because I could not afford to pay both an employee and an insurance company.

I may try an employee this season because the years are gaining on me. My reflexes and endurance “ain’t what they useta be”

[Rick Alger]

They remember their last pull.

If the horse was freighted on his last pull the last time you used him, he’ll remember. And at the start of the next day he’ll have a different attitude and a lot more energy.

Now, I’d work him in familiar surroundings with light logs before I worked him seriously off the farm. When I did work him I’d go easy and end the day with a fairly light log.

[Rick Alger]

Thanks for the replies. To elaborate, I’m talking 12 hours days in harness.

[Rick Alger]

We’ve used a similar mower for about six years. Knocked down one inch alders as well as goldenrod, steeple bush etc. I’ve had to reinforce the deck and replace a couple tires, but overall it’s been a good acquisition. Will mow all day on a couple gallons of gas, and I believe it’s easier on the horses than a sickle bar mower.

[Rick Alger]

Generally I agree, but I’ve got a handicapped person interested in driving the team to pull wood, and he can’t hitch and unhitch the snug D-ring harness I use.
I’m wondering if any problems will arise if he feeds them while hitched. It’s a long skid so me walking out twice to hitch and unhitch is not my first choice.

[Rick Alger]

1. Go for it

2. New Age Loggers.

3. Improving the lot of the practicing horselogger while adding to the richness and diversity of the forest.

4. a) Establish meaningful connections with those who manage our forests – landowners, foresters, congressmen etc including those who disburse subsidies for good forestry.

b) Work with researchers to study and publish ecological benefits of animal logging.

c) Develop time-share arrangements for new technology like hydraulic forwarders.

d) Work to establish a separate and reasonable Worker’s Comp category for animal loggers.

e) Share techniques and strategies.

[Rick Alger]

I believe the objectives of the group should include networking, but go beyond it.

The ultimate objective should be to improve the lot of the horse logger – better income, more work opportunities, some sort of future.

[Rick Alger]

My vote is to network first.

[Author]

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